# Trace 2 vs Devil Shard

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Trace 2 at none against Devil Shard's 6. Devil Shard's advantage is update cadence (every 7 months vs every 48 months) and rating (4.4 vs 4.1). On ratings volume, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Trace 2 costs $2.99 and Devil Shard $1.99 up front. Devil Shard sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Trace 2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Devil Shard holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 31 and 45 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Trace 2's written reviews are positive against 84% of Devil Shard's.

Trace 2 ships an update every 48 months, Devil Shard every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Trace 2 | Devil Shard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **$1.99** |
| Rating | [4.1 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace-2/id335668591/reviews) | **[4.4 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/devil-shard/id869735685/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 31 | **45** |
| Positive reviews | 63.3% of reviews | **83.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 48 months | **Every 7 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 117 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kevin Calderone](https://appshunter.io/developer/289446639) | [Game Stew](https://appshunter.io/developer/517689895) |

## What reviewers say

### Trace 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace-2/id335668591)

Draw platforms and navigate obstacles to reach the goal in this puzzle platformer. Explore eight new worlds with 160 challenging levels, featuring new gameplay mechanics and stunning artwork.

**Highlights:** Draw platforms, Navigate obstacles, 8 new worlds, 160 levels, New gameplay mechanics, Original music, Stunning artwork

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Devil Shard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/devil-shard/id869735685)

Embark on a retro-style match-3 RPG adventure to stop a war and face a great evil. Plan strategic combos, unlock powerful allies, and collect diverse equipment. Conquer numerous enemies and stages to uncover the truth and achieve a true ending.

**Highlights:** Match-3 puzzle with RPG elements, Strategic tile swapping for combos, Unlock and summon 9 incarnations, Collect and upgrade 32 equipment, Battle 37 different enemies, Complete 8 story stages and a hidden stage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1000G | $0.99 | one-time |
| 2500G | $1.99 | one-time |
| 7500G | $4.99 | one-time |
| 17500G | $9.99 | one-time |
| 40000G | $19.99 | one-time |
| 75000G | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Addictive and engaging gameplay mechanics
- 🎨 Beautiful retro pixel art style
- 🎵 Great music and audio design
- ⚡ Simple yet challenging match-3 combat system
- 📱 Perfect for quick gaming sessions

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚙️ Excessive grinding required for progression
- 💀 Harsh death penalty resets all character progress
- 💰 Pay-to-win mechanics and aggressive monetization
- 🎲 Heavy reliance on RNG and luck
- 😤 Unfair difficulty spikes in later dungeons

**Reported bugs**

- Item selection scroll problem on iPhone 6s Plus (items display in middle of screen)
- Unable to equip, melt, or forge items on certain devices
- In-app purchase functionality broken
- Character equipment not persisting correctly
- No undo option for melted items

**Requested features**

- Swipeable match-3 controls (standard for genre)
- More customization options for character progression
- Persistent progress or checkpoints upon death
- Better equipment distribution and tile spawning
- Reduced grinding requirements


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Trace 2 free?

Trace 2 costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Devil Shard free?

Devil Shard costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Trace 2 or Devil Shard?

Devil Shard is rated higher. Trace 2 averages 4.1 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while Devil Shard averages 4.4 from 45 ratings.

### Do Trace 2 or Devil Shard have ads?

Neither Trace 2 nor Devil Shard shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Trace 2 or Devil Shard?

Trace 2 ships an update every 48 months, and Devil Shard every 7 months. Most recently, Trace 2 was updated on October 17, 2026 and Devil Shard on October 13, 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.*