# Barnard's Star vs Blacken Slash

Barnard's Star and Blacken Slash both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 96% of Blacken Slash's written reviews are positive against 77% of Barnard's Star's. Blacken Slash also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Barnard's Star's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $4.99). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Barnard's Star costs $3.99 and Blacken Slash $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Barnard's Star against 4.8 for Blacken Slash. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 46 and 60 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 77% of Barnard's Star's written reviews are positive against 96% of Blacken Slash's.

Barnard's Star ships an update every 4 weeks, Blacken Slash fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barnard's Star | Blacken Slash |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$3.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [4.7 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barnards-star/id1556427846/reviews) | **[4.8 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blacken-slash/id1604646442/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 46 | **60** |
| Positive reviews | 77.3% of reviews | **95.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 122 MB | 161 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Pollywog Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1383938094) | [Sonderland Games UG haftungsbeschrankt](https://appshunter.io/developer/1546364147) |

## What reviewers say

### Barnard's Star

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barnards-star/id1556427846)

Engage in strategic, turn-based multiplayer battles across space. Outwit opponents with unique character abilities and tactical map control. Victory depends solely on your strategic prowess, with no reliance on luck or in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Multiplayer turn-based tactics, No micro-transactions or random chance, 3 warring factions (Humans, Robots, Critters), 30 characters with unique attacks, 18 maps on space stations and ships, Offline vs. AI and local multiplayer, Online multiplayer challenges

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Blacken Slash

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blacken-slash/id1604646442)

Engage in turn-based tactical combat with roguelike elements. Craft unique character builds with a vast array of items and skills. Enjoy a story-driven experience with a retro soundtrack and compete on an online ladder.

**Highlights:** Turn-based tactical combat, Roguelike elements, Item-based build crafting, Carry favorite items between runs, Online ladder competition, Challenging achievements, Story-driven experience

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Addictive gameplay loop
- 💡 Innovative mechanics
- 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing visuals
- 🧠 Strategic depth
- 💰 Worth the price, no ads/IAPs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Lacks strategic depth (for some)
- 😴 Combat can be boring
- 📉 Can become trivially easy
- 🔋 Drains battery significantly
- 🔄 Early levels can be repetitive

**Reported bugs**

- Insane battery drainage
- iPad getting super hot

**Requested features**

- Consider adding two or more units for more interesting gameplay
- More content for future updates


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barnard's Star free?

Barnard's Star costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Blacken Slash free?

Blacken Slash costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Barnard's Star or Blacken Slash?

Blacken Slash is rated higher. Barnard's Star averages 4.7 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while Blacken Slash averages 4.8 from 60 ratings.

### Do Barnard's Star or Blacken Slash have ads?

Neither Barnard's Star nor Blacken Slash shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Barnard's Star or Blacken Slash?

Barnard's Star ships an update every 4 weeks, and Blacken Slash fortnightly. Most recently, Barnard's Star was updated on October 21, 2026 and Blacken Slash on October 27, 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.*