# Baldur's Gate vs Star Traders

The clearest difference is rating: Star Traders at 4.6 against Baldur's Gate's 3.9. Star Traders also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months). On ratings volume, ads, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

Baldur's Gate costs $9.99 and Star Traders $6.99 up front. Baldur's Gate sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Star Traders asks for nothing beyond the download.

Star Traders holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 668 and 674 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Baldur's Gate's written reviews are positive against 73% of Star Traders's.

Baldur's Gate ships an update every 9 months, Star Traders every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Baldur's Gate | Star Traders |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **$6.99** |
| Rating | [3.9 (668 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/baldurs-gate/id515114051/reviews) | **[4.6 (674 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-traders-frontiers/id1442583232/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 668 | **674** |
| Positive reviews | 58.3% of reviews | **73.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #92 | **#48** |
| Size | 3.1 GB | 316 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 12.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Overhaul Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/869400201) | [Trese Brothers](https://appshunter.io/developer/528949265) |

## What reviewers say

### Baldur's Gate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/baldurs-gate/id515114051)

**Currently charting:** #92 Top Paid · Role Playing (US App Store)

Embark on an epic roleplaying adventure set in a world on the brink of war. Customize your hero, assemble a party of companions, and explore a vast continent filled with mystery and danger. This enhanced edition includes the original campaign and new stories, with additional content available for purchase.

**Highlights:** Original 60-hour adventure, Tales of the Sword Coast expansion, The Black Pits arena battles, Brothers Lost questline, Improved interface and dynamic zooming, New character portraits and voice sets

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Enhanced Voice Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Jason Manley Portrait Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| A Blackguard’s Revenge | $2.99 | one-time |
| To Flee Thay | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent port of a classic game
- 🎮 Great gameplay and story
- 👍 Nostalgic experience
- 💡 New features and characters added

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and control on small screens
- 🔋 Performance issues with spells and effects
- 📏 UI not optimized for mobile devices

**Reported bugs**

- Sidebar menu issues
- Crashes and freezes
- Inability to restore purchased content
- Compatibility problems with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Controller support
- Improved UI and controls for mobile
- Cross-save functionality between platforms
- Ability to remove experience cap


### Star Traders

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-traders-frontiers/id1442583232)

**Currently charting:** #48 Top Paid · Role Playing, #101 Top Paid · Strategy (US App Store)

Command your own starship and crew in a vast, procedurally generated open universe. Forge your path as a pirate, merchant, bounty hunter, or explorer, influencing factions and shaping your crew through your choices in this epic sci-fi RPG.

**Highlights:** Open universe exploration, Multiple captain careers (26 jobs), Spaceship customization (350+ upgrades), Crew assembly and talent management, Dynamic narrative and faction influence, Crew molding based on player choices, Varied difficulty options including permadeath

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Impressive depth and complexity
- 🌍 Vast open-world with endless possibilities
- 🔍 Engaging story and lore
- 🤖 Diverse gameplay options (trading, exploration, combat, etc.)
- 🕹️ Satisfying ship and crew management

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Steep learning curve, lacks clear tutorials
- 🔍 Repetitive or tedious aspects in late game
- 📱 UI/UX issues on smaller mobile devices
- 🎲 Frustrating RNG elements and difficulty spikes
- 🔒 Lack of cloud save functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Crew combat screen UI issues causing accidental input
- Reputation/faction system bugs leading to unexpected outcomes
- Crashes and freezes when navigating certain screens
- Inconsistent behavior with ship component upgrades

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize ship colors and appearances
- Option to command/control multiple ships as a fleet
- More end-game content and progression systems
- Improved UI scaling and optimization for larger screens
- Cloud save/sync functionality across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Baldur's Gate free?

Baldur's Gate costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Star Traders free?

Star Traders costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Baldur's Gate or Star Traders?

Star Traders is rated higher. Baldur's Gate averages 3.9 out of 5 from 668 ratings, while Star Traders averages 4.6 from 674 ratings.

### Do Baldur's Gate or Star Traders have ads?

Neither Baldur's Gate nor Star Traders shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Baldur's Gate or Star Traders?

Baldur's Gate ships an update every 9 months, and Star Traders every 3 weeks. Most recently, Baldur's Gate was updated on November 1, 2026 and Star Traders on October 29, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Baldur's Gate or Star Traders?

Baldur's Gate currently peaks at #92 in the App Store charts, and Star Traders at #48. 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.*
