Comparison

Nethack Helper vs Pocket8

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

Head to head
About

Nethack Helper

This app serves as a comprehensive toolkit for NetHack players, offering tools to master shops, spells, and character progression. It provides detailed information on items, spells, intrinsics, and includes animated solutions for puzzles. The app also features score logging and progress tracking.

Highlights
  • Item identification by price
  • Spell success percentages
  • Intrinsic monitoring
  • Animated Sokoban puzzle solutions
  • Score logging and ascension tracking
  • Progress timeline chart
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

NetHack Helper - Everything you need to remember in one tiny app The ultimate toolkit for NetHack adventurers. Master shops, spells, and character progression with precision tools designed by players, for players. • Identify items by price with charisma-based calculations • Covers potions, scrolls, rings, wands, armor & more • All 43 spell books with success-to-learn percentages • Factors Intelligence, XP level, and skill enhancements • Monitor 18 intrinsics, protection, and prayer status • Step-by-step animated solutions for all 8 Sokoban puzzles • Toggle between DawnHack tiles and classic ASCII views • Comprehensive score logging with ascension tracking • Hidden timeline chart reveals your progress over time • Uses DawnHack Tileset • Works offline with persistent data • Auto-resets between characters for streamlined gameplay Unofficial companion app - not affiliated with NetHack DevTeam - We use it with iNetHack2 on iPhones

About

Pocket8

This app brings the PICO-8 fantasy console experience to your mobile device, offering access to thousands of community-made games. Enjoy customizable touch controls or gamepad support, and never lose progress with an instant save system.

Highlights
  • Browse and play community-made PICO-8 games
  • Customizable touch controls and gamepad support
  • Instant save states for unlimited progress saving
  • Portrait and landscape orientation support
  • Locked 60FPS gameplay
Features
Read full description

Experience PICO-8 Anywhere: Pocket8 brings the magic of the PICO-8 fantasy console to your pocket. Whether you’re on a commute or relaxing at home, thousands of indie games are a single tap away. A Massive Library in Your Pocket: Discover thousands of community-made games with integrated BBS exploration. From challenging platformers to relaxing puzzles, there’s always something new to play. Download your favorites and build a personal collection that goes offline wherever you do. Controls That Feel Right: Gaming on a touch screen can be a struggle. Pocket8 features high-precision controls that feel as good as a real handheld. Choose between a classic D-pad or virtual joystick, or swap the face buttons positioning to match your playstyle. Wanna go touch-less? Connect a controller and play with a bluetooth gamepad or keyboard. Play Without Interruption: Instant save system lets you freeze time and jump back in to the exact pixel where you left off. Manage an infinite amount of save states per cartridge. Features: Browse & Play: Explore the Lexaloffle BBS to find and download new games instantly. Pro-Style Controls: Fluid movement and adaptive controls. Gamepad and Keyboard support included. Portrait & Landscape: Play comfortably in any orientation. Save Anywhere: Never lose your progress with instant state saves. Pure Performance: Locked 60FPS gameplay for the ultimate retro experience.

Screenshots

Nethack Helper4 screens
Pocket84 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Nethack Helper at 5.0 against Pocket8's 4.6. Pocket8's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 9 days) and ratings volume (10 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Nethack Helper holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pocket8 has 10 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nethack Helper ships an update every 9 days, Pocket8 daily. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Nethack Helper versus Pocket8: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNethack HelperPocket8
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.6 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews—66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings110 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB24 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperDavid KonshuhJevon Lipsey

Customer experience

Nethack Helper

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Pocket8

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Nethack Helper

No in-app purchases

None

Pocket8

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Nethack Helper free?
Nethack Helper is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pocket8 free?
Pocket8 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Nethack Helper or Pocket8?
Nethack Helper is rated higher. Nethack Helper averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Pocket8 averages 4.6 from 10 ratings.
Do Nethack Helper or Pocket8 have ads?
Neither Nethack Helper nor Pocket8 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nethack Helper or Pocket8?
Nethack Helper ships an update every 9 days, and Pocket8 daily. Most recently, Nethack Helper was updated on September 9, 2026 and Pocket8 on September 13, 2026.

Other comparisons