Comparison

Ephod™ vs Gem Merchant

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

Head to head
About

Ephod™

Engage in a real-time strategy card game where players collect tokens to buy cards and earn points. Team up with friends for 2-on-2 matches or compete in ranked games to climb the leaderboards. Customize your game board and personalize your profile.

Highlights
  • Token collection and card buying
  • 2-on-2 team play with Card Pings
  • Private and custom games with friends
  • Ranked games and leaderboards
  • In-game tutorial for new players
  • Board and profile customization
Features
Read full description

Who will lead the journey to rebuild the ruined ancient city? Ephod, a real-time strategy card game for 2–4 players ■ Collect tokens, buy cards! Collect tokens to buy cards, earn Prophet Tiles, and aim for the Target Points. The card you want, the card your opponent wants. Every turn is a battle of wits! ■ You and me, one team today! Duo 2-on-2 Team up with a friend and take on another team. "How about this card?" One tap with Card Pings shows your teammate the card you're after. ■ One code, one game with friends! Invite friends with a code in a Private Game. In a Custom Game, set the Target Points and Turn Time your way! ■ How high can you climb this Season? Raise your Tier in Ranked Games and take on the Promotion Series. Find your name on the Leaderboard! ■ New to the game? No problem! Learn the rules step by step in Prophet Haggai's Tutorial. Complete the beginner journey "Dawn of Restoration" to earn rewards and a Title! ■ Your style doesn't have to match anyone else's! Decorate your board with Card Packs, Token Packs, Backgrounds, and BGM, and show off your personality with Frames and Titles. Start your journey in Ephod now!

About

Gem Merchant

A digital adaptation of a classic two-player card game focused on strategic gem collection and prestige. Manage resources, acquire development cards, and attract nobles to earn points and win.

Highlights
  • Classic board game digitalization
  • Strategic gem collection
  • Two-player battle mode (online/local)
  • Diverse strategic options
  • Exquisite visual design
  • Easy to learn, deep strategy
Features
Read full description

Classic board game digitalization, a two-player card game of strategic competition to collect gems and earn prestige. Recreate the charm of classic board games, a new experience of handheld strategic competition. Gem Merchant (ColorfulGems) is a meticulously crafted strategic card collection game that perfectly restores the core gameplay of the classic board game. In this world filled with strategy and wisdom, you will play as a savvy gem merchant, cleverly managing resources and planning strategies to collect precious gems, purchase development cards, attract the favor of nobles, and ultimately win by earning 15 points of prestige. Game Features: - Classic board game digitalization: faithfully replicates the gameplay of Splendor/Gem Merchant, retaining strategic depth. - Exquisite visual design: stunning gem-themed UI, immersive gaming experience. - Two-player battle mode: face-to-face or online duels with friends, testing strategic intelligence. - Diverse strategies: gem collection, card reservation, noble competition, with new challenges in every game. - Native iOS experience: built with SwiftUI, smooth operation, compatible with various devices. - Easy to learn, deep strategy. The game rules are simple and easy to understand, but the strategic depth is rich. Each turn requires making the best choice between taking gems, purchasing cards, and reserving cards, developing yourself while observing opponents, showcasing your business acumen in intense and thrilling duels. Suitable for all players: Whether you are a board game enthusiast or a newcomer to strategy games, Gem Merchant offers just the right challenge for you. With a game duration of 15-30 minutes, it is perfect for casual entertainment and competitive battles. Download now and start your journey as a Gem Merchant, proving yourself in the contest of strategy and wisdom!

Screenshots

Ephod™4 screens
Gem Merchant4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Ephod™ at 4.6 against Gem Merchant's 1.0. Ephod™ also leads on ratings volume (1K vs 1) and review sentiment (43% vs 25%). Gem Merchant's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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. Ephod™ sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Gem Merchant asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ephod™ holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ephod™ has 1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Ephod™'s written reviews are positive against 25% of Gem Merchant's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ephod™ ships an update weekly, Gem Merchant fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Ephod™ versus Gem Merchant: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEphod™Gem Merchant
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1K ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews43.0% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1K — better1
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size255 MB3 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperJinhyeok Jeong梦成 李

Customer experience

Ephod™

All ratings1,029 ratings
Positive88.8%
Neutral3.9%
Negative7.3%
Written reviews179 reviews
Positive43.0%
Neutral14.5%
Negative42.5%

Gem Merchant

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

Bugs and requests

Ephod™

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Blank screens and loading issues
  • Incorrect scoring and noble card distribution
  • Account login and progress loss problems
  • Unresponsive controls and buttons
  • Crashes and force-quits during gameplay

Requested features

5 requests
  • Offline/single-player mode
  • Ability to customize game settings (e.g., points target)
  • Replay/review functionality
  • Improved matchmaking and ranked system
  • Support for more players in private games

Gem Merchant

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Ephod™

One-time5
  • 3,000$1.99
  • 6,600$3.99
  • 11,500$6.99
Show 2 more
  • Remove Pre-Game Ads$6.99
  • Stocking Pass$7.99
None

Gem Merchant

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ephod™ free?
Ephod™ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Gem Merchant free?
Gem Merchant is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Ephod™ or Gem Merchant?
Ephod™ is rated higher. Ephod™ averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while Gem Merchant averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Ephod™ or Gem Merchant have ads?
Ephod™ shows ads; Gem Merchant does not.
Which is updated more often, Ephod™ or Gem Merchant?
Ephod™ ships an update weekly, and Gem Merchant fortnightly. Most recently, Ephod™ was updated on November 7, 2026 and Gem Merchant on November 8, 2026.

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