# Doodle Magic vs Shadow Survival

The clearest difference is rating: Shadow Survival at 4.6 against Doodle Magic's 4.3. Doodle Magic's advantage is ratings volume (15K vs 747) and review sentiment (56% vs 44%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Doodle Magic sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Shadow Survival sells 20 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shadow Survival holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Doodle Magic has 15K ratings behind it against 747, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of Doodle Magic's written reviews are positive against 44% of Shadow Survival's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Doodle Magic ships an update every 6 weeks, Shadow Survival every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Doodle Magic | Shadow Survival |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doodle-magic-wizard-vs-slime/id6467103305/reviews) | **[4.6 (747 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-survival-vampire-game/id6467580965/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 747 |
| Positive reviews | **56.2% of reviews** | 43.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 240 MB | 266 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dodjoy HK](https://appshunter.io/developer/1650927135) | [SeungHo Chung](https://appshunter.io/developer/1626940418) |

## What reviewers say

### Doodle Magic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doodle-magic-wizard-vs-slime/id6467103305)

Become a mighty wizard defending a village from monsters and slimes. Upgrade gear, collect skills, and build an indestructible fortress to overcome endless challenges and boss battles. Embark on a tower defense journey.

**Highlights:** Upgrade epic gear and forge powerful wizard, Collect and synthesize gems, Explore and combine mystical skills, Defend against endless slime monsters, Build and upgrade unique ramparts, Challenge Abyss Mode with random monster combinations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Several Crystal | $0.99 | one-time |
| A handful of Crystal | $4.99 | one-time |
| A pile of Crystal | $9.99 | one-time |
| A pack of Crystal | $19.99 | one-time |
| A bag of Crystal | $49.99 | one-time |
| A box of Crystal | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Unique art style
- 🎨 Customizable abilities
- 💡 Potential for future updates
- 🎮 Enjoyable tower defense experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Targeting/AI issues
- 🔍 Lack of in-game explanations
- ⏱️ Slow progression and grind
- 💰 Monetization concerns
- 🔧 Bugs and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Ads not working
- Overlapping UI elements
- Game crashes and freezes
- Progression issues after updates

**Requested features**

- Ability to control spell targeting
- Improved gem management and combination
- Endless/survival mode
- More diverse enemy types and level design
- Better balance between free-to-play and paid progression


### Shadow Survival

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-survival-vampire-game/id6467580965)

Engage in a thrilling vampire survival game where you battle hordes of monsters. Level up your knight, upgrade skills, and strategically combine abilities to wipe out enemies. Choose your hero and conquer challenging maps to survive the encroaching darkness.

**Highlights:** Kill countless monsters, Level up and upgrade skills, Organize unique skill decks, Choose and strengthen heroes, Strategic one-handed control, Battle on numerous maps

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (20)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| gem_1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| coinbank_1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| day_access_package1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| vip1_package1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| chapter_1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| chapter_2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| gacha_level_2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| ss_special_cheering_1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| skin_9 | $4.99 | one-time |
| lucky_package | $4.99 | one-time |
| pass_1 | $6.99 | one-time |
| rare_hero_choice_package2 | $6.99 | one-time |
| legend_hero_celebration_pack3 | $8.99 | one-time |
| gem_3 | $9.99 | one-time |
| special_package_13 | $9.99 | one-time |
| monthly_fixed+remove_ads | $14.99 | one-time |
| legendary_hero_choice_package3 | $18.99 | one-time |
| season_hyperpass_9 | $18.99 | one-time |
| season_hyperpass_8 | $18.99 | one-time |
| pass_2 | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun game
- 🚀 Potential to be good
- 💡 Interesting skills and mechanics
- 💡 Variety of characters and playstyles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches (crashes, loading issues, equipment selection bug)
- 🔨 Rough around the edges (abrupt level endings, confusing interface)
- 🔋 Grindy progression
- 🔒 Privacy concerns (personal information collection)

**Reported bugs**

- Flame lizard level 10 ability not working
- Equipment selection options disappearing after merging
- Crash on startup
- Lost progress and account issues after updates

**Requested features**

- Offline mode or sync timer
- Account options (e.g., login via social media)
- Improved wave design with more variety
- Multiplayer modes
- Better translation and localization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Doodle Magic free?

Doodle Magic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Shadow Survival free?

Shadow Survival is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Doodle Magic or Shadow Survival?

Shadow Survival is rated higher. Doodle Magic averages 4.3 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Shadow Survival averages 4.6 from 747 ratings.

### Do Doodle Magic or Shadow Survival have ads?

Both Doodle Magic and Shadow Survival show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Doodle Magic or Shadow Survival?

Doodle Magic ships an update every 6 weeks, and Shadow Survival every 2 months. Most recently, Doodle Magic was updated on October 29, 2026 and Shadow Survival on October 27, 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.*