# NetHack vs Classic Marathon

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Classic Marathon at 76% against NetHack's 25%. Classic Marathon also leads on rating (4.5 vs 2.8). NetHack's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (2.2 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Classic Marathon sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. NetHack asks for nothing beyond the download.

Classic Marathon holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1K and 614 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of NetHack's written reviews are positive against 76% of Classic Marathon's.

## The numbers

| Metric | NetHack | Classic Marathon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nethack/id334281275/reviews) | **[4.5 (614 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/classic-marathon/id419805412/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 614 |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **76.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | — | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 6 MB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | **2.2** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [gandreas software](https://appshunter.io/developer/284533119) | [Dome-C Studio LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/850082459) |

## 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


### Classic Marathon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/classic-marathon/id419805412)

Relive a classic first-person shooter experience with this enhanced port. Explore 27 levels, battle alien forces, and engage in various multiplayer modes. Features include high frame rate support, HD sprites, and cross-platform multiplayer.

**Highlights:** 27 levels across six chapters, Multiplayer with up to 8 players, Exploration, puzzles, and extermination missions, Console-quality gameplay, 7 unique weapons, Cross-platform multiplayer support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HD Mode | $0.99 | one-time |
| Master Chief Mode | $0.99 | one-time |
| Enhanced Reticules | $0.99 | one-time |
| Just a tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Not the smallest tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| A good tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| A pretty good tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| An excellent tip | $7.99 | one-time |
| The best possible tip | $12.99 | one-time |
| Better than the best tip | $20.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Faithful port of a classic game
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay and controls
- 💡 Appreciated free version with optional HD upgrade
- 🎮 Great with controller support
- 🕹 Nostalgic experience for longtime fans

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🕹 Challenging touch controls
- 🔒 Lack of customization options (e.g. invert Y-axis)
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- Saves not working properly
- Weapons becoming black boxes
- Screen tinting issues
- Crashes on newer devices

**Requested features**

- Add multiplayer support
- Implement more control customization options
- Port the entire Marathon trilogy
- Provide support for custom maps and mods


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NetHack free?

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

### Is Classic Marathon free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NetHack or Classic Marathon?

Classic Marathon is rated higher. NetHack averages 2.8 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while Classic Marathon averages 4.5 from 614 ratings.

### Do NetHack or Classic Marathon have ads?

Neither NetHack nor Classic Marathon 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.*