# Game Dev Story vs IGN Playlist

The clearest difference is price: IGN Playlist at Free against Game Dev Story's $4.99. IGN Playlist also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). Game Dev Story's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 3.9) and review sentiment (96% vs 60%). On in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

IGN Playlist is free to download; Game Dev Story costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Game Dev Story holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Game Dev Story has 3K ratings behind it against 118, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 96% of Game Dev Story's written reviews are positive against 60% of IGN Playlist's.

Game Dev Story ships an update every 4 months, IGN Playlist monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Game Dev Story | IGN Playlist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/game-dev-story/id396085661/reviews)** | [3.9 (118 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ign-playlist/id1600472119/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3K** | 118 |
| Positive reviews | **95.8% of reviews** | 59.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#88** | — |
| Size | 74 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Kairosoft Co.,Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/381477233) | [IGN Entertainment, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/508074893) |

## What reviewers say

### Game Dev Story

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/game-dev-story/id396085661)

**Currently charting:** #88 Top Paid · Strategy, #98 Top Paid · Simulation (US App Store)

Build your own game development studio from the ground up. Hire and train staff, research new genres, and develop hit games to conquer the industry. Create your own consoles and aim for a million-selling title.

**Highlights:** Manage game company, Develop own game console, Train staff members, Unlock new genres, Discover popular combinations, Develop for latest platforms

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun game
- 👍 Simple, creative, and fun
- 👍 Nostalgic and fun
- 👍 Relaxing and enjoyable
- 👍 Great time-killer

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes on newer devices
- 🐛 Lack of explanation for some mechanics
- 🐛 Difficulty in obtaining certain resources (e.g. hardware engineer)

**Reported bugs**

- Blackouts causing loss of progress
- Compatibility issues with newer devices
- Difficulty in obtaining certain resources

**Requested features**

- More consoles and game genres
- Ability to customize console designs
- Expanded content and longer playtime
- More staff and office options
- Improved late-game progression and challenges


### IGN Playlist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ign-playlist/id1600472119)

Organize and track all your video games, from past titles to upcoming releases. Discover new games, estimate completion times, and curate custom lists to share with friends. Keep your entire gaming library managed in one convenient place.

**Highlights:** Manage game backlog and library, Estimate game completion times, Browse and discover new games, Create and share custom game playlists, Rate and remember game experiences, View game screenshots and videos

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great interface
- 🚀 Fantastic database of gaming history
- 🔍 Useful game cataloging and organization
- ⭐️ Excellent game tracking app
- 🤖 Helpful integration with HowLongToBeat

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔑 Constant login issues
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and manage lists
- 🔒 Intrusive data collection practices
- 🔍 Lack of platform-specific organization

**Reported bugs**

- Wishlist and backlog sections not working
- Inability to log in or access accounts
- Games disappearing from lists or not updating properly

**Requested features**

- Calendar widget or Apple Calendar integration
- Ability to follow other users
- More sorting and filtering options
- Separate category for ongoing/live service games
- Option to rate games on a scale instead of just thumbs up/down


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Game Dev Story free?

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

### Is IGN Playlist free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Game Dev Story or IGN Playlist?

Game Dev Story is rated higher. Game Dev Story averages 4.9 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while IGN Playlist averages 3.9 from 118 ratings.

### Do Game Dev Story or IGN Playlist have ads?

IGN Playlist shows ads; Game Dev Story does not.

### Which is updated more often, Game Dev Story or IGN Playlist?

Game Dev Story ships an update every 4 months, and IGN Playlist monthly. Most recently, Game Dev Story was updated on November 7, 2026 and IGN Playlist on November 3, 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.*