# DREDGE vs Black Mirror

DREDGE and Black Mirror both sit at 4.3 stars, but that hides the real split: 74% of Black Mirror's written reviews are positive against 60% of DREDGE's. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DREDGE sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Black Mirror sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for DREDGE against 4.5 for Black Mirror. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 580 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 60% of DREDGE's written reviews are positive against 74% of Black Mirror's.

DREDGE ships an update every 3 weeks, Black Mirror every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DREDGE | Black Mirror |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dredge/id6526463862/reviews) | **[4.5 (580 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-mirror-thronglets/id6529524046/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 580 |
| Positive reviews | 59.9% of reviews | **74.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 768 MB | 409 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Black Salt Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1756207154) | [Netflix, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/363590054) |

## What reviewers say

### DREDGE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dredge/id6526463862)

Captain a fishing trawler to explore remote islands and their depths, selling catches and completing quests to uncover secrets. Upgrade your boat and research equipment to reach new areas, but beware of the dangers lurking in the dark.

**Highlights:** Explore remote islands and depths, Catch and sell over 125 sea creatures, Complete quests and uncover secrets, Upgrade boat with researchable equipment, Navigate treacherous waters, Survive encounters in the dark

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Blackstone Key | $0.49 | one-time |
| Blackstone Key | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Pale Reach | $2.39 | one-time |
| The Iron Rig | $4.79 | one-time |
| The Pale Reach | $5.99 | one-time |
| Base Game Unlock | $9.99 | one-time |
| The Iron Rig | $11.99 | one-time |
| Base Game Unlock | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great game
- 🚀 Excellent port to mobile
- 🎮 Supports controllers
- 🎨 Stunning graphics
- 🕹️ Intuitive controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive for a mobile game
- 🔍 Misleading 'free' description
- 📱 Text/UI too small on phones
- 🐛 Crashes and performance issues
- 🎮 Controller support needs improvement

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on startup
- Controller issues
- Inventory/menu navigation problems

**Requested features**

- Larger text and UI options
- Cross-save between devices
- More content and DLC
- Minimap or navigation aids
- Ability to walk around boat/town


### Black Mirror

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-mirror-thronglets/id6529524046)

Experience a retro virtual pet simulation inspired by a "Black Mirror" episode. Hatch, evolve, and care for digital creatures that multiply and unlock new features. Your interactions reveal insights about yourself and humanity.

**Highlights:** Retro virtual pet simulation, Hatch and evolve hundreds of creatures, Creatures multiply and form a 'Throng', Unlock new tools and abilities through evolution, Personality test based on your interactions, Share personality results with friends

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Netflix Standard Plan | $19.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and original game
- 👍 Thoughtful and sincere
- 👍 Emotional aspect hits hard
- 👍 Allows for different outcomes and replayability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Major glitches and gameplay freezes
- 🔒 Requires Netflix account to play
- 🔒 Doesn't allow guest access

**Reported bugs**

- Gameplay freezes and unable to interact with items
- Rock cannot be moved
- Audio not working

**Requested features**

- Sandbox mode to continue growing the Thronglets
- AI and text chat bot option
- Ability for Thronglets to fart in unison or sing songs


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DREDGE free?

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

### Is Black Mirror free?

Black Mirror is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, DREDGE or Black Mirror?

Black Mirror is rated higher. DREDGE averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Black Mirror averages 4.5 from 580 ratings.

### Do DREDGE or Black Mirror have ads?

Neither DREDGE nor Black Mirror shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DREDGE or Black Mirror?

DREDGE ships an update every 3 weeks, and Black Mirror every 2 weeks. Most recently, DREDGE was updated on November 10, 2026 and Black Mirror on November 8, 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.*