# DREDGE vs POOLS™

The clearest difference is review sentiment: POOLS™ at 79% against DREDGE's 60%. POOLS™ also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.3). DREDGE's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and chart position (#183 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DREDGE sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and POOLS™ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

POOLS™ holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 1.6K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of DREDGE's written reviews are positive against 79% of POOLS™'s.

DREDGE ships an update every 3 weeks, POOLS™ every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DREDGE | POOLS™ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dredge/id6526463862/reviews) | **[4.5 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K | **1.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 59.9% of reviews | **79.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#183** | — |
| Size | 785 MB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Black Salt Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1756207154) | [Tensori](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767614989) |

## What reviewers say

### DREDGE

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

**Currently charting:** #183 Top Free · Adventure, #205 Top Free · Role Playing (US App Store)

Explore remote islands and their depths as a fishing trawler captain. Sell your catch, complete quests to uncover local secrets, and upgrade your boat. Beware of the dangers lurking in the dark.

**Highlights:** Explore remote islands and depths, Catch and sell diverse sea life, Complete quests to uncover secrets, Upgrade fishing boat and equipment, Survive nighttime dangers, Unravel a dark mystery

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Blackstone Key | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Pale Reach | $5.99 | 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


### POOLS™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878)

This app offers a slow, reflective, and immersive experience focused on exploration and atmosphere. It evokes feelings of unease and curiosity through its unique environments, inspired by liminal spaces and internet phenomena. Discover changing worlds and subtle narratives without traditional gameplay mechanics.

**Highlights:** Slow, reflective exploration, Atmospheric and immersive environments, Inspired by liminal spaces, Unfolding narrative through exploration, Six distinct chapters, Unique sound design

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| POOLS: Full Game | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Immersive experience
- 🔒 No ads
- 👍 Incredible attention to detail
- 👍 Realistic graphics and sound
- 👍 Eerie and creepy atmosphere

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Boring after a while
- 🐛 Lack of variety in environments

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to move on iPad Pro
- Glitches reported

**Requested features**

- Expand to different Backrooms-inspired themes
- Add a multiplayer mode
- Introduce more interactive elements (e.g., monsters, items to discover)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DREDGE free?

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

### Is POOLS™ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DREDGE or POOLS™?

POOLS™ is rated higher. DREDGE averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while POOLS™ averages 4.5 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do DREDGE or POOLS™ have ads?

Neither DREDGE nor POOLS™ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DREDGE or POOLS™?

DREDGE ships an update every 3 weeks, and POOLS™ every 2 months. Most recently, DREDGE was updated on October 15, 2026 and POOLS™ on October 14, 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.*