# MapleStory R vs Stranger Heroes

MapleStory R and Stranger Heroes both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 77% of Stranger Heroes's written reviews are positive against 23% of MapleStory R's. MapleStory R's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MapleStory R sells 13 one-off in-app purchases and Stranger Heroes sells 16 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for MapleStory R against 4.6 for Stranger Heroes. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 458 and 896 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 23% of MapleStory R's written reviews are positive against 77% of Stranger Heroes's.

MapleStory R ships an update fortnightly, Stranger Heroes monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MapleStory R | Stranger Heroes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (458 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maplestory-r-evolution-us/id6746845705/reviews) | **[4.6 (896 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stranger-heroes/id6759763871/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 458 | **896** |
| Positive reviews | 22.6% of reviews | **76.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 209 MB | 302 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Rastar Mobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/1217687262) | [Cedar Technology HK Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1574171061) |

## What reviewers say

### MapleStory R

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maplestory-r-evolution-us/id6746845705)

Embark on a classic adventure with familiar characters and visuals. Enjoy effortless growth with auto-battles and offline leveling. Customize your character with stylish outfits and build your dream home.

**Highlights:** Classic IP authorization, Auto-battle and offline growth, Pet evolution and combat, Extensive character customization, GVG and strategic battles, Home customization

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Great Value Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Great Value Pack 4 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Monthly Card 1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Daily Pack 4 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Great Value Pack 5 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Great Value Pack 6 | $14.99 | one-time |
| Monthly Card 2 | $14.99 | one-time |
| Growth Fund | $19.99 | one-time |
| Great Value Pack 7 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Dojo License | $19.99 | one-time |
| Great Value Pack 9 | $29.99 | one-time |
| Great Value Pack 10 | $49.99 | one-time |
| Great Value Pack 11 | $99.99 | one-time |


### Stranger Heroes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stranger-heroes/id6759763871)

Assemble a wildly mixed tower defense army of characters from across time and space. Lead your squad to fend off hordes of monsters with easy gameplay, explosive skills, and absurd comedy. Log in for free gacha pulls, exclusive skins, and more rewards.

**Highlights:** Diverse character collection, Tower defense gameplay, Explosive skill effects, Live2D animations, One-handed controls, Auto-battle mode, Unique chibi-style maps

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| item worth$0.29 | $0.29 | one-time |
| item worth$0.59 | $0.59 | one-time |
| item worth$0.99 | $0.99 | one-time |
| item worth$1.99 | $1.99 | one-time |
| item worth$2.59 | $2.59 | one-time |
| item worth$2.99 | $2.99 | one-time |
| item worth$3.99 | $3.99 | one-time |
| item worth$4.99 | $4.99 | one-time |
| item worth$8.99 | $8.99 | one-time |
| item worth$9.99 | $9.99 | one-time |
| item worth$14.99 | $14.99 | one-time |
| item worth$19.99 | $19.99 | one-time |
| item worth$29.99 | $29.99 | one-time |
| item worth$49.99 | $49.99 | one-time |
| item worth$69.99 | $69.99 | one-time |
| item worth$99.99 | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MapleStory R free?

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

### Is Stranger Heroes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MapleStory R or Stranger Heroes?

Stranger Heroes is rated higher. MapleStory R averages 4.6 out of 5 from 458 ratings, while Stranger Heroes averages 4.6 from 896 ratings.

### Do MapleStory R or Stranger Heroes have ads?

Neither MapleStory R nor Stranger Heroes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MapleStory R or Stranger Heroes?

MapleStory R ships an update fortnightly, and Stranger Heroes monthly. Most recently, MapleStory R was updated on October 17, 2026 and Stranger Heroes on October 20, 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.*