# SimEmpire vs Forbidden

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: SimEmpire at 12.0 against Forbidden's 15.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SimEmpire sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Forbidden sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SimEmpire ships an update every 6 weeks, Forbidden every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimEmpire | Forbidden |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.0 (83 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simempire-origins/id1549814277/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **83** | — |
| Positive reviews | 34.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 847 MB | 194 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [TKG Technology Co., Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1545275984) | [Cherie Matthews](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822540896) |

## What reviewers say

### SimEmpire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simempire-origins/id1549814277)

Build a thriving empire from a humble village in ancient times. Explore diverse civilizations, manage resources, conduct research, and construct wonders.

**Highlights:** Civilization building, Resource production, Scientific research, Troop training, Wonder construction, Ancient civilizations

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Egypt Civilization DLC | $0.99 | one-time |
| China Civilization DLC | $0.99 | one-time |
| Green Diamonds 90 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Gold Coin 9000 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Green Diamonds 180 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 30 Gift Package | $4.99 | one-time |
| Green Diamonds 480 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Gold Coin 68k | $9.99 | one-time |
| Green Diamonds 1024 | $19.99 | one-time |
| 148 Gift Package | $21.99 | one-time |


### Forbidden

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forbidden/id6747711630)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 600 Gold Coin | $0.90 | one-time |
| 1000 Coins | $3.99 | one-time |
| 1200 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SimEmpire free?

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

### Is Forbidden free?

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

### Do SimEmpire or Forbidden have ads?

Neither SimEmpire nor Forbidden shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SimEmpire or Forbidden?

SimEmpire ships an update every 6 weeks, and Forbidden every 5 weeks. Most recently, SimEmpire was updated on November 7, 2026 and Forbidden on November 8, 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.*