Comparison

Duskfall vs Orthanc

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

Head to head
About

Duskfall

Embark on a dark fantasy adventure in this turn-based dungeon crawler RPG. Explore intricate dungeons, engage in strategic combat, and uncover a compelling storyline. Upgrade your hero with thousands of items and craft legendary gear.

Highlights
  • Turn-based dungeon crawling
  • Strategic combat system
  • Fantasy world exploration
  • Hero customization and upgrades
  • Crafting and enchantment
  • Offline gameplay
Features
Read full description

Embark on a thrilling journey with this turn-based dungeon crawler RPG! Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Duskfall. Dive into the heart of dungeons, where every step holds secrets, treasures, and formidable foes. Epic Dungeon Adventures: Navigate through intricate dungeons, uncovering mysteries and facing mythical creatures. Engage in turn-based battles, employing strategic prowess to triumph over challenging foes. Fantasy World Exploration: Roam through a richly crafted fantasy world, filled with captivating landscapes and enigmatic characters. Unravel the secrets of ancient lore and embark on a quest that will test your courage and wit. Strategic Turn-Based Combat: Equip your hero, plan your moves wisely, and engage in strategic turn-based battles. Conquer enemies, discover hidden pathways, and emerge victorious in this thrilling RPG experience. Upgrade and Customize: Collect thousands of items, from powerful weapons to enchanted armor. Upgrade your gear, unlock new abilities, and customize your hero to fit your playstyle. Compelling Storyline: Immerse yourself in a deep and captivating narrative that unfolds as you progress. Encounter intriguing characters, make impactful choices, and shape the outcome of your epic adventure. Crafting and Enchantment: Experiment with the magical arts at the forge. Craft powerful potions, enchant your equipment, and create legendary items that will aid you in your quest. Offline Gameplay: Play anytime, anywhere – Duskfall offers an offline gaming experience. Dive into dungeons and embark on quests even when offline. Embark on a heroic journey in Duskfall, where dungeons hold the keys to unrivaled adventures. Download now and discover the true essence of turn-based RPG gaming!

About

Orthanc

Embark on an adventure in this faithful recreation of a classic 1970s graphic dungeon crawl RPG. Explore, defeat monsters, and gather treasure using the touchscreen interface. Experience a challenging yet addictive gameplay loop inspired by early computer games.

Highlights
  • Faithful recreation of a 1970s RPG
  • Dungeon crawl gameplay
  • Monster combat and treasure hunting
  • Touchscreen controls
  • Inspired by early computer games
Features
Read full description

This game is a faithful recreation of "Orthanc", one of the first graphic dungeon crawl role-playing games developed for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's PLATO computer in the 1970s. The original was played on a PLATO terminal with a keyboard. (The PLATO version of "Orthanc" was inspired by "pedit5", which you can learn more about in Wikipedia.) The original PLATO terminals used plasma panels only capable of displaying orange and black. There is no sound. This implementation uses the touchscreen for all gameplay. You are an adventurer gaining experience and treasure by defeating monsters. Orthanc is easy to start but hard to put down.

Screenshots

Duskfall4 screens
Orthanc4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Duskfall at 4.8 against Orthanc's 4.0. Duskfall also leads on ratings volume (3.5K vs 4) and review sentiment (86% vs 67%). Orthanc's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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

Both are free to download. Duskfall sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Orthanc asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Duskfall holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Duskfall has 3.5K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Duskfall's written reviews are positive against 67% of Orthanc's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Duskfall ships an update every 2 weeks, Orthanc every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Duskfall versus Orthanc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDuskfallOrthanc
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.5K ratings) — better4.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews85.9% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings3.5K — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size230 MB2 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperViktor DomonyiPaul Resch

Customer experience

Duskfall

All ratings3,514 ratings
Positive98.0%
Neutral1.1%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews327 reviews
Positive85.9%
Neutral5.5%
Negative8.6%

Orthanc

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Bugs and requests

Duskfall

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Items disappearing after purchases
  • Doors/gates relocking after progress
  • Clues not saved in quest log

Requested features

8 requests
  • More in-game purchase options
  • More skill optimization
  • Hint feature or help for stuck players
  • Ability to see companion classes
  • Ability to customize companions
Show 3 more
  • Speed up option for enemy turns
  • Respawning enemies for grinding
  • Better inventory management

Orthanc

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

13 purchases

Duskfall

One-time13
  • Duskfall Pack$0.99
  • Remove Ads$1.99
  • Duskfall Pack$1.99
Show 10 more
  • Seasons Tier 2 Pass$5.99
  • 600 gems$5.99
  • Duskfall Pack$5.99
  • 1300 gems$11.99
  • Duskfall Pack$11.99
  • 3000 gems$22.99
  • Duskfall Pack$22.99
  • Duskfall Pack$34.99
  • 7000 gems$35.99
  • 16000 gems$69.99
None

Orthanc

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Duskfall free?
Duskfall is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Orthanc free?
Orthanc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Duskfall or Orthanc?
Duskfall is rated higher. Duskfall averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.5K ratings, while Orthanc averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Duskfall or Orthanc have ads?
Duskfall shows ads; Orthanc does not.
Which is updated more often, Duskfall or Orthanc?
Duskfall ships an update every 2 weeks, and Orthanc every 6 weeks. Most recently, Duskfall was updated on September 25, 2026 and Orthanc on September 9, 2026.

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