Runes vs Dark City
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Runes
Uncover the secrets of a mysterious town by searching intricately illustrated scenes for hidden objects and solving puzzles. Follow a detective through a captivating storyline with unique challenges and unlock magical artifacts as you progress. Play at your own pace with optional hints.
- Search hand-painted scenes for hidden objects
- Spot subtle differences
- Solve puzzles and brain teasers
- Follow a twisting storyline
- Collect magical artifacts
- Play at your own pace with hints
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Something strange is happening in Enchanted Crossroads. Doors that weren't there yesterday. Whispers in empty rooms. A rune etched into a mirror that no one remembers hanging. When Detective Greystone calls for your help, it becomes clear — this charming little town is hiding more than it shows. Search hand-painted scenes for hidden objects, spot subtle differences, and solve puzzles that guard the town's oldest secrets. Each clue you find pulls you deeper into a mystery woven through 15+ beautifully illustrated chapters. But the closer you look, the more questions arise. Who — or what — is watching from the crossroads? WHAT AWAITS YOU A Mystery Worth Solving Follow Detective Greystone through a twisting storyline filled with enchanted characters, buried secrets, and revelations you won't see coming. A World Rich in Detail Wander through 15+ stunning hand-crafted scenes — from moonlit gardens to forgotten libraries — each hiding objects, differences, and surprises. Puzzles That Reward Curiosity Hidden object searches, spot-the-difference challenges, and clever brain teasers — 4+ unique puzzle types keep every chapter fresh. Your Collection Grows Complete quests to unlock rare magical artifacts and build a personal trove of enchanted items. Play at Your Own Pace No timers. No pressure. Helpful hints are always within reach whenever you need a gentle nudge. Optional in-app purchases are available, but you can complete the full story without spending anything. The crossroads are calling. Will you answer?
Dark City
Step into the shoes of a detective in Kyiv to uncover a dark mystery involving supernatural beings and a city on the brink. Solve puzzles, find hidden objects, and decide who to trust in this paranormal adventure.
- Uncover mystery of disappearing magical creatures
- Strategy guide for navigation
- Replay favorite HOPs and mini-games
- Collect special characters and morphing objects
- Enjoy concept art, screensavers, and music
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When an investigation of a suspected spiritualist fraud comes up empty, events unfold to reveal a much darker and more complex underbelly of the magic city of Kyiv. You'll play as a renowned detective in a city of secrets, paranormal circumstances, and mistrust as you struggle to learn who to trust among your friends and locals. TRY THE FREE TRIAL VERSION, AND THEN UNLOCK THE COMPLETE ADVENTURE IN THE GAME! Things take an unexpected turn when your investigation points to the existence of supernatural inhabitants of Kyiv and someone or something that wants them out of the way. With more questions than answers, it's up to you to untangle this dark mystery and save a city on the brink in this mind-bending hidden-object experience! Dark City: Kyiv includes: • Uncover the mystery of the disappearing magical creatures in the bonus game! • Never get lost with the strategy guide! • Replay your favorite HOPs and mini-games. • Collect special characters and morphing objects throughout the game! • Enjoy concept art, screensavers, and music from the game! Discover more from Friendly Fox Studio: Terms of Use: https://friendlyfox.studio/terms-and-conditions/ Privacy Policy: https://friendlyfox.studio/privacy-policy/ Official website: https://friendlyfox.studio/hubs/hub-ios/ Follow us on: https://www.facebook.com/FriendlyFoxStudio/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Dark City at none against Runes's shown. Dark City also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.4). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Runes sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Dark City sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Dark City holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 579 and 1.1K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Runes's written reviews are positive against 77% of Dark City's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Runes ships an update every 6 weeks, Dark City every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Runes | Dark City |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (579 ratings) | 4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews — better | 77.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 579 | 1.1K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.4 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 186 MB | 1.2 GB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Crisp App Studio | Friendly Fox Games Limited |
Customer experience
Runes
Dark City
User reviews
Runes
From 579 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Great graphics
- 🧠 Exercises the brain
- 🤩 Fun to play
- 🧘♀️ Relaxing gameplay
- 🔍 Interesting hidden object puzzles
Room to improve
- 💰 Energy/ads require purchases
- 🕰️ Too many interruptions
- 🌃 Dark and blurry scenes
- 🤔 Unclear progression/navigation
Dark City
From 1.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🌟 Excellent graphics and design
- 🎨 Beautiful Ukrainian folklore themes
- 🤩 Engaging and immersive storylines
- 👍 Variety of challenging puzzles
- 💎 High-quality original games
Room to improve
- 🤔 Some mini-games can be too difficult
- ⌚ Desire for longer gameplay experiences
- 💰 Concerns about in-app purchases
Bugs and requests
Runes
Reported bugs
2 issues- Energy recharge issues
- Purchase rejections
Requested features
2 requests- Restart option
- Clearer level progression
Dark City
Reported bugs
2 issues- Issues with puzzle controls and responsiveness
- Occasional crashes or glitches
Requested features
2 requests- More frequent game releases
- Ability to skip or adjust difficulty of mini-games
In-app purchases
Runes
- Instant Hint$0.99
- Handful of Gems$0.99
- Bag with Gems$1.99
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- Infinity Energy + No Ads$2.99
- Сhest with Gems$2.99
- Master Pack Special$3.99
- Master Pack: All-included$7.99
Dark City
- Full Game & Bonus Unlock$6.99







