Comparison

Dome Keeper vs Substrate Entity

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

Head to head
About

Dome Keeper

Dig for resources and relics between waves of alien attacks in this roguelike action mining game. Upgrade your dome, drill, and gadgets to survive increasingly challenging assaults. Strategize your digs and defenses to increase your chances of survival.

Highlights
  • Procedurally generated maps
  • Resource digging and collection
  • Dome defense against alien waves
  • Unlockable upgrades and gadgets
  • Customizable keeper types and domes
  • Multiple difficulty settings
Features
Read full description

Defend against waves of alien monsters in this unique roguelike action mining game. Use the time between attacks to dig beneath the surface in search of valuable resources and relics – deliver them back to your dome to unlock powerful upgrades and useful new gadgets. But it won’t be long until the relentless monsters return - do you risk delving deeper into the mine? Or return to base and prepare for imminent attack? The choice is yours, but make it quickly! DIG Use your drill and keeper equipment to quickly dig out tunnels and explore the depths beneath your dome. Each run has its own unique, procedurally generated map filled with resources and caves to discover, along with additional gadgets to obtain. ​ DEFEND Protect your dome by operating its powerful weaponry to defend against waves of monster attacks. Upgrade, repair and repel a variety of enemy types that approach across air and ground, each with their own unique attack methods and movement patterns. DEVELOP Spend resources to unlock useful upgrades. Improve dome defences, enhance the impact of your drill, or increase movement speed – choose carefully and strategise to increase odds of survival. DISCOVER Customise your setup and find a playstyle that works for you by choosing from two unique keeper types, four different domes, and four primary gadgets. Pick a run modifier, adjust difficulty settings and discover dozens of secondary gadgets while you dig through the earth.

About

Substrate Entity

Features
Read full description

You are a charge running an etched plate. The trace splits under you, and some of the branches it offers are already finished. Nothing marks them. You read ahead, you pick a side, you keep moving. Press the left or the right of the glass. That is the whole game. SEVEN STRATA Each one runs faster and darker than the one above it. When the colour turns, the tempo turns with it. CHARGE Every row costs you. The bright pads pay it back and stack your multiplier. The branch that keeps you alive and the branch that keeps you fed are rarely the same branch. NO ADS No timers, no energy, no currency, no in-app purchases, no account. It runs entirely on your phone. Portrait, one thumb. Sound, haptics and motion each turn off. More from Dro1d Labs: Pixel Pigeon for the stubborn life of a city bird, and War Pigeon for tactical stealth after dark. Privacy Policy: https://dro1d.org/substrate.html#privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Dome Keeper4 screens
Substrate Entity4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Substrate Entity at Free against Dome Keeper's $9.99. Dome Keeper's advantage is chart position (#34 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On update cadence, 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

Substrate Entity is free to download; Dome Keeper costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dome Keeper ships an update every 10 days, Substrate Entity every 6 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Dome Keeper versus Substrate Entity: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDome KeeperSubstrate Entity
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (51 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews56.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings51 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#34 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.1 GB12 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperRaw FuryDRO1D LABS LIMITED

In-app purchases

None

Dome Keeper

No in-app purchases

None

Substrate Entity

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dome Keeper free?
Dome Keeper costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Substrate Entity free?
Substrate Entity is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Dome Keeper or Substrate Entity have ads?
Neither Dome Keeper nor Substrate Entity shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dome Keeper or Substrate Entity?
Dome Keeper ships an update every 10 days, and Substrate Entity every 6 days. Most recently, Dome Keeper was updated on November 5, 2026 and Substrate Entity on November 5, 2026.

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