Comparison

3 Seconds Hero vs DC34 CTF

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

Head to head
About

3 Seconds Hero

Features
Read full description

3 Seconds Hero Think fast. Tap faster. In 3 Seconds Hero, every question is a rapid-fire multiple-choice challenge — and you only have 3 seconds to choose the correct answer. Sounds easy? Wait until your streak is on the line. HOW TO PLAY Read the question Pick A / B / C / D Beat the timer before it hits zero Keep your streak alive and climb higher GAME FEATURES Fast multiple-choice gameplay (perfect for quick sessions) 3-second timer pressure that makes it thrilling and addictive Streak system — one wrong answer breaks your run Difficulty increases the longer you survive Satisfying sound + effects for every win Perfect for friends: “Beat my streak” style challenges WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT Quick rounds, no waiting Easy to learn, hard to master The “one more try” feeling is real Great for improving reaction speed and focus Are you fast enough to be a hero in just 3 seconds? Download 3 Seconds Hero and prove it.

About

DC34 CTF

Engage in a challenging capture-the-flag game with diverse puzzles spanning cryptography, physical challenges, and hardware integration. Unlock fourteen channels, solve intricate problems without hints, and compete on a live leaderboard for prizes. The game is locked until the DEF CON 34 convention begins.

Highlights
  • Capture the Flag gameplay
  • 14 diverse puzzle channels
  • Cryptographic and physical challenges
  • Hardware integration puzzles
  • Live in-app leaderboard
  • Unlockable prizes
  • Hidden secrets
Features
Read full description

DC34 CTF is a capture-the-flag game built for DEF CON 34. Fourteen channels are dark. Your job is to light them up. Download before the con. The app locks until the convention opens. When the doors open at LVCC West Hall in Las Vegas on August 7, it unlocks and the game begins. FOURTEEN CHANNELS. ONE FINAL TARGET. Every channel is a different kind of puzzle. Some are cryptographic. Some are physical. Some require hardware your phone didn't know it would be using. No hints. No walkthrough. Figure it out. The challenges span XOR ciphers, steganography, DTMF tone analysis, radio direction finding, Bluetooth beacon hunting, geolocation, reverse image search, physical navigation, NFC, speech recognition, and more. Your phone's full sensor suite is in play — camera, microphone, GPS, accelerometer, compass, Bluetooth, NFC. PRIZES The first three players to complete all fourteen channels and claim the final flag receive physical prizes: gold, silver, and copper coins. Finishers four through thirteen get pins. Your rank is permanent — logged to the live leaderboard the moment you scan the hand. THE LEADERBOARD A live in-app finishers board tracks every player who completes the game, ranked by completion time. Watch it fill up in real time. THERE IS MORE The app has secrets that have nothing to do with the flags. Some people will find them. Most won't. REQUIREMENTS iOS 17 or later. Game Center must be enabled — the app authenticates silently at launch. Several challenges require network access, Bluetooth, NFC, location services, camera, and microphone. Grant permissions as the game asks for them or miss the challenges that need them. The app is locked until August 7, 2026 at 9:00 AM PT. Show up at DEF CON 34, LVCC West Hall, Las Vegas. You can play anywhere, but final flag unlocking prizes is only available in-person.

Screenshots

3 Seconds Hero4 screens
DC34 CTF4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: 3 Seconds Hero at 15.1 against DC34 CTF's 17.0. On price, 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
3 Seconds Hero versus DC34 CTF: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter3 Seconds HeroDC34 CTF
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequency—Every 3 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHussain AlmutawaJeremy Yablan

In-app purchases

None

3 Seconds Hero

No in-app purchases

None

DC34 CTF

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is 3 Seconds Hero free?
3 Seconds Hero is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DC34 CTF free?
DC34 CTF is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do 3 Seconds Hero or DC34 CTF have ads?
Neither 3 Seconds Hero nor DC34 CTF shows ads.

Other comparisons