# Construction Simulator 3 vs The Criminal

The clearest difference is price: The Criminal at Free against Construction Simulator 3's $3.99. Construction Simulator 3's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On rating, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

The Criminal is free to download; Construction Simulator 3 costs $3.99 up front. Construction Simulator 3 sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and The Criminal sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Criminal holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 366 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Construction Simulator 3's written reviews are positive against 78% of The Criminal's.

Construction Simulator 3 ships an update fortnightly, The Criminal every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Construction Simulator 3 | The Criminal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/construction-simulator-3/id1439889483/reviews) | **[4.6 (366 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-criminal/id6444850922/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 366 |
| Positive reviews | 71.8% of reviews | **78.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1.6 GB | 226 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [astragon Entertainment GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/433152241) | [SkisoSoft](https://appshunter.io/developer/913113371) |

## What reviewers say

### Construction Simulator 3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/construction-simulator-3/id1439889483)

Experience realistic construction work in a charming European setting. Take on diverse contracts, build and repair structures, and expand your fleet with officially licensed vehicles from top brands. Explore a new map and master challenging missions.

**Highlights:** Over 50 licensed vehicles, New cockpit view, Over 70 challenging contracts, Bridge construction missions, Explore a 3.2km² European map, Build and repair roads and houses

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coin Pack 01 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coin Pack 02 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Coin Pack 03 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Coin Pack 04 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Coin Pack 05 | $22.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best game
- 🚀 Awesome and fun
- 🚀 Great gameplay
- 🚀 Realistic graphics
- 🚀 Lots of content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔋 Drains battery
- 🔒 No controller support
- 🔒 Repetitive jobs

**Reported bugs**

- Vehicles getting stuck or flying into the air
- Inability to load/unload materials properly
- Missions not completing due to glitches
- Saved game progress getting lost
- In-app purchases not working

**Requested features**

- Multiplayer mode
- More vehicles and equipment
- Ability to get out of vehicles
- Customization options
- Larger map with more areas


### The Criminal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-criminal/id6444850922)

Explore a vibrant open world, engaging in theft and evasion. Your actions have consequences, with police pursuing you after each heist. Successfully return stolen goods to your hideout to sell them and upgrade your skills and vehicles.

**Highlights:** Open world exploration, Looting and stealing mechanics, Police pursuit and evasion, Vehicle and skill upgrades, Unlockable cars and hideouts, Customizable settings

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| $12000 | $0.99 | one-time |
| No Ads Discount | $0.99 | one-time |
| All Colors | $1.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| $30000 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Update 1.0 vehicles | $3.99 | one-time |
| $100000 | $5.99 | one-time |
| One Million | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good gameplay
- 🚀 Smooth performance
- 💡 Unique criminal theme
- 🚀 Satisfying gameplay loop

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Cars limited to 30 mph
- 🐛 Gear shifting issues
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 💡 Lack of weapons and customization

**Reported bugs**

- Cars limited to 30 mph
- Issues with manual gear shifting
- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Inability to see character
- Upgrades not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add more weapons like baseball bats or guns
- Increase car speeds and performance
- Improve gear shifting and transmission options
- Expand customization and upgrade options
- Introduce multiplayer mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Construction Simulator 3 free?

Construction Simulator 3 costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is The Criminal free?

The Criminal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Construction Simulator 3 or The Criminal?

The Criminal is rated higher. Construction Simulator 3 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while The Criminal averages 4.6 from 366 ratings.

### Do Construction Simulator 3 or The Criminal have ads?

The Criminal shows ads; Construction Simulator 3 does not.

### Which is updated more often, Construction Simulator 3 or The Criminal?

Construction Simulator 3 ships an update fortnightly, and The Criminal every 2 months. Most recently, Construction Simulator 3 was updated on October 24, 2026 and The Criminal on October 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*