# Star Command vs Dwarf Fortress Remote

The clearest difference is price: Dwarf Fortress Remote at Free against Star Command's $2.99. Star Command's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On review sentiment, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Dwarf Fortress Remote is free to download; Star Command costs $2.99 up front. Dwarf Fortress Remote sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Star Command asks for nothing beyond the download.

Star Command holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Star Command has 905 ratings behind it against 142, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Star Command's written reviews are positive against 60% of Dwarf Fortress Remote's.

Star Command ships an update every 10 days, Dwarf Fortress Remote monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Star Command | Dwarf Fortress Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.0 (905 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-command/id632079234/reviews)** | [3.3 (142 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dwarf-fortress-remote/id1003660287/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **905** | 142 |
| Positive reviews | **66.1% of reviews** | 59.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#109** | — |
| Size | 101 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Star Command, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/632079238) | [MIFKI PTY LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/316521224) |

## What reviewers say

### Star Command

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-command/id632079234)

**Currently charting:** #109 Top Paid · Strategy, #116 Top Paid · Simulation (US App Store)

Command your own starship, recruit and level up your crew, and explore a vast universe. Engage in tactical combat, manage ship roles, and make decisions that impact your journey through space.

**Highlights:** Build and command your starship, Hire and level up crew members, Explore the universe, Defend against alien civilizations, Tactical combat and ship management, Multiple ship hull choices, Discover alien species

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Amazing game
- 🚀 Fun and challenging gameplay
- 🚀 Great music and visuals
- 👍 No in-app purchases
- 👍 Replayability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🐛 UI issues (e.g. buttons off-screen)
- 🔍 Short story/content
- 🔍 Repetitive gameplay
- 🔍 Lack of updates/new content

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes on startup
- Crew members getting stuck or lost
- Weapons/UI elements disappearing
- Progression/save data issues

**Requested features**

- More ships, rooms, and customization options
- Expanded story and missions
- Multiplayer and co-op modes
- Ability to board enemy ships
- Improved crew management and AI


### Dwarf Fortress Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dwarf-fortress-remote/id1003660287)

Control your fantasy world simulation game remotely on your mobile device. Manage a group of dwarves, build a thriving fortress, and explore a procedurally generated world with complex systems. Requires the original game and a server connection.

**Highlights:** Remote Fortress Mode control, Complex world simulation, Dwarf management, Fortress construction, Procedurally generated worlds, Detailed geology and weather

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Server Subscription | $4.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive touch interface superior to PC controls
- 💡 Innovative remote play solution for complex game
- 🎮 Enables playing Dwarf Fortress on mobile devices
- ⚙️ Works smoothly with home network setup
- 🔧 Free option available with self-hosted server

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💳 Requires paid subscription or PC setup (confusing to users)
- 🐛 Frequent server connection errors and failures
- ⚠️ App abandoned/outdated for extended periods
- 📦 Missing tilesets causing functionality issues
- 🔌 Inconsistent server reliability

**Reported bugs**

- Server subscription errors preventing gameplay
- App crashes when opening squad command menus
- Endless initialization loops on server subscription
- Connection failures when connecting to home PC
- Black screen on map load (tileset issue)

**Requested features**

- Adventure mode support
- Custom embark location selection
- DFHack plugin support (workflow, autolabor, digvein)
- World map visualization
- Sound effects


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Star Command free?

Star Command costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Dwarf Fortress Remote free?

Dwarf Fortress Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Star Command or Dwarf Fortress Remote?

Star Command is rated higher. Star Command averages 4.0 out of 5 from 905 ratings, while Dwarf Fortress Remote averages 3.3 from 142 ratings.

### Do Star Command or Dwarf Fortress Remote have ads?

Neither Star Command nor Dwarf Fortress Remote shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Star Command or Dwarf Fortress Remote?

Star Command ships an update every 10 days, and Dwarf Fortress Remote monthly. Most recently, Star Command was updated on September 23, 2026 and Dwarf Fortress Remote on August 23, 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.*