# Forge Ahead vs Blade Forge 3D

Forge Ahead and Blade Forge 3D both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 41% of Forge Ahead's written reviews are positive against 11% of Blade Forge 3D's. Forge Ahead also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Forge Ahead sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Blade Forge 3D sells 2 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 Blade Forge 3D. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 85K and 67K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of Forge Ahead's written reviews are positive against 11% of Blade Forge 3D's.

Forge Ahead ships an update monthly, Blade Forge 3D every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 20, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Forge Ahead | Blade Forge 3D |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (85K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forge-ahead-be-a-blacksmith/id1485491919/reviews) | **[4.6 (67K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blade-forge-3d/id1534757927/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **85K** | 67K |
| Positive reviews | **41.1% of reviews** | 10.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 254 MB | 300 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Lion Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/1362220666) | [Kwalee Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/497961736) |

## 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


### Blade Forge 3D

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blade-forge-3d/id1534757927)

Forge powerful swords using ancient blacksmithing techniques. Compete against other masters, shape your blades, and test your creations. Unlock new tools and characters as you progress on your quest to become a master forger.

**Highlights:** Become a master blacksmith, Face off against opponents, Create a variety of blades, Unlock new tools, Unlock unique characters

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads Discount | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔨 Fun gameplay
- 🗡️ Immersive blacksmithing experience
- 🎨 Ability to customize weapons

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Excessive ads
- 🚫 Forced internet connection
- 🐞 Crashes and bugs
- ⏱️ Repetitive and grindy

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes during forging process
- Reward ads not working properly
- Progression issues when unlocking new tools

**Requested features**

- Offline mode
- Reduce ads
- More weapon customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Forge Ahead free?

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

### Is Blade Forge 3D free?

Blade Forge 3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Forge Ahead or Blade Forge 3D?

Blade Forge 3D is rated higher. Forge Ahead averages 4.6 out of 5 from 85K ratings, while Blade Forge 3D averages 4.6 from 67K ratings.

### Do Forge Ahead or Blade Forge 3D have ads?

Both Forge Ahead and Blade Forge 3D show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Forge Ahead or Blade Forge 3D?

Forge Ahead ships an update monthly, and Blade Forge 3D every 2 weeks. Most recently, Forge Ahead was updated on October 20, 2026 and Blade Forge 3D on October 20, 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.*