# Backpack Viking vs Backpack Merge

The clearest difference is ads: Backpack Merge at none against Backpack Viking's shown. Backpack Merge also leads on review sentiment (25% vs 15%). Backpack Viking's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backpack Viking sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Backpack Merge sells 44 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Backpack Viking against 4.4 for Backpack Merge. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 338 and 119 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 15% of Backpack Viking's written reviews are positive against 25% of Backpack Merge's.

Backpack Viking ships an update weekly, Backpack Merge every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backpack Viking | Backpack Merge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (338 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backpack-viking-merge/id6505057874/reviews)** | [4.4 (119 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backpack-merge/id6566180728/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **338** | 119 |
| Positive reviews | 15.0% of reviews | **25.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 181 MB | 231 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Potato Play Pte. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1467734917) | [伟 王](https://appshunter.io/developer/1403717237) |

## What reviewers say

### Backpack Viking

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backpack-viking-merge/id6505057874)

Embark on a Viking adventure, crafting and merging weapons in your backpack to defeat goblin hordes. Strategically manage your inventory, level up gear, and utilize item buffs to enhance combat abilities and restore peace.

**Highlights:** Craft and merge weapons, Backpack inventory management, Level up weapons, Item buffs and placement, Defend against goblin hordes, Viking warrior adventure

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bundle $0.99 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bundle $2.99 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Bundle $3.99 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Bundle $4.99 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bundle $6.99 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Bundle $9.99 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bundle $14.99 | $14.99 | one-time |
| Bundle $19.99 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Bundle $39.99 | $39.99 | one-time |
| Bundle $49.99 | $49.99 | one-time |
| Bundle $99.99 | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun game
- 💡 Interesting backpack game concept

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Too many ads
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🔒 Forced ads to progress

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezes and crashes
- Enemies freeze at spawn point
- Progression issues with not getting credit for completing stages

**Requested features**

- Option to store gear between rounds
- Option to watch ads for extra bag space
- Adjustable 2x speed option


### Backpack Merge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backpack-merge/id6566180728)

Merge magical equipment and strategically organize your backpack to defend a peaceful academy from a monster invasion. Become the legendary Archmage and discover diverse combat strategies through talented equipment combinations.

**Highlights:** Merge equipment, Organize backpack, Defend from monsters, Diverse strategies, Talented equipment combinations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (44)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Package47 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Some Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Package65 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Package54 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Package61 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Package33 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Package40 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Package26 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Package9 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Package11 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Package27 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Package71 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package72 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package144 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package141 | $4.99 | one-time |
| A small pile of gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package7 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package12 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package28 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package35 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package21 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package76 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Package80 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Package81 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Package86 | $8.99 | one-time |
| Package84 | $8.99 | one-time |
| Package181 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package90 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package43 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package50 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package14 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package36 | $9.99 | one-time |
| A large pile of gems | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package22 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package8 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package10 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package13 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package204 | $14.99 | one-time |
| Package102 | $15.99 | one-time |
| Package103 | $15.99 | one-time |
| Package23 | $19.99 | one-time |
| A bag of gems | $19.99 | one-time |
| Package44 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Package24 | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Engaging and addictive gameplay mechanics
- 🎨 Attractive art style and visual design
- 🧠 Strategic depth with resource management
- ⚡ Active developer support with regular patches
- 🎯 Unique backpack/inventory management concept

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📺 Excessive ad frequency and duration (90+ seconds)
- 💰 Extremely high monetization and pay-to-win mechanics
- 🐛 Frequent server connection errors and crashes
- ⚠️ Ads frequently fail to load properly
- ⚖️ Severe game balance issues (weak weapons, overpowered enemies)

**Reported bugs**

- Ads fail to load or display (critical issue affecting rewards)
- Server connection errors and timeouts
- Insufficient items equipped error blocking stage progression
- Stamina randomly drains after server errors
- Login failures with Facebook and Apple ID

**Requested features**

- Add German language support
- Add Ukrainian and Russian language options
- Add Google ID login option for iOS
- Reduce ad frequency and duration
- Implement alternative monetization model


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backpack Viking free?

Backpack Viking is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Backpack Merge free?

Backpack Merge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Backpack Viking or Backpack Merge?

Backpack Viking is rated higher. Backpack Viking averages 4.5 out of 5 from 338 ratings, while Backpack Merge averages 4.4 from 119 ratings.

### Do Backpack Viking or Backpack Merge have ads?

Backpack Viking shows ads; Backpack Merge does not.

### Which is updated more often, Backpack Viking or Backpack Merge?

Backpack Viking ships an update weekly, and Backpack Merge every 6 weeks. Most recently, Backpack Viking was updated on October 22, 2026 and Backpack Merge on October 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.*