GMToolkit vs Close Encounters RPG
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GMToolkit
Read full descriptionHide full description
This app generates randomized content for a Game Master (GM)/Dungeon Master (DM) to use during their game. It's designed to be easy to read and simple, making it perfect for using on-the-fly mid-game. As a GM/DM, your job is to fill in the gaps created by this app, or to use it for inspiration. For example, if you create a randomized City, it might give you descriptions like: - Theocracy - Egg Statues - Soot - Sacrifice - Rogue Knights So you might start describing the city as covered in soot with large stone egg statues. As your players start exploring the city, you can piece together in your head what's really going on: perhaps this is a dragon-worshipping city run by a cult. They have a yearly ritual where they hatch a dragon egg and sacrifice commoners to the newborn, however a group of defiant knights have started fighting back against this practice. This app is made of 75% human writing, then 25% AI writing based on that human writing (using Anthropic and self-improvement algorithms). If this app does well I'll come back and add an option to filter out the AI writing, but I made this app primarily for myself so I don't have a need for it personally. The writing is vetted and makes it less likely for content to run out.
Close Encounters RPG
Embark on a fantasy adventure that transforms your real-world surroundings into a game. Create a unique character, explore your local area for encounters, and engage in strategic combat. Collect gear, learn spells, and develop your adventurer through a rich progression system.
- Location-based exploration
- Custom character creation
- Strategic combat encounters
- Weapon and armor collection
- Magic and spell learning
- Dynamic weather and time-of-day
Read full descriptionHide full description
Close Encounters RPG is a location-based fantasy role-playing game that turns the world around you into an adventure. Create a custom character by choosing a kindred and class, assigning attributes, and learning spells. Explore nearby locations, discover players, creatures, and loot, then enter strategic encounters. Equip weapons and armor, collect gold, learn magic, improve your attributes, and develop a unique adventurer over time. Features include: • Location-based exploration and nearby encounters • Multiple character kindreds and classes • Combat against players and fantasy creatures • Weapons, armor, spells, loot, and progression • Dynamic weather and time-of-day atmosphere • Optional consumable gold purchases Location access is used while playing to provide nearby game activity and encounters.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: GMToolkit at none against Close Encounters RPG's 3. Close Encounters RPG's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Close Encounters RPG sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. GMToolkit asks for nothing beyond the download.
GMToolkit ships an update fortnightly, Close Encounters RPG every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.
| Parameter | GMToolkit | Close Encounters RPG |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.7 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 17 MB | 690 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Dale LaPlante | Eric Neumuller |
In-app purchases
GMToolkit
No in-app purchases
Close Encounters RPG
- 250 Gold$0.99
- 600 Gold$1.99
- 1500 Gold$3.99
Questions
Is GMToolkit free?
Is Close Encounters RPG free?
Do GMToolkit or Close Encounters RPG have ads?
Which is updated more often, GMToolkit or Close Encounters RPG?
Other comparisons















