# NetHack vs Area 52 Escape

The clearest difference is rating: Area 52 Escape at 4.0 against NetHack's 2.8. Area 52 Escape also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 25%). NetHack's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (1K vs 32). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Area 52 Escape sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NetHack asks for nothing beyond the download.

Area 52 Escape holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NetHack has 1K ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of NetHack's written reviews are positive against 67% of Area 52 Escape's.

## The numbers

| Metric | NetHack | Area 52 Escape |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nethack/id334281275/reviews) | **[4.0 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/area-52-escape/id337446582/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 32 |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | — | Monthly |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 6 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **2.2** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [gandreas software](https://appshunter.io/developer/284533119) | [GameMonger LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1702900695) |

## What reviewers say

### NetHack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nethack/id334281275)

Embark on a legendary dungeon-crawling adventure with this classic roguelike game. Explore vast levels, battle monsters, and uncover hidden secrets. Enjoy a faithful port with modern touch controls and graphical options.

**Highlights:** ASCII or graphics mode, Touch-based movement and commands, Gesture-based command system, Pinch-to-zoom graphics, Faithful NetHack experience, Multiple tile sets

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great port of classic game
- 👍 Innovative gesture controls
- 💡 Multiple graphical tilesets
- 🚀 Responsive touch controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🐛 Unreliable save function
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- 👎 Steep learning curve

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on call/exit
- Unable to recover from crashes
- Freezes on character creation
- Compatibility problems with iPhone 6 and iOS 8+

**Requested features**

- Update to support latest iOS versions
- Add option to edit configuration files
- Implement multiple character support
- Improve stability and save functionality


### Area 52 Escape

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/area-52-escape/id337446582)

Experience a retro first-person shooter inspired by classic FPS games. Battle aliens with a variety of weapons and power-ups in a humorous, fast-paced adventure. Explore new levels and content through free updates.

**Highlights:** Retro first-person shooter gameplay, Fast-paced action, Multiple alien enemies, Arsenal of weapons, Unique power-ups, Chapter-based levels with secret areas, Free updates with new content

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RemoveAds | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NetHack free?

NetHack is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Area 52 Escape free?

Area 52 Escape is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, NetHack or Area 52 Escape?

Area 52 Escape is rated higher. NetHack averages 2.8 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while Area 52 Escape averages 4.0 from 32 ratings.

### Do NetHack or Area 52 Escape have ads?

Neither NetHack nor Area 52 Escape shows ads.

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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.*