Comparison

Shadowverse vs Fire Emblem Shadows

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

Head to head
About

Shadowverse

Engage in strategic card battles with a new super-evolution mechanic and a compelling story. Collect cards, customize decks across seven classes, and connect with other players in a vibrant community.

Highlights
  • Super-evolution mechanic
  • Strategic card battles
  • Daily free card packs
  • Seven unique classes
  • Full-voice acted story
  • Shadowverse Park community
  • Deck customization
Read full description

Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond is a brand-new strategy card game from the popular Shadowverse CCG. Enjoy creating decks and battling online, just like the original Shadowverse CCG. With the newly added super-evolution mechanic and Shadowverse Park, among other brand-new content, there is lots to enjoy for both seasoned and brand-new players. Card Battles The rules of Shadowverse are simple, yet offer limitless ways to strategize and win. Use different card combinations to create unique synergies and strategies in battles against players all around the world. Dive into the game and enjoy strategic card battles with breathtaking graphics and effects. New Game Mechanic: Super-Evolution Each of your followers (unit cards you play on the field) can now super-evolve! Followers that have super-evolved are stronger and can knock opposing followers out with powerful attacks and deal damage straight to their leader!  Super-evolve your followers and enjoy exhilarating card battles like never before! Free Card Pack Every Day Log in to open a free card pack every day! Collect cards for the new compendium feature! Enjoy battling and collecting! Class Choose from 7 unique classes that match your playstyle and create custom decks. Tailor your deck to match your strategy and style, then dive into epic card battles! Story Experience a brand new Shadowverse story where characters are brought to life with full voice acting! Follow spectacular stories centered around seven unique characters, each bringing their own personality to the adventure. New Feature: Shadowverse Park Step into the Shadowverse CCG community where players can connect and interact! Show off your avatar with customizable outfits and emotes, bond with others, and grow stronger together! Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond is recommended to the following: - Fans of card games and collecting cards - Players who like collectible card games (CCG) or trading card games (TCG) - Long-time fans and players of the Shadowverse CCG - Players who enjoy PvP card games - People who have played other TCG and CCG before - Players who are looking for new TCG and CCG - Fans of strategic trading card games (TCG) and collectible card games (CCG) - Players who are looking for card games with compelling full-scale stories - Card collectors who appreciate beautifully designed collectible or trading cards - People who want to connect and interact with others through gaming

About

Fire Emblem Shadows

Engage in real-time strategy battles while simultaneously uncovering a traitor within your party. Strategize your combat, manage resources through player trading, and experience a dual narrative from opposing viewpoints.

Highlights
  • Real-time strategy battles
  • Social deduction mechanics
  • Player-to-player trading
  • Dual narrative perspectives
  • Weapon and magic skill selection
Read full description

■ A War Between Order and Instinct Discover the continent of Ardeal, a land of beasts. Here, disciples dedicated to the goddess of light defend order, while those sworn to the goddess of shadows prize instinct. Safety for those caught their struggle is fleeting, and open war is ever on the horizon. "What is your wish?" The goddess of shadows can grant any wish, but her price is servitude. To become her disciple is to become a monstrous beast, bound to obey her every command. ■ Light and Shadow Each character has two forms. Often, they appear as human. But when they submit to the shadow, the power of their bestial self comes forth. "Which will you choose, the light or the shadow?" ■ Deduction and Intrigue A traitorous shadow has infiltrated the ranks. Now, no one can be trusted and everyone is a suspect. Experience two sides to each story: see through the eyes of those serving the light, and venture with those sworn to the shadow. Only together can the full story be told. ■ Rich Support Conversations Unlock support conversations—personal moments between characters who appear in the story—providing a glimpse into their lives. ■ Intuitive Battle System During battle, characters move on their own. Simply drag and drop to target and use your many skills. Wield an arsenal of skills including attacks, recovery spells, buffs, debuffs, and movement abilities. Keep a sharp eye on the battle and cast wisely! ■ Observe and Discover Each battle has two phases: the Sun Room and the Moon Room. In the Sun Room, three players work together to drive back the monsters. But beware! One of you is secretly a traitor. Did an ally act strangely? Whose spells hindered more than helped? Watch closely to spot the traitor. ■ A Climactic Head-to-Head Battle In the Moon Room, the traitor takes on their beast form for a final head-to-head battle against their former allies. Identifying the traitor beforehand grants added strength. But the disciple of shadow is very powerful, and if they win, their victory will be final. Successful deduction or deception swings the tide of battle! ■ Test Your Mettle Take on a unique battle system! Enjoy introductory battles against computer-controlled foes, easing you into the game and its mechanics. ■ Characters from Across Fire Emblem's History Characters from other Fire Emblem titles, such as the heads of house from Fire Emblem: Three Houses, are added monthly. * Free to start; optional in-game purchases available. Persistent internet and compatible smart device required. Data charges may apply. * You must be at least 13+ to use this game with a Nintendo Account. * We permit our third-party partners to collect data from this app for analytical and marketing purposes. For more information about our ads, please see the "How we use your information" section of the Nintendo Privacy Policy. * Variations in individual device specifications and other applications being run on a device may affect normal operation of this application. * May include advertising.

Screenshots

Shadowverse4 screens
Fire Emblem Shadows4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Fire Emblem Shadows at 4.3 against Shadowverse's 3.8. Fire Emblem Shadows also leads on ads (none vs shown). Shadowverse's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and in-app purchases 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. Shadowverse sells 12 one-off in-app purchases and Fire Emblem Shadows sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Fire Emblem Shadows holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.2K and 1.9K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 35% of Shadowverse's written reviews are positive against 32% of Fire Emblem Shadows's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shadowverse ships an update every 2 weeks, Fire Emblem Shadows monthly. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Shadowverse versus Fire Emblem Shadows: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShadowverseFire Emblem Shadows
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (1.2K ratings)4.3 (1.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews35.1% of reviews — better32.2% of reviews
Number of ratings1.2K1.9K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size608 MB295 MB
Age rating12+9+
DeveloperCygames, Inc.Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

Shadowverse

All ratings1,194 ratings
Positive67.4%
Neutral3.3%
Negative29.3%
Written reviews701 reviews
Positive35.1%
Neutral7.0%
Negative57.9%

Fire Emblem Shadows

All ratings1,863 ratings
Positive81.2%
Neutral5.1%
Negative13.7%
Written reviews236 reviews
Positive32.2%
Neutral14.0%
Negative53.8%

User reviews

Shadowverse

From 1.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎨 Gorgeous artwork
  • 🎮 Fun and engaging gameplay
  • 👍 Familiar and welcoming to Shadowverse fans

Room to improve

  • 💰 Overly expensive monetization model
  • 🔒 Restrictive card liquefaction system
  • 🏆 Lack of F2P-friendly progression

Fire Emblem Shadows

From 1.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Good character designs
  • 🚀 Fast-paced gameplay
  • 💡 Unique take on Fire Emblem franchise
  • 👍 Respects Fire Emblem archetypes

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and laggy performance
  • 🔒 Pay-to-win elements
  • 👎 Lackluster gameplay and story
  • 👎 Doesn't feel like a true Fire Emblem game

Bugs and requests

Shadowverse

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashes and compatibility issues on certain devices
  • Matchmaking problems with self-declared 'beginners'

Requested features

3 requests
  • More ways to earn in-game currency
  • Improved card economy and crafting system
  • Expanded game modes and content

Fire Emblem Shadows

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Matchmaking issues
  • Network problems
  • Crashes and freezes

Requested features

3 requests
  • Longer and more engaging matches
  • Improved social deduction mechanics
  • Higher-quality graphics and visuals

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Shadowverse

One-time12
  • 60 Crystals$1.19
  • First Farer Legendary Box$1.59
  • First Farer Box$1.59
Show 9 more
  • 220 Crystals$3.99
  • 450 Crystals$7.99
  • Crystals + Card Style Bundle$15.99
  • 920 Crystals$15.99
  • Starter Bundle$15.99
  • 1400 Crystals$23.99
  • 2350 Crystals$39.99
  • Deckboost Bundle$39.99
  • 5000 Crystals$79.99
11 purchases

Fire Emblem Shadows

One-time11
  • 20 Gems$0.79
  • 100 Gems$3.79
  • Gem Pack$6.69
Show 8 more
  • 210 Gems$7.59
  • Gem Pack$11.49
  • Gem Pack$11.90
  • 500 Gems$17.49
  • 1,100 Gems$33.99
  • Gem Pack$36.99
  • 1,700 Gems$51.99
  • 2,600 Gems$77.99

Questions

Is Shadowverse free?
Shadowverse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Fire Emblem Shadows free?
Fire Emblem Shadows is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Shadowverse or Fire Emblem Shadows?
Fire Emblem Shadows is rated higher. Shadowverse averages 3.8 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Fire Emblem Shadows averages 4.3 from 1.9K ratings.
Do Shadowverse or Fire Emblem Shadows have ads?
Shadowverse shows ads; Fire Emblem Shadows does not.
Which is updated more often, Shadowverse or Fire Emblem Shadows?
Shadowverse ships an update every 2 weeks, and Fire Emblem Shadows monthly. Most recently, Shadowverse was updated on October 16, 2026 and Fire Emblem Shadows on October 16, 2026.

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