# CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) vs Dead Cells

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) at none against Dead Cells's 4. Dead Cells's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 10 months) and review sentiment (89% vs 66%). On ads, chart position, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) costs $9.99 and Dead Cells $8.99 up front. Dead Cells sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) asks for nothing beyond the download.

Dead Cells holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dead Cells has 12K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)'s written reviews are positive against 89% of Dead Cells's.

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) ships an update every 10 months, Dead Cells every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) | Dead Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **$8.99** |
| Rating | [4.5 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chrono-trigger-upgrade-ver/id479431697/reviews) | **[4.8 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dead-cells/id1389752090/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.3K | **12K** |
| Positive reviews | 66.3% of reviews | **88.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | #12 | **#5** |
| Size | 532 MB | 1.8 GB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [SQUARE ENIX Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/300186801) | [Playdigious](https://appshunter.io/developer/1041387229) |

## What reviewers say

### CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chrono-trigger-upgrade-ver/id479431697)

**Currently charting:** #12 Top Paid · Role Playing, #115 Top Paid · Games, #193 Top Paid (US App Store)

Embark on an epic role-playing adventure across different eras to save the planet. This definitive edition features updated graphics, sound, and new dungeons for an enhanced experience.

**Highlights:** Time travel across multiple eras, Active Time Battle Version 2, Over 50 character combos, Dimensional Vortex dungeon, Lost Sanctum dungeon, Updated graphics and sound

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great game, classic JRPG
- 👍 Faithful port of the original
- 👍 Runs well on iOS devices
- 👍 Supports controllers
- 👍 Cloud save functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Graphical issues and glitches
- 🐛 Targeting and controls can be clunky
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔍 Lack of language/UI customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Graphical glitches on iPhone 5s and newer
- Crashes during certain boss battles
- Inability to transfer save data across devices

**Requested features**

- Add option to disable graphical filters
- Improve touch controls and targeting
- Add support for Apple Silicon Macs
- Include more content from DS/PS1 versions
- Implement volume/sound controls


### Dead Cells

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dead-cells/id1389752090)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Paid · Role Playing, #14 Top Paid · Action, #46 Top Paid · Games, #76 Top Paid (US App Store)

Explore a sprawling, ever-changing castle as a failed alchemic experiment. Master frantic 2D combat with a variety of weapons and skills against dangerous foes. Death is not the end; learn from each attempt to progress through this roguevania action platformer.

**Highlights:** Roguevania exploration, Frantic 2D action combat, Nonlinear progression, Permadeath with learning, Unlockable weapons and skills, DLC content packs

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Bad Seed | $3.99 | one-time |
| Fatal Falls | $3.99 | one-time |
| The Queen and the Sea | $3.99 | one-time |
| Return to Castlevania | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 👍 Excellent controls
- 💎 High-quality graphics
- 🎮 Great controller support
- 🔥 Addictive and challenging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Audio glitches and bugs
- 🤔 Lack of custom mode
- 📱 Finicky touch controls
- 🔇 No background music support

**Reported bugs**

- Saves not compatible across platforms
- Texture and graphical issues on some devices
- Persistent memory leaks causing performance drops

**Requested features**

- Add Chinese language support
- Implement cross-save functionality
- Introduce online multiplayer mode
- Optimize for older devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) free?

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Dead Cells free?

Dead Cells costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) or Dead Cells?

Dead Cells is rated higher. CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while Dead Cells averages 4.8 from 12K ratings.

### Do CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) or Dead Cells have ads?

Neither CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) nor Dead Cells shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) or Dead Cells?

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) ships an update every 10 months, and Dead Cells every 5 weeks. Most recently, CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) was updated on September 25, 2026 and Dead Cells on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) or Dead Cells?

CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) currently peaks at #12 in the App Store charts, and Dead Cells at #5. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*