Comparison

Dawngeon vs Dungeon Core

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

Head to head
About

Dawngeon

Explore procedurally generated dungeons in this pixel art RPG. Master dual-joystick controls to fight monsters, gather resources, and uncover a post-apocalyptic story with multiple endings. This indie title offers a deep gameplay experience with a compelling narrative.

Highlights
  • Procedurally generated dungeons
  • Dual-joystick controls
  • Crafting and cooking
  • Exploration and combat
  • Post-apocalyptic story
  • Multiple endings
Features
Read full description

DAWNGEON is a pixel graphic mobile RPG (role-playing game) adopted from roguelike (random generated dungeons and monsters) gameplay. The player uses two joysticks to move and attack, which requires a lot of skills to master. Around 50 different items and weapons with interactable objects enable fun gameplay! The player can fight, cook, grow, and explore. Dawngeon has an interesting story with two different endings. It takes place in a world after the apocalypse. The player wakes up from a very long hibernation and goes on an adventure to explore this distant world 50 years after the Cracks. The Cracks opened the gateway from the underworld to the Earth, and monsters have attacked the cities, nearly ending humanity. People have survived, but few used their military forces to take over the world. The Tyrannical Government uses its imperial forces to control people’s thoughts, actions, and freedom. The player is given the choice to follow the rebels to end this depressing world or fight against them. DAWNGEON is a student indie project that one single developer has created. All aspects, including the graphics, pixel art, soundtrack, game systems, and designs, are all completed by Youngje Park with some outside resources used for tree graphics and sound effects. This game is free of charge with no advertisements. This project has been influenced by Soul Knights, Undertale, and Archero. Originally, Park created this game to further experience the aiming system from Soul Knight, one of Park’s favorite childhood games. Later, Park adopted its gaming and graphics styles while combining his other ideas. The level-up system from Archero and storytelling in Undertale have also added depth to this game.

About

Dungeon Core

Embark on a roguelite dungeon crawl as a radiation liquidator in a post-apocalyptic setting. Explore procedurally generated levels, battle mutants and bosses, and collect permanent upgrades to enhance your abilities as you descend to destroy the core.

Highlights
  • Procedurally generated levels
  • Permanent upgrades
  • Item discovery
  • Mutant and boss battles
  • Diverse underground environments
  • Radiation liquidator role
Features
Read full description

Dive into the depths of a failed weapons program as a radiation liquidator in Dungeon Core, an intense and rewarding roguelite dungeon crawler. Navigate through procedurally generated levels filled with numerous rooms to explore, powerful items to discover, and formidable enemies to battle. Permanent upgrades will enhance your abilities, staying with you throughout your journey. Venture through diverse environments as you delve deeper underground, facing mutants and epic bosses. Your ultimate mission: to destroy the core from within. Are you ready to conquer the challenge?

Screenshots

Dawngeon4 screens
Dungeon Core4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Dawngeon at none against Dungeon Core's shown. Dawngeon also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 71%) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Dawngeon against 4.5 for Dungeon Core. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 127 and 32 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of Dawngeon's written reviews are positive against 71% of Dungeon Core's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dawngeon ships an update fortnightly, Dungeon Core every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Dawngeon versus Dungeon Core: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDawngeonDungeon Core
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (127 ratings) — better4.5 (32 ratings)
Positive reviews84.0% of reviews — better70.8% of reviews
Number of ratings127 — better32
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size276 MB91 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperMid-Pacific InstituteULF FILIP KARLSSON

Customer experience

Dawngeon

All ratings124 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral3.2%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive84.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative12.0%

Dungeon Core

All ratings22 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral4.5%
Negative4.5%
Written reviews48 reviews
Positive70.8%
Neutral10.4%
Negative18.8%

User reviews

Dawngeon

From 127 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✨ Amazing art style/animation
  • 🎮 Fun and engaging gameplay
  • 📚 Interesting story mode
  • 💎 High-quality game for free
  • 👍 Well-crafted and expertly made

Room to improve

  • 📉 Story is a bit short/shallow
  • 🔄 Repetitive gameplay
  • ⏳ Long title screen
  • 🤏 Tiny text, accessibility issues
  • 🕹️ Poor joystick positioning

Dungeon Core

From 32 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Fantastic gameplay and challenges
  • 💡 Well-made, beat-in-a-day game
  • ✨ Developed with love and attention to detail
  • 💎 Little gem of a game
  • 🎨 Very good pixel design and visuals

Room to improve

  • 👎 Privacy concerns and slimy practices
  • 🤔 Could use more content
  • 📱 Would love to customize controls
  • 📈 Wish for an update to expand
  • 🚫 Can't listen to own music

Bugs and requests

Dawngeon

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Game doesn't load/run on older iPhones
  • Game crashes or refreshes progress
  • Lost gold coins/progress after update
  • Language changed to Korean after update
  • Game not saving progress between floors/sessions
Show 2 more
  • Unable to play story mode after update
  • Issues with save and continue system

Requested features

9 requests
  • Add arena/boss fight mode
  • Controller support
  • Endless mode
  • Multiplayer game mode
  • More save points/better save system
Show 4 more
  • Option to make movement/shooting buttons larger
  • Option to restart game/replay story
  • More background for final boss
  • Dynamic joysticks

Dungeon Core

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Random dashing every now and then
  • Occasional freezes
  • 30-second unskippable ads
  • Character keeps dashing in unwanted direction
  • Game won't open
Show 2 more
  • Title page flashes then force closes
  • Too many bugs

Requested features

17 requests
  • Opportunity to customise the layout of the controls
  • Update to expand the game
  • Premium option to disable ads
  • Add co-op mode
  • Make more games like this or a part two
Show 12 more
  • Better indicator when hit (sound effect)
  • Pixelated text to match art style
  • Special suit for beating final boss without damage
  • Option to disable ads
  • Add co-op
  • Customize controls
  • Option to move buttons
  • Disable jerk on joystick
  • Customize controls
  • UI customization
  • Larger dash button
  • More content

In-app purchases

None

Dawngeon

No in-app purchases

None

Dungeon Core

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dawngeon free?
Dawngeon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Dungeon Core free?
Dungeon Core is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Dawngeon or Dungeon Core?
Dawngeon is rated higher. Dawngeon averages 4.6 out of 5 from 127 ratings, while Dungeon Core averages 4.5 from 32 ratings.
Do Dawngeon or Dungeon Core have ads?
Dungeon Core shows ads; Dawngeon does not.
Which is updated more often, Dawngeon or Dungeon Core?
Dawngeon ships an update fortnightly, and Dungeon Core every 3 weeks. Most recently, Dawngeon was updated on November 3, 2026 and Dungeon Core on November 5, 2026.

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