Dead Man's Draw vs Cartographers
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Dead Man's Draw
A strategic card game where players balance risk and reward by drawing cards. Chain combos, unlock treasures, and use mystic jewel powers to win. Offers over 50 tournaments with ongoing additions.
- Easy to learn, challenging to master
- Chain card combos for points
- Win gold and unlock treasures
- Exploit mystic jewel powers
- Earn special rewards
- 50+ distinct tournaments
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Stand on the knife’s edge between risk and reward. The turn of a single card can win bags of treasure or lose it all in this simple and strategic game of chance and skill. Every card you draw could be your last, but the right mix of wit and courage wins the booty. “Creative card game that starts out simple and layers on the strategy” Gamezebo – 9/10 “If you're after a polished and fun card game, this should be your first port of call.” PocketGamer – 8/10 “‘baller x-treme’ (that is a compliment)” Tycho of Penny-Arcade “You’re not just getting a nifty card game; you’re getting a long steady feed of new ways to play.” Quarter to Three – 4/5 stars “Best New Games” and “What We’re Playing” -Apple Dead Man’s Draw combines luck and strategy in a simple card-drawing format. Pulling the wrong card could bust your entire hand, but choosing the right target for a cannon blast or following a treasure map to the best destination can turn the tides in your favor more than any blind luck ever could. Draw if you dare! ------------------------------- ● Easy to learn, challenging to master ● Chain together card combos to rack up points ● Win gold and unlock new treasures ● Exploit unique powers granted by mystic jewels ● Earn special rewards with high scores ● Test your skills in 50+ distinct tournaments, with more to come ------------------------------- Follow us on Twitter: @DeadMansDraw
Cartographers
Become a royal cartographer tasked with mapping newly reclaimed lands for the Kingdom of Nalos. Fulfill royal edicts, strategically draw your territory, and outmaneuver rival outposts to gain the most reputation. Experience this tactical flip & write game digitally with multiple modes and global leaderboards.
- Map reclaimed northern lands
- Fulfill royal edicts
- Outmaneuver rival outposts
- Tactical flip & write gameplay
- Multiple game modes
- Global weekly highscorelists
- Collect achievements
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The official Flip & Write companion to the board game hit! Step into the shoes of a royal cartographer and surveyor commissioned by Queen Gimnax. Your mission: explore, stake out, and immortalize the wild northern lands on parchment. In this strategic card game, you decide how to shape your territory—but beware: you are not alone in the wilderness! An Epic Adventure in the Roll Player Universe Cartographers brings the fascinating mechanics of the modern board game directly to your smartphone. Experience the tactical Flip & Write principle that has thrilled critics and fans worldwide and was nominated for the prestigious Kennerspiel des Jahres (Connoisseur Game of the Year) in 2020. Strategy Through Ever-Changing Decrees At the heart of this board game are four royal decrees. These are recombined in every match, making each game a unique puzzle. You must constantly adapt your strategy to squeeze the maximum score out of your lands: Diverse Scoring: Earn fame through the Gloomy Wood by skillfully enclosing forest patches, or use the Golden Granary to place farm fields on valuable ruins. Tactical Placement: In the Magician's Valley, score points by placing water and farmland near mighty mountains. Every hamlet and settlement must be cleverly planned to meet the Queen’s shifting demands. Seasonal Cycle: Priorities change through Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Only those who plan ahead will be named Master Cartographer at the end of the year. The Gameplay is Simple Flip: Each round, a new card is revealed, showing you landscapes and shapes. Write: Skillfully place these areas on your map. Use the space optimally to fulfill the conditions of the decrees. Score: Collect valuable reputation points, but watch out for monster ambushes! Monsters in the Borderlands A cartographer must be brave! The monsters never sleep. At regular intervals, you will encounter ambushes that thwart your plans. Monster fields will be discovered on your map—surround them quickly to minimize the damage to your reputation. Why You’ll Love "Cartographers": Official Adaptation: The faithful digital version of the popular board game by Thunderworks Games. Weekly Challenges: Compete with players from all over the world in global highscore lists. A new scenario awaits you every week! Three Game Modes: Choose between different difficulty levels and randomness factors—from relaxed puzzling to hardcore strategy. Achievements & Ranks: Collect achievements and rise from apprentice to legendary Royal Cartographer. Solo Fun & Competition: Perfect for a quick round in between or a deep strategic experience. Awards for the Original: 2020 – Kennerspiel des Jahres Nominee 2019 – Golden Geek Best Solo Board Game Nominee 2019 – Golden Geek Best Family Board Game Nominee 2019 – Cardboard Republic Socializer Laurel Nominee Are you ready to expand the borders of the realm? Grab your quill, draw your cards, and master the ultimate Flip & Write adventure. Whether you're a fan of board games, logic puzzles, or fantasy strategy, Cartographers offers tactical depth right in your pocket. Download the official app now and begin your journey through the northern lands!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Dead Man's Draw at Free against Cartographers's $3.99. Dead Man's Draw also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.4) and review sentiment (65% vs 36%). Cartographers's advantage is chart position (#25 vs unranked). 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
Dead Man's Draw is free to download; Cartographers costs $3.99 up front. Dead Man's Draw sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Cartographers sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Dead Man's Draw holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 427 and 123 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Dead Man's Draw's written reviews are positive against 36% of Cartographers's.
Dead Man's Draw ships an update fortnightly, Cartographers every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Dead Man's Draw | Cartographers |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 4.3 (427 ratings) — better | 3.4 (123 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 65.1% of reviews — better | 36.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 427 — better | 123 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #25 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 6.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 45 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Stardock | Brettspielwelt GmbH |
Customer experience
Dead Man's Draw
Cartographers
User reviews
Dead Man's Draw
From 427 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 🚀 Smooth and polished app
- 💡 Unique pirate-themed card game
- 👍 Easy to learn, with increasing complexity
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🤑 Aggressive in-app purchases
- 🐢 Slow progression without spending money
- 🔨 Abandoned by developers, no updates
Cartographers
From 123 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Faithful adaptation of the board game
- 🚀 Great solo experience
- 💡 Helpful visual cues for gameplay
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and unstable app
- 🔒 Login and account issues
- 🔋 Performance and battery drain problems
- 👎 Lacking key features like multiplayer
Bugs and requests
Dead Man's Draw
Reported bugs
4 issues- Game crashes after every match
- Card abilities not functioning properly
- Progress reset after app reinstalls
- Extremely fast AI opponent turns
Requested features
4 requests- Online multiplayer mode
- More gameplay variety and levels
- Ability to save progress across devices
- Option to disable in-app purchases
Cartographers
Reported bugs
4 issues- Game freezes and crashes
- Incorrect tile placement and scoring
- Inconsistent save/resume functionality
- Registration and login problems
Requested features
4 requests- Add online/local multiplayer modes
- Implement undo/rollback functionality
- Improve tutorial and in-game help
- Add support for expansions and new maps
In-app purchases
Dead Man's Draw
- 4,000 Gold$0.99
- 3,000 Gold$0.99
- 12,000 Gold$2.99
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Plunderer Trait$2.99
- Davy Jones' Locker Trait$2.99
- 9,000 Gold$2.99
- Gold Multiplier$4.99
- 30,000 Gold$5.99
- Premium Pack$6.99
- 35,000 Gold$9.99
Cartographers
- Cartographers Heroes$1.99
Questions
Is Dead Man's Draw free?
Is Cartographers free?
Which has better reviews, Dead Man's Draw or Cartographers?
Do Dead Man's Draw or Cartographers have ads?
Which is updated more often, Dead Man's Draw or Cartographers?
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