# Ascension vs Mindbug Online

The clearest difference is rating: Mindbug Online at 4.7 against Ascension's 3.4. Mindbug Online also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Ascension's advantage is ratings volume (1.1K vs 43) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ascension sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Mindbug Online sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mindbug Online holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ascension has 1.1K ratings behind it against 43, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Ascension's written reviews are positive against 64% of Mindbug Online's.

Ascension ships an update every 3 months, Mindbug Online every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ascension | Mindbug Online |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascension-deckbuilding-game/id441838733/reviews) | **[4.7 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindbug-online/id1607306032/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 43 |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **63.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1.2 GB | 1.7 GB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Playdek, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/493347346) | [Kissaki Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/1607306034) |

## What reviewers say

### Ascension

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascension-deckbuilding-game/id441838733)

Engage in a strategic deck-building card game where you acquire cards to gain Renown and unlock powerful Boons. Battle against the Fallen One alone or with friends, with expansions available to deepen the experience.

**Highlights:** Deck-building card game mechanics, Single-player and multiplayer modes, Unlock powerful Boons and Legendary status, Cross-platform online play, Offline AI opponents, Multiple expansions available

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Storm of Souls expansion | $0.99 | one-time |
| Promo Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Immortal Heroes expansion | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ascension Promo Cards - Pack 4 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Rise of Vigil | $0.99 | one-time |
| Darkness Unleashed expansion | $0.99 | one-time |
| Realms Unraveled expansion | $0.99 | one-time |
| Dawn of Champions | $0.99 | one-time |
| Dreamscape | $0.99 | one-time |
| Return of the Fallen expansion | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great game
- 👍 Awesome adaptation of the physical game
- 🕹️ Engaging gameplay
- 💰 Reasonable in-app purchase prices
- 🕰️ Excellent time killer

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔄 Slow AI turns
- 🔒 Issues with restoring purchases
- 🔍 Cluttered UI, hard to read cards
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Purchases disappearing after updates
- Restore function not working
- Crashes when certain cards are played
- Constructs getting stuck in the middle of the screen
- Game freezing and logging out users

**Requested features**

- Increase honor pool limit for online games
- Add custom deck building options
- Optimize for iPhone X and newer devices
- Provide option to revert to old art style
- Improve online multiplayer experience


### Mindbug Online

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindbug-online/id1607306032)

Experience a unique and streamlined card battler designed by the creator of Magic: The Gathering. This skill-based dueling game features powerful cards, fast matches, and infinite strategies with a groundbreaking mechanic that lets you control opponent creatures. It's accessible yet deeply challenging, with no pay-to-win elements.

**Highlights:** Streamlined card battler mechanics, Skill-based dueling, Groundbreaking creature control, Fast and intense matches, Infinite strategic possibilities, No pay-to-win

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Battlefruit Kingdom Set | $8.99 | one-time |
| Beyond Eternity Set | $8.99 | one-time |
| First Contact Set + Add-On | $8.99 | one-time |
| Battlefruit Galaxy + Mindbugs | $12.99 | one-time |
| Mindbug x King of Tokyo Card Set | $12.99 | one-time |
| Battlefruit Kingdom + Mindbugs | $12.99 | one-time |
| FC Set + Mr Green | $14.99 | one-time |
| First Contact Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| Battlefruit + Both Mindbugs | $22.99 | one-time |
| FC Set + Mr Pink + Mr Green | $22.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Excellent game
- ⚖️ Balanced gameplay
- 🔍 Depth and strategy
- 💰 Fair monetization
- 🕹️ Enjoyable gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🕰️ Slow animations
- 🤖 Inconsistent AI
- 🔍 Lack of customization
- 🔒 Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- Tutorial issues
- Infinite battle loop
- Purchasing issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to pick opponents
- Faster gameplay option
- More customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ascension free?

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

### Is Mindbug Online free?

Mindbug Online is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Ascension or Mindbug Online?

Mindbug Online is rated higher. Ascension averages 3.4 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Mindbug Online averages 4.7 from 43 ratings.

### Do Ascension or Mindbug Online have ads?

Neither Ascension nor Mindbug Online shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ascension or Mindbug Online?

Ascension ships an update every 3 months, and Mindbug Online every 3 weeks. Most recently, Ascension was updated on November 13, 2026 and Mindbug Online on November 12, 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.*