# Forge Ahead vs Idle Digging

Forge Ahead and Idle Digging are too close to call on the numbers: across 10 compared parameters — price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. Forge Ahead sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Idle Digging sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Forge Ahead against 4.6 for Idle Digging. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 85K and 38K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of Forge Ahead's written reviews are positive against 39% of Idle Digging's.

Forge Ahead ships an update monthly, Idle Digging every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Forge Ahead | Idle Digging |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (85K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forge-ahead-be-a-blacksmith/id1485491919/reviews) | **[4.6 (38K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-digging/id1493358837/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **85K** | 38K |
| Positive reviews | **41.1% of reviews** | 39.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 254 MB | 286 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 11.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Lion Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/1362220666) | [Zplay (Beijing) Info. Tech. Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/531022725) |

## What reviewers say

### Forge Ahead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forge-ahead-be-a-blacksmith/id1485491919)

Mine exotic metals and precious gems, then hammer them into beautifully crafted swords. Run your own armory to display your creations and earn money to unlock even better materials and designs. Enjoy addictive gameplay that lets you earn even when offline.

**Highlights:** Mine exotic metals and gems, Hammer molten metal into swords, Run your own armory, Unlock new materials and designs, Earn money offline, Addictive tap-based mechanics

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tier 1 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Upgrade Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Tier 2 Coins | $6.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| Tier 3 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Satisfying forging process
- 🚀 Casual time-killer

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lack of clarity on ore values
- 🔍 Repetitive and limited gameplay
- 💸 Excessive ads and monetization
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to store/save forged swords
- Customers not appearing consistently

**Requested features**

- More ore/material variety and selection
- Additional weapon types beyond swords
- Ability to discard unwanted ores
- More detailed progression and upgrades
- Improved customer/quest system


### Idle Digging

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-digging/id1493358837)

Manage workers to dig and build houses, earning gold to upgrade tools for faster digging. Experience an addictive idle game focused on resource management and wealth accumulation.

**Highlights:** Manage workers, Dig and build houses, Earn gold, Upgrade digging tools, Addictive gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Diamond Pack 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Pop-up Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Special Bundle | $2.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack 3 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack 4 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack 5 | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun game
- 👍 Addictive gameplay
- 💡 Interesting concept

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Too many ads
- 💰 Expensive upgrades
- 🐛 Glitches and bugs
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- Ads not working as expected
- Progress loss after updates
- Crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- More levels and content
- Offline earnings
- Customization options
- Improved ad system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Forge Ahead free?

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

### Is Idle Digging free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Forge Ahead or Idle Digging?

Idle Digging is rated higher. Forge Ahead averages 4.6 out of 5 from 85K ratings, while Idle Digging averages 4.6 from 38K ratings.

### Do Forge Ahead or Idle Digging have ads?

Both Forge Ahead and Idle Digging show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Forge Ahead or Idle Digging?

Forge Ahead ships an update monthly, and Idle Digging every 3 weeks. Most recently, Forge Ahead was updated on October 19, 2026 and Idle Digging on October 18, 2026.

---

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