Comparison

Brogue vs Arkfront

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Brogue

Embark on a challenging 26-level dungeon crawl to find the Amulet of Yendor. Master strategic gameplay with a focus on a smooth learning curve and intuitive design within a classic ASCII/Unicode aesthetic. Experience high fantasy with a variety of creatures and magical items.

Highlights
  • 26-level dungeon crawl
  • Strategic depth
  • Smooth learning curve
  • ASCII/Unicode display
  • High fantasy theme
  • Permadeath gameplay
Read full description

Countless adventurers before you have descended this torch-lit staircase, seeking the promised riches below. As you reach the bottom and step into the wide cavern, the doors behind you seal with a powerful magic... Welcome to the Dungeons of Doom! Brogue is a single-player strategy game set in the halls of a mysterious and randomly-generated dungeon. The objective is simple enough -- retrieve the fabled Amulet of Yendor from the 26th level -- but the dungeon is riddled with danger. Horrifying creatures and devious, trap-ridden terrain await. Yet it is also riddled with weapons, potions, and artifacts of forgotten power. Survival demands strength and cunning in equal measure as you descend, making the most of what the dungeon gives you. You will make sacrifices, narrow escapes, and maybe even some friends along the way -- but will you be one of the lucky few to return alive?" This app offers: Brogue Classic - Brian Walker's original vision and where it all started. Brogue CE - A community effort that fixes bugs and crashes and focuses on QoL. Brogue SE - A new variant by yours truly with original items, monsters, and mechanics "...on the iPad, Brogue is an even more incredible feat than it is on the Mac: there aren’t a lot of roguelikes that can jump from a keyboard to a touch-based interface without coming off worse for wear. It’s every bit as good on the iPad as it is on the Mac." - Cult of Mac "[...] it manages to make use of its ASCII visuals to create some truly impressive-looking environments [...] it’s high fantasy to the core; filled with kobolds, goblins, wands, spell scrolls, and more." - 148Apps "It's a bit weird and clunky, but yeah, it's still Brogue" - Roguelike Radio

About

Arkfront

Guide humanity's last hope across the galaxy to a new home. Strategize in the hangar, customize ships and equipment, then engage in fast-paced arcade combat. Explore over 120 randomly generated levels, gather resources, and upgrade your arsenal for survival.

Highlights
  • Strategic hangar preparation
  • Customizable ship loadouts
  • Randomly generated campaigns
  • Fast-paced arcade action
  • Multiple game modes
  • Resource gathering and research
Features
Read full description

Guide your colony across the galaxy to reach Eden, the new home for mankind. “If you enjoy shooters with unique strategic twists then don’t hesitate to give Arkfront a shot…” - TouchArcade “…there’s sure to be heaps of content for you to work through on your way to finding that intergalactic paradise.” - PocketGamer “Arkfront is a MUST-HAVE!” - SnapAttack Supports: GameCenter achievements iCloud save syncing Haptic response during gameplay Plan ahead in the hangar, customize loadouts with upgradable equipment and ships, spend riches on new gear and research. Then plot your course through the Galactic Map towards Eden, defending the ARK and the future of humanity along with it. Gather resources and experience to use on future attempts. The campaign offers more than 120 levels to increase the diversity of each attempt. Find events for higher rewards and outposts for shopping and repairing along your way. FAST-PACED ACTION: Mobile first controls make high-paced arcade action simple to play, but hard to master. GALACTIC MAP: The Galactic Map system randomly generates new campaigns. Pulling from a collection of over 120 levels, each attempt is always unique. PREPARE: Build your custom loadout slots using the gear you want and set-off across the galaxy. Each attempt grants experience and coins to use on unlocking or leveling up powerups. 9 ships, 7 unique powerups, turrets, shield upgrades and 4 supers are available through the galaxy. WAYS TO PLAY: Play the campaign, a weekly challenge level, or alternative game modes like Countdown, Endless and Boss Rush. Arkfront demands short-term skill, medium-term preparation, and long-term planning in order to survive. SUPPORT: Twitter: @arkfront_game Email: shamus@arkfront.net

Screenshots

Brogue4 screens
Arkfront4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Brogue at Free against Arkfront's $3.99. Brogue also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly). Arkfront's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 18.6). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Brogue is free to download; Arkfront costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Brogue holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 76 and 32 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Brogue's written reviews are positive against 68% of Arkfront's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Brogue ships an update every 4 days, Arkfront monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Brogue versus Arkfront: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBrogueArkfront
PriceFree — better$3.99
Rating4.6 (76 ratings) — better4.1 (32 ratings)
Positive reviews93.9% of reviews — better68.2% of reviews
Number of ratings76 — better32
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS18.610.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB175 MB
Age rating9+9+
DeveloperSeth HowardIntensity Faucet Games, Inc.

Customer experience

Brogue

All ratings76 ratings
Positive89.5%
Neutral6.6%
Negative3.9%
Written reviews99 reviews
Positive93.9%
Neutral5.1%
Negative1.0%

Arkfront

All ratings32 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral3.1%
Negative21.9%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive68.2%
Neutral4.5%
Negative27.3%

In-app purchases

None

Brogue

No in-app purchases

None

Arkfront

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Brogue free?
Brogue is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Arkfront free?
Arkfront costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Brogue or Arkfront?
Brogue is rated higher. Brogue averages 4.6 out of 5 from 76 ratings, while Arkfront averages 4.1 from 32 ratings.
Do Brogue or Arkfront have ads?
Neither Brogue nor Arkfront shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Brogue or Arkfront?
Brogue ships an update every 4 days, and Arkfront monthly. Most recently, Brogue was updated on October 16, 2026 and Arkfront on October 8, 2026.

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