Comparison

Power Grid Boardgame vs Gugong

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Power Grid Boardgame

Engage in a strategic simulation of the energy industry, managing power grids across diverse global maps. Challenge AI or friends in real-time or turn-based matches, with a comprehensive tutorial and helpful in-game assistance for all skill levels.

Highlights
  • Global energy market simulation
  • Multiple map variants for diverse gameplay
  • AI and real-time/turn-based multiplayer
  • In-depth tutorial and context-sensitive help
  • Achievement system for challenges
  • Includes Recharged version with variants
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Dive into the world of the energy industry with the Power Grid app, designed by award-winning author Friedemann Friese. Global Domination: Conquer energy markets worldwide on maps such as USA, Germany, France, Benelux, Eastern Europe, South Africa, Italy and the Middle East. Each map brings unique gameplay that will put your strategic skills to the test. Tutorial & Help: Whether you're an experienced Power Grid player or a beginner, the game features a detailed tutorial that walks you through the basics step-by-step. And if you have any questions while playing, context-sensitive help is available to make sure you're always on the right track. Achievements: Challenge yourself by unlocking a variety of achievements. These achievements range from strategic feats to special challenges. Recharged Version: The app includes the Recharged version with Against the Trust and MAGA variants that make the gameplay even more diverse and challenging. Exciting Gameplay: Challenge AI opponents or play against friends in real-time or turn-based. Online Domination: The Power Grid app allows you to compete against friends or rivals from around the world. The app gives you the opportunity to compete with players from all over the world. Choose your path: a variety of maps and map variants are available to customize and refine your strategy. Adapt to the specifics of each and outsmart your opponents to get to the top of the power industry. The Power Grid app has been carefully designed to seamlessly bring the charm of the board game to your smartphone or tablet. The intuitive interface ensures a smooth gaming experience for both experienced players and novices. Don't miss out on the electrifying fun and challenges offered by the Power Grid app! Download the app now and embark on a journey to conquer the power market one move at a time. Whether you're playing alone and looking for a challenge or you're a player looking to engage in epic duels with friends, the Power Grid app offers all that and more.

About

Gugong

Engage in a strategic board game set in 1570s China. Players represent powerful families vying for influence by exchanging gifts with officials, making strategic choices to outmaneuver opponents. Explore historical China, build the Great Wall, and seek an audience with the emperor.

Highlights
  • Historical setting in Ming Dynasty China
  • Strategic gift-exchange mechanics
  • Solo play against AI
  • Multiple difficulty levels
  • In-game tutorial
  • Full rulebook included
Read full description

China, 1570. China is under the reign of the Longqing Emperor, of the Ming Dynasty. He inherited a country in disarray after years of mismanagement and corruption. He resided in the Forbidden city, which was the seat of many emperors under the Ming Dynasty. Constructed from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings and covers 72 ha (over 180 acres). It is also under the Ming Dynasty that the Great Wall of China was rebuilt, fortified, and expanded. Around this period, China was under heavy attack from the Mongols, so maintaining the Great Wall was essential. Most of what we now have left of the Great Wall, we owe to the Ming dynasty.  The country was already famous for its very intricate bureaucracy, but this also led to a lot of corruption. Even though the penalties for corruption were very high, the highest Officials of the Forbidden City would pretend to uphold the ban on corruption, by accepting gifts of petitioners, and returning one of seemingly lower value.  Gugong uses this extraordinary custom as its basis. Players take on the role of powerful Chinese families trying to gain influence and power by exchanging gifts with Officials. The gift cards you offer as a player have to be of a higher value than the one you receive, forcing you to make strategic choices regarding which actions you want to take each turn. You will travel around China, sail down the Grand Canal, purchase precious jade, help construct the Great Wall, secure advantages through decrees, influence the game through intrigue, and ultimately, receive an audience with the emperor. In this App version of the board game you will play vs. Meng, the solo automata, with three different level of difficulty.   The App includes a short tutorial which explain the basic concepts of the game to help the player dive in immediately, and a full set of written rules.

Screenshots

Power Grid Boardgame4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Power Grid Boardgame at 2.5 against Gugong's 1.8. Power Grid Boardgame also leads on review sentiment (33% vs 0%) and chart position (#102 vs unranked). Gugong's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and price ($2.99 vs $8.99). On monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Power Grid Boardgame costs $8.99 and Gugong $2.99 up front. Power Grid Boardgame sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Gugong asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Power Grid Boardgame holds the better App Store score, 2.5 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Power Grid Boardgame has 26 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Power Grid Boardgame's written reviews are positive against 0% of Gugong's.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Power Grid Boardgame versus Gugong: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPower Grid BoardgameGugong
Price$8.99$2.99 — better
Rating2.5 (26 ratings) — better1.8 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews32.6% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings26 — better4
Update frequencyMonthly—
AdsNo—
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#102 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — better—
Requires iOS15.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size141 MB124 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBrettspielWeltycyclop games

Customer experience

Power Grid Boardgame

All ratings26 ratings
Positive30.8%
Neutral7.7%
Negative61.5%
Written reviews43 reviews
Positive32.6%
Neutral11.6%
Negative55.8%

Gugong

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

Power Grid Boardgame

Reported bugs

47 issues
  • Achievements disappear
  • Cannot build houses
  • Game cards difficult to recall when minimized
  • Movable mini-window UI is buggy
  • Requires force restart
Show 42 more
  • Automatic next action clipboard issues
  • BeNeLux 5th ecoplant "extended market" doesn't work
  • Blocks PiP and Music player
  • Game crashes when starting
  • Cannot return to saved games
  • UI broken, unplayable
  • Unresponsive menus and interface
  • Does not progress or explain rules
  • AI is buggy (invisible buildings/powerplants)
  • Fatal bug: cannot overbid in auction
  • Separate save system, no iCloud syncing
  • Info board scaling and drag broken
  • Game doesn't work, crashes on start
  • Cannot confirm city choice
  • Unstable UI, can lose map display
  • Crashes in phase III of online games
  • Online play unstable
  • Doesn't work half the time
  • Cannot resume saved local game
  • Cannot edit local profile name
  • Crashes randomly when starting game
  • AI players do funny things
  • Power plant auction window not displayed
  • Bugs fixed, but still issues
  • Gameplay is awful
  • GUI is non-standard but intuitive
  • Initial screen in German
  • Crashing issues resolved, but UI irritating
  • No music or sound effects during game
  • Poor instructions
  • Third player when selecting 2 player game
  • Tutorial is limited
  • App crashes when accessing help
  • Crashes frequently
  • Parts in English and German
  • Lost games
  • Screens flash, unclear round/phase
  • Crashes after pressing help
  • Cannot reload game
  • No games in online lobbies
  • Untranslated German text in menus
  • Online connection not available

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add a proper tutorial for gameplay
  • Include music and sound effects during gameplay
  • Allow saving and resuming local games
  • Enable editing of local profile names
  • Add iCloud syncing for save games
Show 2 more
  • Improve UI dismiss functionality
  • Add a clear indicator for round/phase

Gugong

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Power Grid Boardgame

One-time1
  • 1. Expansion$5.99
None

Gugong

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Power Grid Boardgame free?
Power Grid Boardgame costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Gugong free?
Gugong costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Power Grid Boardgame or Gugong?
Power Grid Boardgame is rated higher. Power Grid Boardgame averages 2.5 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while Gugong averages 1.8 from 4 ratings.

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