# Paper War vs Tessel

The clearest difference is update cadence: Tessel at every 2 days against Paper War's every 6 weeks. Paper War's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.5). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Paper War sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month and Tessel sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Paper War ships an update every 6 weeks, Tessel every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Paper War | Tessel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tessel-strategy-duel/id6778083586/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 38 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [望龙 王](https://appshunter.io/developer/1240647570) | [MELANIE SHEILA CADET](https://appshunter.io/developer/6778083588) |

## What reviewers say

### Paper War

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paper-war-text-based-war-game/id1636694874)

Experience a minimalist, single-player game set in the Three Kingdoms era. Guide a young character through their life's journey, choosing between conquering the realm or exploring freely.

**Highlights:** Minimalist design, Single-player gameplay, Three Kingdoms era setting, Life journey simulation, Choice-driven paths

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cards that ignore ads | $0.99 | per month |


### Tessel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tessel-strategy-duel/id6778083586)

A relaxing yet strategic hex-based board game where players place uniquely shaped pieces. Compete against AI, friends locally, or players online. Utilize power tokens and unlock cosmetic customizations for a unique experience.

**Highlights:** Hex-based strategy gameplay, AI opponents with multiple difficulties, Online turn-based multiplayer, Local Pass and Play mode, Optional power tokens, Unlockable cosmetic themes, Save and resume games

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kintsugi Skin | $1.99 | one-time |
| Aurora Glass Cosmetic Skin | $1.99 | one-time |
| Rose Quartz Cosmetic Skin | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Paper War free?

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

### Is Tessel free?

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

### Do Paper War or Tessel have ads?

Both Paper War and Tessel show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Paper War or Tessel?

Paper War ships an update every 6 weeks, and Tessel every 2 days. Most recently, Paper War was updated on November 3, 2026 and Tessel on October 31, 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.*