# Monster Rancher vs The Elder Scrolls

The clearest difference is price: The Elder Scrolls at Free against Monster Rancher's $15.99. The Elder Scrolls also leads on ratings volume (13K vs 21). Monster Rancher's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 49%) and in-app purchases (none vs 39). On rating, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

The Elder Scrolls is free to download; Monster Rancher costs $15.99 up front. The Elder Scrolls sells 39 one-off in-app purchases. Monster Rancher asks for nothing beyond the download.

Monster Rancher holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Elder Scrolls has 13K ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Monster Rancher's written reviews are positive against 49% of The Elder Scrolls's.

Monster Rancher ships an update monthly, The Elder Scrolls every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monster Rancher | The Elder Scrolls |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $15.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monster-rancher/id1587308593/reviews)** | [4.6 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-elder-scrolls-castles/id1594657136/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 21 | **13K** |
| Positive reviews | **85.7% of reviews** | 49.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 266 MB | 686 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/335308086) | [Bethesda](https://appshunter.io/developer/547109759) |

## What reviewers say

### Monster Rancher

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monster-rancher/id1587308593)

Train and battle unique monsters by discovering them from music CDs. Develop their stats through various training methods and compete against other breeders worldwide. Share your achievements and enjoy autosave and controller support.

**Highlights:** Discover monsters from music CDs, Train monsters with various methods, Battle monsters in competitions, Compete against global players, Autosave functionality, Bluetooth controller support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### The Elder Scrolls

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-elder-scrolls-castles/id1594657136)

Build and manage your own castle and dynasty across generations. Make crucial decisions, customize your stronghold, and send heroes on quests to protect your kingdom. Your choices shape your legacy.

**Highlights:** Build and customize your castle, Manage your dynasty across generations, Make impactful kingdom decisions, Train subjects and assign workstations, Complete epic quests with heroes, Equip heroes with epic gear

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

**In-app purchases (39)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Event Bundle | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pouch of Gems - 50% discount | $0.99 | one-time |
| Imperial Decoration: Discount | $1.99 | one-time |
| Legendary Shield Spellbreaker | $1.99 | one-time |
| Legendary Axe: Warlock Butcher | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pouch of Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| Event Bundle | $2.99 | one-time |
| Potions and Scrolls | $2.99 | one-time |
| Imperial Decoration | $3.99 | one-time |
| Witch-Hunting Reinforcements | $4.99 | one-time |
| Small Starter Bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| Emperor's Pass (7 days) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sack of Gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| Magical Craftsmen | $5.99 | one-time |
| Legendary Event Subject Bundle | $6.99 | one-time |
| Redguard Bundle: New Blood | $7.99 | one-time |
| Holiday Feast Bundle | $9.99 | one-time |
| Satchel of Gems | $9.99 | one-time |
| Potions and Scrolls | $9.99 | one-time |
| Dwemer Furnace Bundle | $9.99 | one-time |
| Emperor's Pass (14 days) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Magical Craftsmen | $9.99 | one-time |
| Weekly Bundle: Silversmith | $11.99 | one-time |
| Put Your Dukes Up - Discount | $11.99 | one-time |
| A Bit of Everything | $11.99 | one-time |
| Decoration Pack | $12.99 | one-time |
| But make it fashion - discount | $13.99 | one-time |
| Emperor's Pass (30 days) | $13.99 | one-time |
| Large Starter Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| Weekly Bundle: It's Adore-able | $17.99 | one-time |
| Imperial Coffer of Gems | $19.99 | one-time |
| Weekly Bundle : A Noble Path | $19.99 | one-time |
| Weekly Bundle: A Mage's Touch | $19.99 | one-time |
| Biggest Bundle (Big Discount) | $19.99 | one-time |
| Emperor's Pass (1 year) | $19.99 | one-time |
| Strongbox of Gems | $19.99 | one-time |
| Put Your Dukes Up | $29.99 | one-time |
| Weekly Bundle: Silversmith | $29.99 | one-time |
| Imperial Coffer of Gems | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Unique Elder Scrolls-themed mechanics
- 💡 Interesting character relationships and decision-making
- 🎨 Beautiful visuals and music

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 💰 Aggressive monetization with paywall-locked content
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and sync issues
- 🕹️ Clunky controls and UI

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to select rooms without selecting characters
- Accidental character movement due to poor UI
- Inconsistent resource collection when game is closed

**Requested features**

- Multiple save files or restart option
- More customization options for castle and characters
- Improved character management tools
- Deeper integration with Elder Scrolls lore and characters


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monster Rancher free?

Monster Rancher costs $15.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Elder Scrolls free?

The Elder Scrolls is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Monster Rancher or The Elder Scrolls?

Monster Rancher is rated higher. Monster Rancher averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while The Elder Scrolls averages 4.6 from 13K ratings.

### Do Monster Rancher or The Elder Scrolls have ads?

The Elder Scrolls shows ads; Monster Rancher does not.

### Which is updated more often, Monster Rancher or The Elder Scrolls?

Monster Rancher ships an update monthly, and The Elder Scrolls every 2 weeks. Most recently, Monster Rancher was updated on October 24, 2026 and The Elder Scrolls on October 30, 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.*