# Fairune vs Pathos

The clearest difference is monetization model: Pathos at free against Fairune's paid. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Pathos holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 194 and 360 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Fairune's written reviews are positive against 89% of Pathos's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fairune | Pathos |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (194 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fairune/id609432419/reviews) | **[4.7 (360 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pathos-nethack-codex/id1045848120/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 194 | **360** |
| Positive reviews | 84.4% of reviews | **88.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 24 MB | 142 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Masakazu Yonehara](https://appshunter.io/developer/1339210794) | [Callan Hodgskin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1045848119) |

## What reviewers say

### Fairune

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fairune/id609432419)

Embark on a retro-inspired action-puzzler RPG adventure to defeat a returning scourge. Collect powerful Spirit Icons and utilize a simple D-pad interface to navigate, manage your inventory, and save your progress.

**Highlights:** Retro action-puzzler RPG, Defeat a returning scourge, Collect Spirit Icons, D-pad movement and item selection, Inventory management, Pause and save menu

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Nostalgic and charming
- 🕹 Engaging puzzle-solving and exploration
- 💎 Unique and interesting gameplay
- 🎨 Beautiful pixel art and visuals
- 🎶 Enjoyable soundtrack

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🕹 Challenging and obtuse puzzles
- 🕹 Tedious grinding and leveling system
- 🎮 Frustrating controls and combat
- 🕰 Short overall length

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on title screen
- Graphical issues and visual glitches
- Progression-blocking bugs

**Requested features**

- Controller support
- Improved tutorial and guidance
- Expanded content and story
- Fairune 2 port to mobile
- More accessibility options


### Pathos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pathos-nethack-codex/id1045848120)

Embark on a challenging roguelike adventure inspired by Nethack's rule set. Select from 13 distinct classes and delve into a perilous dungeon. Your mission is to confront your nemesis in hell and escape with as much treasure as possible.

**Highlights:** Nethack-inspired gameplay, 13 playable classes, Deep dungeon exploration, Defeat nemesis in hell, Loot collection and escape

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fairune free?

Fairune is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pathos free?

Pathos is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Fairune or Pathos?

Pathos is rated higher. Fairune averages 4.5 out of 5 from 194 ratings, while Pathos averages 4.7 from 360 ratings.

### Do Fairune or Pathos have ads?

Neither Fairune nor Pathos shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fairune or Pathos?

Fairune ships an update every 4 months, and Pathos every 4 months. Most recently, Fairune was updated on August 26, 2026 and Pathos on September 25, 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.*