# D.E.A.D. Protocol vs Starlight Ascendant

The clearest difference is ads: D.E.A.D. Protocol at none against Starlight Ascendant's shown. D.E.A.D. Protocol also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. D.E.A.D. Protocol sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Starlight Ascendant sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for D.E.A.D. Protocol against 5.0 for Starlight Ascendant. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 4 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | D.E.A.D. Protocol | Starlight Ascendant |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dead-protocol/id6739101470/reviews) | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starlight-ascendant-roguelite/id6809084531/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | Every 3 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 677 MB | 281 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Nathan Sheets](https://appshunter.io/developer/1783692340) | [Contemplative Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6807912788) |

## What reviewers say

### D.E.A.D. Protocol

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dead-protocol/id6739101470)

Survive a zombie apocalypse with realistic shooting mechanics and a vast arsenal of upgradeable weapons. Customize your character and immerse yourself in detailed graphics as you face relentless hordes. Test your survival instincts in intense missions or see how long you can last.

**Highlights:** Realistic shooting mechanics, Upgradeable weapon arsenal, Customizable characters, Intense missions, Endless zombie hordes, Detailed graphics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lunchbox | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cooler | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pantry | $4.99 | one-time |
| Truckload | $9.99 | one-time |


### Starlight Ascendant

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starlight-ascendant-roguelite/id6809084531)

Engage in a fast-paced space shooter where your ship fires automatically. Strategize weapon and item combinations to survive waves of enemies and defeat bosses. Unlock new ships and worlds as you ascend through increasingly challenging levels.

**Highlights:** Automatic weapon firing, Weapon and item combination system, 16 unique ships with special rules, Four distinct worlds with unique enemies, Ascension levels for increased difficulty, Offline play and iCloud progress backup

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter Pack | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is D.E.A.D. Protocol free?

D.E.A.D. Protocol is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Starlight Ascendant free?

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

### Which has better reviews, D.E.A.D. Protocol or Starlight Ascendant?

D.E.A.D. Protocol and Starlight Ascendant are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 7 and 4 ratings respectively.

### Do D.E.A.D. Protocol or Starlight Ascendant have ads?

Starlight Ascendant shows ads; D.E.A.D. Protocol does not.

### Which is updated more often, D.E.A.D. Protocol or Starlight Ascendant?

D.E.A.D. Protocol ships an update every 3 days, and Starlight Ascendant every 3 days. Most recently, D.E.A.D. Protocol was updated on October 12, 2026 and Starlight Ascendant on October 15, 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.*