# Runes vs Dark City

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Runes | Dark City |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (579 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runes-hidden-objects-games/id1484061991/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-city-kyiv-hidden-objects/id6478279868/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 579 | **1.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **83.3% of reviews** | 77.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 186 MB | 1.2 GB |
| Requires iOS | 13.4 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Crisp App Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1143551614) | [Friendly Fox Games Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1815137310) |

## What reviewers say

### Runes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runes-hidden-objects-games/id1484061991)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Instant Hint | $0.99 | one-time |
| Handful of Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bag with Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| Infinity Energy + No Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Сhest with Gems | $2.99 | one-time |
| Master Pack Special | $3.99 | one-time |
| Master Pack: All-included | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great graphics
- 🧠 Exercises the brain
- 🤩 Fun to play
- 🧘‍♀️ Relaxing gameplay
- 🔍 Interesting hidden object puzzles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Energy/ads require purchases
- 🕰️ Too many interruptions
- 🌃 Dark and blurry scenes
- 🤔 Unclear progression/navigation

**Reported bugs**

- Energy recharge issues
- Purchase rejections

**Requested features**

- Restart option
- Clearer level progression


### Dark City

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-city-kyiv-hidden-objects/id6478279868)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Game & Bonus Unlock | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Excellent graphics and design
- 🎨 Beautiful Ukrainian folklore themes
- 🤩 Engaging and immersive storylines
- 👍 Variety of challenging puzzles
- 💎 High-quality original games

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Some mini-games can be too difficult
- ⌚ Desire for longer gameplay experiences
- 💰 Concerns about in-app purchases

**Reported bugs**

- Issues with puzzle controls and responsiveness
- Occasional crashes or glitches

**Requested features**

- More frequent game releases
- Ability to skip or adjust difficulty of mini-games


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Runes free?

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

### Is Dark City free?

Dark City is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Runes or Dark City?

Dark City is rated higher. Runes averages 4.5 out of 5 from 579 ratings, while Dark City averages 4.7 from 1.1K ratings.

### Do Runes or Dark City have ads?

Runes shows ads; Dark City does not.

### Which is updated more often, Runes or Dark City?

Runes ships an update every 6 weeks, and Dark City every 5 weeks. Most recently, Runes was updated on November 11, 2026 and Dark City on November 9, 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.*