Comparison

Flat Machine vs Card Hero

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

Head to head
About

Flat Machine

Control a limbless robot tasked with defending a settlement in a post-apocalyptic world. Engage in simple, timing-based battles against various threats and make choices that influence the game's multiple endings. Discover the mystery of your own identity.

Highlights
  • Simple, timing-based battles
  • Item combination system
  • Respond to various visitors
  • Multiple endings based on choices
  • Daily events and encounters
Features
Read full description

■ Story In the not-so-distant future, a world on the brink of ruin. Awakening in the wasteland is a single robot—with no limbs and no memories. You become the settlement's "gatekeeper," fending off the strange visitors who arrive day after day. Can you protect the settlement through its final days? And what is the true nature of the Flat Machine...? ■ Features [1] Easy, satisfying defense battles—just tap! Tap with the right timing to repel the enemies closing in. Simple to play, yet endlessly strategic through gear and item combinations. Build your own ultimate defense style. [2] Your "choices" change the future—multiple endings Not everyone at the gate is an enemy. Help a struggling mutant, or coldly turn it away? Your decisions steer the story to its ending in this rich sci-fi adventure. [3] Charming pixel art and a wistful apocalyptic world Lovable yet lonely characters brought to life in beautiful retro pixel art. An original atmosphere, deepened by a carefully crafted soundtrack. ■ Perfect for players who love - Pixel-art (retro) games - Dystopian, sci-fi, and apocalyptic worlds - Story-driven indie games - Quick, pick-up-and-play sessions - Tower defense, idle games, and RPGs - Playing free to the end, at your own pace, with no stamina Step into the "everyday apocalypse" woven by an amnesiac gatekeeper robot and the inhabitants of a dying world.

About

Card Hero

Embark on a strategic card game adventure through a mysterious dungeon. Each round is a quick, five-minute challenge where you'll use items and wits to defeat enemies, avoid traps, and collect treasure. Explore roguelike environments with unique challenges and character abilities.

Highlights
  • Roguelike dungeon exploration
  • Quick five-minute rounds
  • Strategic card-based combat
  • Variety of characters and skills
  • Random character talents
  • Easy to learn, hard to master
Features
Read full description

Made by an indie game developer, a strategy card game, casual and easy, five minutes per round. Head to the mysterious dungeon, carefully decide the direction. Use weapons, items, and your wits to defeat enemies, avoid traps, and get the treasure chest at the end of the stage! 1. Roguelike, each adventure has different terrains, enemies, and equipment. 2. Simple and fun, a five-minute adventure. 3. Left, right, or straight ahead? Simple operations. 4. Various characters, each with different skills. 5. Characters have random talents, choose the best combination. 6. Easy to learn but hard to master, how far can you go?

Screenshots

Flat Machine4 screens
Card Hero4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Flat Machine at 4.9 against Card Hero's 4.3. Flat Machine also leads on ratings volume (68 vs 3). Card Hero's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Flat Machine sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Card Hero sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Flat Machine holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Flat Machine has 68 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Flat Machine's written reviews are positive against 86% of Card Hero's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Flat Machine ships an update every 5 days, Card Hero weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and August 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Flat Machine versus Card Hero: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFlat MachineCard Hero
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (68 ratings) — better4.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews93.7% of reviews — better86.4% of reviews
Number of ratings68 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterWeekly
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size118 MB167 MB
Age rating12+17+
Developerzxima.LLCKE HSI LIN

Customer experience

Flat Machine

All ratings68 ratings
Positive97.1%
Neutral2.9%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews63 reviews
Positive93.7%
Neutral4.8%
Negative1.6%

Card Hero

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive86.4%
Neutral13.6%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Flat Machine

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Ads redirect to app store and prevent item rewards
  • Ad BGM continues playing after ad ends
  • Ad BGM persists even after restarting app
  • Agoda ads prevent continuing the game

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add Chinese translation
  • Add Vietnamese translation
  • Add Spanish translation
  • Option for one-time purchase to remove ads
  • More interactions with certain characters (e.g., training robot)
Show 1 more
  • Consider adding taxi or bakery characters in future works

Card Hero

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Flat Machine

One-time4
  • AD removal$2.99
  • Donation(S)$3.99
  • Donation(M)$14.99
Show 1 more
  • Donation(L)$34.99
5 purchases

Card Hero

One-time5
  • 1000 gems$1.29
  • 5000 gems$5.95
  • 10,000 gems$10.49
Show 2 more
  • 50,000 gems$50.00
  • 100,000 gems$96.00

Questions

Is Flat Machine free?
Flat Machine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Card Hero free?
Card Hero is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Flat Machine or Card Hero?
Flat Machine is rated higher. Flat Machine averages 4.9 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while Card Hero averages 4.3 from 3 ratings.
Do Flat Machine or Card Hero have ads?
Both Flat Machine and Card Hero show ads.
Which is updated more often, Flat Machine or Card Hero?
Flat Machine ships an update every 5 days, and Card Hero weekly. Most recently, Flat Machine was updated on September 24, 2026 and Card Hero on August 21, 2026.

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