# Classic Marathon vs Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG

The clearest difference is ads: Classic Marathon at none against Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG's shown. Classic Marathon also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 55%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Classic Marathon sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Classic Marathon against 4.6 for Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 630 and 1.5K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of Classic Marathon's written reviews are positive against 55% of Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Classic Marathon | Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (630 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/classic-marathon/id419805412/reviews) | **[4.6 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dead-shellroguelike-rpg/id1198990999/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 630 | **1.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **76.2% of reviews** | 55.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 125 MB | 306 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Dustin Wenz](https://appshunter.io/developer/850082459) | [HC GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/482544510) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dead-shellroguelike-rpg/id1198990999)

Command an assault squad of mercenaries against monstrous creatures on a remote, abandoned planet. Explore procedurally generated dungeons, utilize a vast arsenal of weapons, and level up your elite team to survive the infernal abyss. This challenging pixelart RPG blends dark sci-fi with roguelike elements for an intense combat experience.

**Highlights:** Procedurally generated dungeons, Diverse bestiary of enemies, Full range of lethal weapons, Elite mercenary squads, Squad leveling system

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 50 DNA | $2.59 | one-time |
| Hero Value Pack #2 | $2.59 | one-time |
| 100 DNA | $4.49 | one-time |
| 5 cases | $7.79 | one-time |
| Hero Value Pack #7 | $9.79 | one-time |
| 10 cases | $11.49 | one-time |
| Starter Pack - trooper | $11.49 | one-time |
| Starter Pack - commandos | $11.49 | one-time |
| 15 cases | $14.49 | one-time |
| 25 cases | $20.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple and addictive gameplay
- 🎨 Great pixel art and synthwave music
- 👍 Easy to pick up and play
- 🕹️ Fun dungeon crawler experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔫 Scarce ammo and resource management issues
- 💰 Excessive monetization and pay-to-win elements
- 🐛 Bugs, crashes, and audio issues
- 🕰️ Repetitive and grindy gameplay

**Reported bugs**

- Soft-locking issues when levels don't reveal the exit
- Achievements not tracking properly
- Audio cutting out or being too low
- Disconnection from headphones during gameplay

**Requested features**

- Ability to replay previous levels
- More enemy and level variety
- Improved character progression system
- Option to disable ads for a one-time fee


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Classic Marathon free?

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

### Is Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG free?

Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Classic Marathon or Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG?

Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG is rated higher. Classic Marathon averages 4.5 out of 5 from 630 ratings, while Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG averages 4.6 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do Classic Marathon or Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG have ads?

Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG shows ads; Classic Marathon does not.

### Which is updated more often, Classic Marathon or Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG?

Classic Marathon ships an update every 2 months, and Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG every 2 months. Most recently, Classic Marathon was updated on November 1, 2026 and Dead Shell・Roguelike RPG on November 6, 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.*