# Dope Wars 1987 vs Contraband

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Contraband at 100% against Dope Wars 1987's 55%. Contraband also leads on price (Free vs $0.99) and rating (5.0 vs 4.4). Dope Wars 1987's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 8 days). On ratings volume, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Contraband is free to download; Dope Wars 1987 costs $0.99 up front. Contraband sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Dope Wars 1987 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Contraband holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Dope Wars 1987's written reviews are positive against 100% of Contraband's.

Dope Wars 1987 ships an update every 3 days, Contraband every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dope Wars 1987 | Contraband |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.4 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dope-wars-1987/id6746311858/reviews) | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/contraband/id6778525968/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 54.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 8 days |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#175** | — |
| Size | 63 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Tempest Press](https://appshunter.io/developer/1816122860) | [Ian Robinson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871564096) |

## What reviewers say

### Dope Wars 1987

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dope-wars-1987/id6746311858)

**Currently charting:** #175 Top Paid · Strategy (US App Store)

Experience a classic text-based economic strategy game set in the 1980s. Buy and sell goods in a dynamic urban market, outsmarting rivals and officials to build your empire. Can you thrive in the gritty underworld of 1987?

**Highlights:** Text-based gameplay, Economic strategy simulation, Fluctuating market prices, Urban underworld setting, Character interaction

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Contraband

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/contraband/id6778525968)

Engage in a high-stakes trading simulation across twelve cities within a 30-day limit. Navigate dynamic markets, manage risks from various factions, and build your net worth to compete on a global leaderboard. Every decision impacts your story and survival.

**Highlights:** Dynamic city markets, Faction-based gameplay, Risk management mechanics, Story-driven outcomes, Global leaderboards, Automatic saving

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Mafia | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Cartel | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Outlaws | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Yakuza | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Red Network | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All Factions | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dope Wars 1987 free?

Dope Wars 1987 costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Contraband free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Dope Wars 1987 or Contraband?

Contraband is rated higher. Dope Wars 1987 averages 4.4 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Contraband averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do Dope Wars 1987 or Contraband have ads?

Neither Dope Wars 1987 nor Contraband shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dope Wars 1987 or Contraband?

Dope Wars 1987 ships an update every 3 days, and Contraband every 8 days. Most recently, Dope Wars 1987 was updated on October 28, 2026 and Contraband on October 29, 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.*