# Monster Train+ vs Balatro+

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Balatro+ at 63K against Monster Train+'s 965. Balatro+ also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and device support (5 vs 3). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Monster Train+ against 4.9 for Balatro+. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Balatro+ has 63K ratings behind it against 965, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of Monster Train+'s written reviews are positive against 82% of Balatro+'s.

Monster Train+ ships an update every 2 months, Balatro+ every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monster Train+ | Balatro+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (965 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monster-train-plus/id6464487701/reviews) | [4.9 (63K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balatro-plus/id6502451661/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 965 | **63K** |
| Positive reviews | 79.1% of reviews | **82.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 536 MB | 136 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 13.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Good Shepherd Entertainment](https://appshunter.io/developer/1019007074) | [Playstack Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1133080356) |

## What reviewers say

### Monster Train+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monster-train-plus/id6464487701)

Defend the last burning pyre from Heaven's forces in this strategic deckbuilding roguelike. Build unique decks with over 250 cards across five distinct monster clans, each offering unique gameplay. Explore powerful locations and upgrade your champions to restore the Inferno.

**Highlights:** Unlock over 250 cards, Discover 5 distinct Monster Clans, Upgrade Champions multiple times, Explore powerful locations for benefits, Build and strategize unique decks, Includes Wild Mutations and Friends & Foes updates, Adds new clan, Pact Shards, and endboss with DLC

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Engaging and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Variety of factions and strategies
- 🎨 Cute and charming visuals
- 🕹️ Challenging yet rewarding experience
- 💰 Great value as part of Apple Arcade

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and performance issues
- 🔋 Can drain device battery quickly
- 🕹️ Difficulty can feel unbalanced at times
- 🔁 Repetitive enemy and level designs

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes on certain devices
- Saved progress being overwritten
- Lag and performance problems on later levels

**Requested features**

- Longer and more varied gameplay runs
- Cross-device save synchronization
- Expanded faction and champion options
- Customizable difficulty settings


### Balatro+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balatro-plus/id6502451661)

This is a hypnotic card game that blends Solitaire and Poker mechanics with unique rule-bending twists. Players aim to beat challenging Boss Blinds by forming strong poker hands and discovering powerful Joker cards to create exciting combos and boost scores.

**Highlights:** Twist rules in new ways, Beat Boss Blinds with poker hands, Discover over 150 Jokers with special powers, Create awesome combos, Multiple game modes (Campaign, Challenge), Beautiful pixel art

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Unique and creative spin on poker
- 🎨 Excellent visual style and music
- 💎 High replayability and depth
- 🕹️ Smooth mobile controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Cloud save issues and data loss
- 🔇 Disables other audio playback
- 🔍 Small UI elements and text
- 🔁 Repetitive blind tags

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing and crashing on some devices
- Unlocks and progress not tracking properly

**Requested features**

- Portrait mode option
- Ability to quickly deselect cards
- More accessibility options
- Syncing progress across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monster Train+ free?

Monster Train+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Balatro+ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Monster Train+ or Balatro+?

Monster Train+ and Balatro+ are both rated 4.9 out of 5 on the App Store, from 965 and 63K ratings respectively.

### Do Monster Train+ or Balatro+ have ads?

Neither Monster Train+ nor Balatro+ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monster Train+ or Balatro+?

Monster Train+ ships an update every 2 months, and Balatro+ every 2 weeks. Most recently, Monster Train+ was updated on September 19, 2026 and Balatro+ on September 24, 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.*