# A Kindling Forest vs RetroBoy

The clearest difference is price: A Kindling Forest at Free against RetroBoy's $2.99. A Kindling Forest also leads on ratings volume (47 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). RetroBoy's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

A Kindling Forest is free to download; RetroBoy costs $2.99 up front. A Kindling Forest sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. RetroBoy asks for nothing beyond the download.

RetroBoy holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: A Kindling Forest has 47 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of A Kindling Forest's written reviews are positive against 100% of RetroBoy's.

A Kindling Forest ships an update every 3 weeks, RetroBoy fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | A Kindling Forest | RetroBoy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [4.2 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-kindling-forest/id6450366148/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroboy-platformer/id6761346559/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **47** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 81.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 194 MB | 750 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Dennis Berndtsson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1485719944) | [Peter Hodges](https://appshunter.io/developer/1873344533) |

## What reviewers say

### A Kindling Forest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-kindling-forest/id6450366148)

Embark on a magical auto-runner adventure to save the forest from an ancient evil. Aim and shoot your way through challenging levels, collecting arrows that serve as your life count. Utilize checkpoints to refine your strategy and overcome obstacles.

**Highlights:** Auto-runner gameplay, Aim and shoot mechanics, Collect arrows as life count, Five challenging levels, Checkpoints for progress, Diverse obstacles and environments

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buy A Crown | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Beautiful graphics and visuals
- 🎮 Engaging and fun gameplay
- 🎵 Great music and sound design
- 👍 Smooth and satisfying mechanics
- 💡 Unique and innovative concept

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Paywall after short demo
- ⏳ Too short with few levels
- 🤔 Steep difficulty curve
- 🤷‍♂️ Controls can be frustrating
- 🐛 Minor bugs and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Purchase button not responding
- Character stuck under the map
- Tutorial not helpful
- Penny Bridge level bug
- No sound

**Requested features**

- More levels or stages
- Endless mode
- Upgrades or skins shop
- Haptic feedback
- Option to increase auto-scroll speed


### RetroBoy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroboy-platformer/id6761346559)

A retro action platformer where a single tap shifts the game between modern HD and 8-bit pixel art. This mechanic alters visuals, music, physics, and gameplay, revealing hidden paths and power-ups. Master both realities to uncover the game's secrets.

**Highlights:** World-flipping mechanic (HD/8-bit), 6 handcrafted levels, 5 boss battles, Hidden rooms and collectibles, 3 unlockable weapons, 28 player upgrades, Multiple difficulty modes

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is A Kindling Forest free?

A Kindling Forest is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is RetroBoy free?

RetroBoy costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, A Kindling Forest or RetroBoy?

RetroBoy is rated higher. A Kindling Forest averages 4.2 out of 5 from 47 ratings, while RetroBoy averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do A Kindling Forest or RetroBoy have ads?

Neither A Kindling Forest nor RetroBoy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, A Kindling Forest or RetroBoy?

A Kindling Forest ships an update every 3 weeks, and RetroBoy fortnightly. Most recently, A Kindling Forest was updated on October 17, 2026 and RetroBoy on October 12, 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.*