# Locked vs Game Dev Tycoon

The clearest difference is rating: Game Dev Tycoon at 4.9 against Locked's 3.5. Game Dev Tycoon also leads on ratings volume (24K vs 2) and chart position (#43 vs unranked). Locked's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and price ($1.99 vs $4.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Locked costs $1.99 and Game Dev Tycoon $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Game Dev Tycoon holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Game Dev Tycoon has 24K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Locked ships an update every 3 weeks, Game Dev Tycoon every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Locked | Game Dev Tycoon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/locked/id330807045/reviews) | **[4.9 (24K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/game-dev-tycoon/id1162580001/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **24K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 91.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#43** |
| Size | 7 MB | 204 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sebastien BUET](https://appshunter.io/developer/321941181) | [Greenheart Games Pty. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/877999140) |

## What reviewers say

### Locked

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/locked/id330807045)

A Master Mind-style puzzle game where players guess numerical combinations to unlock various padlocks. Challenge friends with your high scores and quick unlock times.

**Highlights:** Master Mind-style gameplay, Unlock various padlocks, Millions of possibilities, Colored button interface, Tutorial for guidance, Challenge friends, Track personal best scores

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Game Dev Tycoon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/game-dev-tycoon/id1162580001)

**Currently charting:** #43 Top Paid · Simulation, #44 Top Paid · Strategy, #113 Top Paid · Games, #182 Top Paid (US App Store)

Build your own game development company from the 1980s to the present. Design and create your own games, research new technologies, and manage a team to become a market leader. Enjoy a full simulation experience without ads or in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Start a game development company, Design and create your own games, Research new technologies, Hire and manage a development team, Replay gaming history, Built-in screen recording and streaming

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Cheap price
- 👍 No in-app purchases or ads
- 👍 Addictive and fun gameplay
- 👍 Realistic game development simulation
- 👍 Detailed and complex mechanics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Game crashes on launch for some users
- 🐛 Orientation issues on iPhone X
- 🐛 Difficulty remembering research and specialist information
- 🔋 Game can be very time-consuming
- 🤔 Lack of difficulty options or sandbox mode

**Reported bugs**

- Loan payback amount inconsistency
- Game reports not carrying over knowledge

**Requested features**

- Add more console and game genre options
- Implement employee personalities and interactions
- Provide more detailed game performance history
- Allow simultaneous game development
- Add difficulty settings and sandbox mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Locked free?

Locked costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Game Dev Tycoon free?

Game Dev Tycoon costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Locked or Game Dev Tycoon?

Game Dev Tycoon is rated higher. Locked averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Game Dev Tycoon averages 4.9 from 24K ratings.

### Do Locked or Game Dev Tycoon have ads?

Neither Locked nor Game Dev Tycoon shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Locked or Game Dev Tycoon?

Locked ships an update every 3 weeks, and Game Dev Tycoon every 3 months. Most recently, Locked was updated on September 10, 2026 and Game Dev Tycoon on September 25, 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.*