# Katana Runner vs Samurai Slash

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Katana Runner at none against Samurai Slash's 1. Katana Runner also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). Samurai Slash's advantage is ratings volume (8.5K vs 201). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Samurai Slash sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Katana Runner asks for nothing beyond the download.

Samurai Slash holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Samurai Slash has 8.5K ratings behind it against 201, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Katana Runner's written reviews are positive against 61% of Samurai Slash's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Katana Runner ships an update every 6 weeks, Samurai Slash every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Katana Runner | Samurai Slash |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (201 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/katana-runner/id1505206938/reviews) | **[4.7 (8.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samurai-slash-run-and-slice/id1535201167/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 201 | **8.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 60.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 88 MB | 355 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [KobGames Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/998188882) | [Ketchapp](https://appshunter.io/developer/528065807) |

## What reviewers say

### Katana Runner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/katana-runner/id1505206938)

Embark on an addictive challenge with this game that's easy to pick up but difficult to master. Navigate through numerous levels, testing your skills and aiming for the highest score.

**Highlights:** Addictive gameplay, Easy to learn, Hard to master, Beat all levels

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Samurai Slash

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samurai-slash-run-and-slice/id1535201167)

Embark on an action-packed chase as the last samurai, dashing and slicing through enemies and bullets across diverse worlds. Upgrade your character, unlock legendary weapons, and conquer challenging bosses and levels to become the ultimate master.

**Highlights:** Dash and slice enemies, Cut off bullets, Explore 5+ worlds, Face fearsome bosses, Upgrade character, Unlock legendary weapons

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Excellent gameplay
- 👍 Satisfying slashing mechanics
- 💯 Highly enjoyable experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔧 Bugs and glitches affecting gameplay
- 🔍 Inconsistent performance

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezes at higher levels
- Enemies not spawning correctly
- Saved progress not loading properly

**Requested features**

- Improve stability and reduce crashes
- Optimize performance for older devices
- Add more visual customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Katana Runner free?

Katana Runner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Samurai Slash free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Katana Runner or Samurai Slash?

Samurai Slash is rated higher. Katana Runner averages 4.6 out of 5 from 201 ratings, while Samurai Slash averages 4.7 from 8.5K ratings.

### Do Katana Runner or Samurai Slash have ads?

Samurai Slash shows ads; Katana Runner does not.

### Which is updated more often, Katana Runner or Samurai Slash?

Katana Runner ships an update every 6 weeks, and Samurai Slash every 4 weeks. Most recently, Katana Runner was updated on November 3, 2026 and Samurai Slash on November 3, 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.*