Comparison

Fire in the dark vs Melldows

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

Head to head
About

Fire in the dark

Experience a thrilling text adventure where your choices determine survival. Navigate a dark forest with three strangers, each with their own motives. Make critical decisions to uncover the path to safety amidst numerous deadly outcomes.

Highlights
  • Branching narrative with 110 death paths
  • Multiple playable protagonists
  • Atmospheric soundscape and minimalist graphics
  • Decision-based gameplay
  • Plot progression and replayability
  • Unlockable characters
Features
Read full description

Three men are sitting in the forest. Neither do they know each other, nor do they know where they are. But one thing is clear: not all of them will survive this night. Experience the night from the perspective of one of the three men and make decisions that will (maybe) let you survive this night. Each has their own personality, their own goals and their own ideas. It won't be easy to find the right path. In addition to 110 plot lines that lead to certain death, there are 3 that ensure survival. "Fire in the Dark" is a text adventure with atmospheric ambience. A sophisticated design and soundscape assist in an enjoyable reading and decision-making experience. The graphic depictions are minimalist and hint at what is happening. Pictorially described, violent actions are written in text form. There are 4 protagonists: The First ... He is tall and strong. His mind is simple. The second ... The second man is the small one, very nervous by nature. The third ... The third is nothing special. Not tall, not short. He seems mediocre. The narrative voice ... It accompanies you away from the night. [ Usage ] - touch the screen to continue with the text - decisions are marked with a triangular icon - between some game decisions cutscenes are shown - if a cutscene was shown, it can be replayed by touching the top text - if plot points are known, the possibility to go back in the plot is shown in the upper left corner of the screen - a reached death is indicated with a briefly faded in symbol - after an experienced death there are the possibilities: a) Start the action from the beginning b) Return to the last decision c) Share the described ending with friends d) To view the whole storyline clearly e) To change the character - after successfully surviving the night, all un/known endings and the frequency of dying are listed - if the big one is successfully completed, the small one is unlocked - if the small one is successfully completed, the other one is unlocked The game took a lot of time and work. I ask for your understanding, that the one or other time advertising must be switched, in order to be able to earn some money for our work. But don't worry. The advertising is placed in a way that it does not disturb the flow of the game. Have fun and a happy horror! PS. It was translated automatically. The original language is German. I apologize if any inconvenience occurs.

About

Melldows

Design and color your own miniature world in this relaxing sandbox game. Spread forests, create paths, and add structures in a goal-less, creative experience.

Highlights
  • Creative land design
  • Goal-less sandbox experience
  • Forest and path creation
  • Place tents and ruins
  • Cozy and carefree gameplay
Read full description

Melldows is a tiny, cozy world-building toy with no goals, scores, or pressure. Shape a small piece of land into your own peaceful place. Sculpt the terrain, grow forests and flowers, draw winding paths, and build a quiet little village. Watch the world come alive with changing light, gentle wildlife, and seasonal colors. There is nothing to win and no correct way to play. Create a wild garden, a hidden settlement, or simply relax and see where your ideas take you.

Screenshots

Fire in the dark4 screens
Melldows4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Fire in the dark at Free against Melldows's $1.99. Fire in the dark also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). Melldows's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 4 months). On review sentiment, in-app purchases 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

Fire in the dark is free to download; Melldows costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Fire in the dark ships an update every 4 months, Melldows every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Fire in the dark versus Melldows: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFire in the darkMelldows
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size68 MB50 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperGlindemann, Sennoun, Langer GbRŁukasz Cichecki

Customer experience

Fire in the dark

Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Melldows

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Fire in the dark

No in-app purchases

None

Melldows

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Fire in the dark free?
Fire in the dark is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Melldows free?
Melldows costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Fire in the dark or Melldows have ads?
Fire in the dark shows ads; Melldows does not.
Which is updated more often, Fire in the dark or Melldows?
Fire in the dark ships an update every 4 months, and Melldows every 4 weeks. Most recently, Fire in the dark was updated on November 3, 2026 and Melldows on November 4, 2026.

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