# Hot Lava vs Dead Cells+

The clearest difference is rating: Dead Cells+ at 4.9 against Hot Lava's 4.1. Dead Cells+ also leads on monetization model (free vs paid) and review sentiment (90% vs 68%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Dead Cells+ holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.1K and 14K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Hot Lava's written reviews are positive against 90% of Dead Cells+'s.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hot Lava | Dead Cells+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hot-lava/id1469252166/reviews) | **[4.9 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dead-cells-plus/id1626984813/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3.1K | **14K** |
| Positive reviews | 67.9% of reviews | **90.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 2.6 GB | 1.8 GB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Klei](https://appshunter.io/developer/534603952) | [Playdigious](https://appshunter.io/developer/1041387229) |

## What reviewers say

### Hot Lava

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hot-lava/id1469252166)

Experience the thrill of childhood imagination in this first-person adventure game. Run, jump, and climb through nostalgic environments, avoiding molten lava and other hazards. Play solo or with friends in a game of skill and ingenuity.

**Highlights:** First-person parkour gameplay, Nostalgic environments, Multiplayer with friends, Leaderboards for speedruns, Obstacle avoidance challenges

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great game
- 🚀 Awesome graphics
- 👍 Fun gameplay
- 👍 Nostalgic vibes
- 👍 Good for speedrunning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Glitchy controls
- 🐛 Difficulty issues
- 🔋 Drains device battery
- 👎 Lacking multiplayer features

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch
- Freezing and performance issues
- Disappearing save data
- Unresponsive controls
- Gyroscope problems

**Requested features**

- Add multiplayer mode
- Improve controls and sensitivity
- Add more levels and content
- Provide controller support
- Allow custom music playback


### Dead Cells+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dead-cells-plus/id1626984813)

Embark on a challenging 2D action platformer adventure as a failed alchemic experiment. Explore a dynamic, interconnected world, master combat, and unlock new paths with each playthrough. This version includes extensive DLC content with new storylines, biomes, enemies, weapons, and bosses.

**Highlights:** Roguevania exploration, Frantic 2D combat, Nonlinear progression, Daily leaderboards, Return to Castlevania DLC, The Bad Seed DLC, Fatal Falls DLC

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 👍 Excellent controls
- 🎨 Beautiful pixel art
- 🔍 Engaging exploration
- 💡 Helpful accessibility options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional audio issues
- 🔋 Performance drops on some devices
- 🤔 Lack of cloud save sync across devices
- 🕹️ Touchscreen controls can be finicky

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes or freezes during boss battles
- Map not updating properly after teleporting
- Controller buttons not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to listen to own music/podcasts while playing
- More customization options for button layout
- Multiplayer or co-op mode
- Improved save/progress sync across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hot Lava free?

Hot Lava is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Dead Cells+ free?

Dead Cells+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hot Lava or Dead Cells+?

Dead Cells+ is rated higher. Hot Lava averages 4.1 out of 5 from 3.1K ratings, while Dead Cells+ averages 4.9 from 14K ratings.

### Do Hot Lava or Dead Cells+ have ads?

Neither Hot Lava nor Dead Cells+ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hot Lava or Dead Cells+?

Hot Lava ships an update every 3 months, and Dead Cells+ every 3 months. Most recently, Hot Lava was updated on October 25, 2026 and Dead Cells+ on October 24, 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.*