Comparison

The First Ascent vs Apple Knight 3

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

Head to head
About

The First Ascent

Features
Read full description

“The first ascent” is an immersive climbing adventure where players scale treacherous mountains, sheer cliff faces, and mysterious vertical landscapes in their quest to reach the top. From dark caves to outer space, each level introduces new challenges and environmental hazards like hotwind, falling blizzards, mostly unstable obstacles. Strategic planning, quick reflexes, and precision are the keys to reaching the summit. Upgrade your character and unlock new climbers with unique skills, and collect the useful items along your route. Whether you're racing the clock or exploring at your own pace, "The first ascent" promises a vertical adventure like no other.

About

Apple Knight 3

Embark on an action-packed adventure across interconnected worlds, featuring fast-paced combat, mount collection, and a relaxing farm life simulation. Discover secrets, upgrade equipment, and customize your character in this engaging platformer.

Highlights
  • Interconnected worlds exploration
  • Hack-and-slash combat
  • Mount collection and leveling
  • Farm life simulation
  • Weapon upgrades and charms
  • Fluid platforming mechanics
  • Controller support
Features
Read full description

Apple Knight is back! Discover interconnected worlds, wield swords that double as charms, collect mounts, and build a life on your farm - with so much more to discover! No ads or in-app purchases. Run, jump, and slash your way through a fast-paced action platformer full of secrets, mounts, and farm life. Switch between side-scrolling adventure and a top-down farm. EXPLORE & DISCOVER • Explore interconnected worlds filled with secrets, mounts, and dungeons • Track your journey on the world map • Find secret areas, hidden treasures, and hidden mounts • Brave multiple dungeons in each world and earn unique swords as rewards COMBAT & EQUIPMENT • Battle hordes of enemies with hack-and-slash combat and powerful special abilities • Buy weapons at Torren's weapon shop or earn them as dungeon rewards • Upgrade your weapons to make them more powerful • Equip swords as charms for passive bonuses • Collect items and manage your inventory MOVEMENT & ABILITIES • Run and jump through fast, fluid action-platforming • Learn new moves in the training cave • Unlock movement abilities • Choose your jump style: classic Apple Knight or the new variable jump height MOUNTS & FARMING • Collect 10 mounts, each with its own stats • Grow crops on your farm and feed them to your mounts to level them up, or sell them for coins • Hire a farm helper to lend a hand on your farm • Clear weeds from your farm • Adopt a pet dog that gives you +1 heart • Feed the chickens on your farm or Tobin's to get a special bonus for 3 days LIFE & NEIGHBORS • Sleep in your own house • Take on quests from Garraldin • Visit the bakery for fresh bread and helpful buffs • Visit your friendly neighbor, Tobin, and his animals to buy or sell seeds and wheat, or just to chat • Experience a day/night cycle. Even the chickens go to bed at night! PLAY YOUR WAY • Unlock character skins to change your look • Play with a game controller A cozy world full of adventure is waiting for you.

Screenshots

The First Ascent4 screens
Apple Knight 34 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: The First Ascent at Free against Apple Knight 3's $2.99. The First Ascent also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). Apple Knight 3's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 months). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

The First Ascent is free to download; Apple Knight 3 costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The First Ascent ships an update every 5 months, Apple Knight 3 every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
The First Ascent versus Apple Knight 3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe First AscentApple Knight 3
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating—4.2 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—41.7% of reviews
Number of ratings—13 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size134 MB288 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperChi NguyenLimitless LLC

In-app purchases

None

The First Ascent

No in-app purchases

None

Apple Knight 3

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is The First Ascent free?
The First Ascent is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Apple Knight 3 free?
Apple Knight 3 costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do The First Ascent or Apple Knight 3 have ads?
Neither The First Ascent nor Apple Knight 3 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The First Ascent or Apple Knight 3?
The First Ascent ships an update every 5 months, and Apple Knight 3 every 2 days. Most recently, The First Ascent was updated on October 30, 2026 and Apple Knight 3 on November 1, 2026.

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