Comparison

9th Dawn III vs Duskfall

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

9th Dawn III

Embark on a vast 2D open-world adventure as a chosen hero investigating mysterious events. Explore diverse landscapes, battle over 270 monsters, and uncover ancient secrets to save the land. Customize your character, recruit allies, and engage in numerous side activities.

Highlights
  • Huge seamless open world exploration
  • Over 270 unique monsters to battle
  • Extensive item collection (1400+ items)
  • Character customization and leveling
  • Monster recruitment and training
  • Weapon and armor customization
  • In-game card game and fishing
Features
Read full description

9th Dawn III: Shadow of Erthil is a huge 2D open world RPG and collectathon dungeon crawler packed full of adventure! When asked to investigate mysterious, ghostly sightings around the lake of Elmson, you trek through the lands of Cedaltia to uncover the truth. Upon arrival, you hear rumors of an untrustworthy king. Taking the path of the Chosen One, you journey to Lorwyck Castle to confront a powerful enemy – traversing ancient fortresses, dark dungeons, perilous swamps, and more! Soon, you find yourself at the heart of a foreboding prophecy. Equip your best gear and adventure across the fields of Ashwick, the snowy regions of Halstom, dense forests of Vlak, the sprawling depths of huge dungeons, and the perilous Hollow Mountains of Scorn on an epic quest to uncover the secrets of a mysterious evil force ... Can you become the savior of Cadaltia? • Explore a huge, seamless open world full of crypts, fortresses, villages, and more. • Find your way across deadly dungeons, fight over 270 unique monsters, and acquire loot, treasures, and rare materials. • Become the ultimate warrior as you unlock spells and abilities, fine-tune your attributes, and level-up your crafting abilities! • Recruit monsters! Turn them into powerful allies with care and combat skill training. • Collect 1,400 uniquely drawn items – including more than 300 weapons and 550 pieces of armor and accessories. • Customize weapons and armour, go fishing, cook food, collect gems, and more! • Kick back and play Fyued, an original card game played throughout the region with 180 collectable cards! • Enjoy an original orchestral soundtrack. • Help the townsfolk to prosper with sidequests that range from silly to dangerous! Valorware is a UK-based game development and publishing company. Valorware is led by a solo-developer, focusing on producing content-rich Role Playing Games (RPGs).

About

Duskfall

Embark on a dark fantasy adventure in this turn-based dungeon crawler RPG. Explore intricate dungeons, engage in strategic combat, and uncover a compelling storyline. Upgrade your hero with thousands of items and craft legendary gear.

Highlights
  • Turn-based dungeon crawling
  • Strategic combat system
  • Fantasy world exploration
  • Hero customization and upgrades
  • Crafting and enchantment
  • Offline gameplay
Features
Read full description

Embark on a thrilling journey with this turn-based dungeon crawler RPG! Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Duskfall. Dive into the heart of dungeons, where every step holds secrets, treasures, and formidable foes. Epic Dungeon Adventures: Navigate through intricate dungeons, uncovering mysteries and facing mythical creatures. Engage in turn-based battles, employing strategic prowess to triumph over challenging foes. Fantasy World Exploration: Roam through a richly crafted fantasy world, filled with captivating landscapes and enigmatic characters. Unravel the secrets of ancient lore and embark on a quest that will test your courage and wit. Strategic Turn-Based Combat: Equip your hero, plan your moves wisely, and engage in strategic turn-based battles. Conquer enemies, discover hidden pathways, and emerge victorious in this thrilling RPG experience. Upgrade and Customize: Collect thousands of items, from powerful weapons to enchanted armor. Upgrade your gear, unlock new abilities, and customize your hero to fit your playstyle. Compelling Storyline: Immerse yourself in a deep and captivating narrative that unfolds as you progress. Encounter intriguing characters, make impactful choices, and shape the outcome of your epic adventure. Crafting and Enchantment: Experiment with the magical arts at the forge. Craft powerful potions, enchant your equipment, and create legendary items that will aid you in your quest. Offline Gameplay: Play anytime, anywhere – Duskfall offers an offline gaming experience. Dive into dungeons and embark on quests even when offline. Embark on a heroic journey in Duskfall, where dungeons hold the keys to unrivaled adventures. Download now and discover the true essence of turn-based RPG gaming!

Screenshots

9th Dawn III4 screens
Duskfall4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Duskfall at Free against 9th Dawn III's $9.99. Duskfall also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (3.6K vs 105). 9th Dawn III's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and ads (none vs shown). On review sentiment and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Duskfall is free to download; 9th Dawn III costs $9.99 up front. Duskfall sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. 9th Dawn III asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Duskfall holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Duskfall has 3.6K ratings behind it against 105, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of 9th Dawn III's written reviews are positive against 86% of Duskfall's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

9th Dawn III ships an update every 3 days, Duskfall every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
9th Dawn III versus Duskfall: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter9th Dawn IIIDuskfall
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (105 ratings)4.8 (3.6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews85.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1053.6K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size578 MB230 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperValorware LTDViktor Domonyi

Customer experience

9th Dawn III

All ratings104 ratings
Positive85.6%
Neutral4.8%
Negative9.6%
Written reviews80 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative15.0%

Duskfall

All ratings3,585 ratings
Positive97.9%
Neutral1.1%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews334 reviews
Positive85.9%
Neutral5.4%
Negative8.7%

User reviews

9th Dawn III

From 105 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎮 Massive open-world with extensive exploration
  • 🎯 Deep RPG mechanics and character customization
  • 🛠️ Rich crafting system (smithing, cooking, enchanting, etc.)
  • 🎴 Integrated card game mini-game
  • 🐾 Pet/creature taming and battling system

Room to improve

  • 🗺️ Poor navigation and confusing map UI
  • 🐛 Game-breaking bugs and crashes
  • ❌ Lack of post-purchase support and updates
  • ⚖️ Unbalanced difficulty curve
  • 🧙 Overpowered magic/healing abilities

Duskfall

From 3.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great retro experience
  • 🚀 Satisfying RPG/dungeon crawler
  • 💡 Customizable character
  • 👍 Good basic fun
  • 👍 Impressive and interesting

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Sudden difficulty spike
  • 🔒 Inventory paywall
  • 🐛 Unreliable updates
  • 🐛 Inventory management issues
  • 🐛 Unclear progression and lack of hints

Bugs and requests

9th Dawn III

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • Accidental NPC interaction causing permanent price increases
  • Auto-save issues when force-quitting
  • Audio not working on some devices
  • Game crashes on iPad
  • Controls not responsive on Backbone controller
Show 6 more
  • Companion getting stuck on walls
  • Gem crafting success rate too low
  • Skill leveling not progressing properly
  • Data loss on device transfer
  • Dungeon monsters respawning excessively
  • UI freezing and menu navigation issues

Requested features

14 requests
  • iCloud save synchronization across devices
  • Cloud save support for device transfers
  • Chinese language localization
  • Confirmation dialogs for permanent actions
  • Multiple save file slots
Show 9 more
  • Fog of war on maps
  • Recipe material indicators
  • Shared inventory between player and companion
  • Solo play option without companion
  • Cross-platform save (PS4/console)
  • Mac/Steam release
  • Joystick sensitivity customization
  • Quest markers or better navigation aids
  • Improved NPC scheduling/availability

Duskfall

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Items disappearing after purchases
  • Doors/gates relocking after progress
  • Clues not saved in quest log

Requested features

8 requests
  • More in-game purchase options
  • More skill optimization
  • Hint feature or help for stuck players
  • Ability to see companion classes
  • Ability to customize companions
Show 3 more
  • Speed up option for enemy turns
  • Respawning enemies for grinding
  • Better inventory management

In-app purchases

None

9th Dawn III

No in-app purchases

13 purchases

Duskfall

One-time13
  • Duskfall Pack$0.99
  • Remove Ads$1.99
  • Duskfall Pack$1.99
Show 10 more
  • Seasons Tier 2 Pass$5.99
  • 600 gems$5.99
  • Duskfall Pack$5.99
  • 1300 gems$11.99
  • Duskfall Pack$11.99
  • 3000 gems$22.99
  • Duskfall Pack$22.99
  • Duskfall Pack$34.99
  • 7000 gems$35.99
  • 16000 gems$69.99

Questions

Is 9th Dawn III free?
9th Dawn III costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Duskfall free?
Duskfall is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, 9th Dawn III or Duskfall?
Duskfall is rated higher. 9th Dawn III averages 4.5 out of 5 from 105 ratings, while Duskfall averages 4.8 from 3.6K ratings.
Do 9th Dawn III or Duskfall have ads?
Duskfall shows ads; 9th Dawn III does not.
Which is updated more often, 9th Dawn III or Duskfall?
9th Dawn III ships an update every 3 days, and Duskfall every 2 weeks. Most recently, 9th Dawn III was updated on October 24, 2026 and Duskfall on October 24, 2026.

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