Comparison

DeckMake Fantasy vs Blacken Slash

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DeckMake Fantasy

Engage in a card battle RPG where you build decks of weapon and magic cards to defeat monsters. Explore a mysterious land, uncover secrets, and master card combinations to save the world. Features retro pixel art and exciting battle music.

Highlights
  • Deck making with 20 cards
  • Card battle RPG combat
  • Monster hunting quests
  • Card collection and purchasing
  • Quick Mode
  • Game Center compatibility
Features
Read full description

****************** Please note that the following devices are incompatible with this application: iPhone3G, iPod touch (1st, 2nd and 3rd generation 8GB models) ******************* Version 1.5.0 update information (8/12/2011) Game text checked and retranslated by a native user of English. Version 1.4.0 update information -Game Center compatibility added -Lowest number of days to clear added to leaderboards This number can be checked on the Records screen. Version 1.3.0 update information (4/18/2011) -English version released -Various bug fixes Version 1.2.0 update information (3/29/2011) -Summary of monster information obtainable at the Guild Please get information on where to go next at the Guild as usual. Version 1.1.0 update information (3/22/2011) -Quick Mode added -Cards can now be purchased in bulk “Whoever controls the cards shall control the world.” Description: Weapons and magic are embodied in cards that you can build into a deck and then use to defeat monsters in this card battle RPG. Test different combinations to learn how to master the cards in your own unique way and save the world! Story: There was once a mysterious land where weapons, magic and items were embodied in special cards. Ones who studied the art of handling these all-powerful cards over long years were called “card-users,” and the five kings of the land relied on them to maintain peace and balance. However, one day, reports of monsters attacking towns and travelers suddenly spread throughout all the kingdoms. At that time, a young boy began a journey in Firsta, a land known for its bold adventurers. What secrets will he uncover in his quest to becoming a master card-user? Graphics & Sound -Classic, retro-style pixel art -Colorful characters like guild clerks and card shop owners create a unique world for the tale to unfold in. -Exciting battle music! Play with the volume up! System & Tutorial 1: Deck making -Choose 20 cards to build a deck. You can have multiple cards of the same type. -Focus on aggressive attacks, support abilities or any other style. Try to find your own winning combination. -Your hit points (HP) differ depending on what deck you use. It is important to maintain a balance between cards with powerful techniques and ones that grant a lot of HP. 2: Battles -A horde of deadly monsters awaits you. Tailor your deck to the strengths and weaknesses of your foes! -Buy new cards with reward money for clearing out monsters! Equip yourself with new, powerful weapons as you fight your way across the land. -Different cards are available in different towns. Can you collect every type of card in your explorations? 3: Adventuring tips -The Guild will always offer new monster-hunting jobs and tell you where monsters can be found. -The adventurers that gather at the Guild have plenty of good information. They may even tell unusual tales that don’t involve the usual monster talk.

About

Blacken Slash

Engage in turn-based tactical combat with roguelike elements. Craft unique character builds with a vast array of items and skills. Enjoy a story-driven experience with a retro soundtrack and compete on an online ladder.

Highlights
  • Turn-based tactical combat
  • Roguelike elements
  • Item-based build crafting
  • Carry favorite items between runs
  • Online ladder competition
  • Challenging achievements
  • Story-driven experience
Features
Read full description

A tactical RPG fusing the best of roguelikes, turn-based tactics and hack and slash games – made by a solo developer with a penchant for minimalist designs. - Fight through bite-sized tactical puzzles - Create powerful builds from a plethora of items which grant you skills and can change gameplay mechanics - Carry on your favorite items between runs in normal mode - Start from scratch each week and compete with other players in the online ladder mode - Try various playstyles and hunt for challenging achievements - Enjoy a lovingly crafted story of ridiculous computer nostalgia and a blast of a retro soundtrack

Screenshots

DeckMake Fantasy4 screens
Blacken Slash4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Blacken Slash at 4.8 against DeckMake Fantasy's 3.4. Blacken Slash also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (96% vs 76%). DeckMake Fantasy's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $4.99) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 11.0). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

DeckMake Fantasy costs $3.99 and Blacken Slash $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Blacken Slash holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blacken Slash has 60 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of DeckMake Fantasy's written reviews are positive against 96% of Blacken Slash's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DeckMake Fantasy ships an update every 2 months, Blacken Slash fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
DeckMake Fantasy versus Blacken Slash: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDeckMake FantasyBlacken Slash
Price$3.99 — better$4.99
Rating3.4 (8 ratings)4.8 (60 ratings) — better
Positive reviews76.4% of reviews95.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings860 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS6.0 — better11.0
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB161 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperBeeworks co.,Ltd.Sonderland Games UG haftungsbeschrankt

Customer experience

DeckMake Fantasy

All ratings8 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative37.5%
Written reviews140 reviews
Positive76.4%
Neutral12.1%
Negative11.4%

Blacken Slash

All ratings60 ratings
Positive95.0%
Neutral3.3%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive95.6%
Neutral2.2%
Negative2.2%

User reviews

DeckMake Fantasy

From 8 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎨 Great art style and graphics
  • 🎶 Charming music
  • 📖 Fun story
  • 🎮 Addictive gameplay
  • 💡 Unique card-based combat

Room to improve

  • 🔄 Repetitive gameplay
  • 💰 Grinding required
  • 🐛 Glitches and bugs
  • 📉 Balance issues
  • ⏳ Short game length

Blacken Slash

From 60 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Addictive gameplay loop
  • 💡 Innovative mechanics
  • 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing visuals
  • 🧠 Strategic depth
  • 💰 Worth the price, no ads/IAPs

Room to improve

  • 🤔 Lacks strategic depth (for some)
  • 😴 Combat can be boring
  • 📉 Can become trivially easy
  • 🔋 Drains battery significantly
  • 🔄 Early levels can be repetitive

Bugs and requests

DeckMake Fantasy

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Game breaking glitch in last area
  • App crashes with notifications
  • Glitches when grinding for gold
  • Game freezes or glitches out of app

Requested features

19 requests
  • Sequel (Deckmake Fantasy 2)
  • More cards
  • More enemies/monsters
  • More story content/side quests
  • Character customization
Show 14 more
  • Sell back cards option
  • Monster drop feature
  • Achievements
  • Multiplayer mode
  • Better English translation
  • Retina graphics support
  • Quest system
  • Hidden cards
  • Re-battle monsters
  • More card effect variations
  • Combo effects
  • Quest queueing
  • Toggleable movement animations
  • Battle skip function

Blacken Slash

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Insane battery drainage
  • iPad getting super hot

Requested features

2 requests
  • Consider adding two or more units for more interesting gameplay
  • More content for future updates

In-app purchases

None

DeckMake Fantasy

No in-app purchases

None

Blacken Slash

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DeckMake Fantasy free?
DeckMake Fantasy costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Blacken Slash free?
Blacken Slash costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DeckMake Fantasy or Blacken Slash?
Blacken Slash is rated higher. DeckMake Fantasy averages 3.4 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Blacken Slash averages 4.8 from 60 ratings.
Do DeckMake Fantasy or Blacken Slash have ads?
Neither DeckMake Fantasy nor Blacken Slash shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DeckMake Fantasy or Blacken Slash?
DeckMake Fantasy ships an update every 2 months, and Blacken Slash fortnightly. Most recently, DeckMake Fantasy was updated on October 29, 2026 and Blacken Slash on October 30, 2026.

Other comparisons