Dawnfolk vs Alchemy for Beginners
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Dawnfolk
Lead a kingdom lost to shadows, using a mythical fiery companion to push back darkness. Explore, build cities, manage resources, and survive dangers in a minimalist strategy and city-building experience. Discover new systems and shape your people's fate through interactive storytelling.
- Minimalist city building
- Exploration of medieval fantasy world
- Resource management
- Interactive story with player choices
- Skill-based minigames
- Multiple game modes
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In a world of darkness, you are the ruler of a kingdom lost to shadows. On a quest to save your people, you discover Lueur—a mythical, fiery companion who will light your way. Created by solo developer Darenn Keller, Dawnfolk blends minimalist strategy, exploration, and city-building into a relaxing yet deeply rewarding experience. Decades ago, obsidian monoliths fell from the sky, bringing a creeping darkness that consumed the land. Now, with the power of Lueur, you can push back the shadows and reclaim your realm. But what kind of ruler will you be? Explore an uncharted medieval fantasy world, manage resources, build cities, and survive against many dangers. Minigames add a unique challenge to supporting your people. The better you perform, the more resources you gain—helping your community weather the darkness. Every choice matters as you explore different strategies and play styles. Grow your settlement from a handful of tents into a thriving city in less than an hour, with no need for long tutorials or complex systems. Designed to feel familiar yet fresh, the game focuses on exploration and experimentation—where discovery is part of the journey. Your choices will shape the fate of your people. Will you succeed in bringing light back to the world? Features - A Comfy Game: A strategy experience designed for relaxed play, wherever you are. - Easy to learn: No long tutorials or complex menus—jump in and start building. - Short sessions: Grow from nothing to a thriving city in under an hour. - Mixing Macro and Micro: Blend city-building with mini-games inspired by farming sims and RPGs. Earn bonus resources through skill-based challenges that break up city management. - Game Modes: Multiple ways to play, including real-time, turn-based, and adjustable difficulty. - Incentivized Discovery: Explore, experiment, and uncover systems at your own pace—the game won’t tell you everything. - Minimalist Design: Focused mechanics that deliver depth without unnecessary complexity. - Interactive Story: Your buildings shape evolving stories. Your choices determine outcomes and directly impact your city—will you rule with kindness or pragmatism?
Alchemy for Beginners
Combine basic elements to discover over 200 unique ingredients, mythical creatures, and cosmic anomalies in this merge-and-discover puzzle game. Master skills, complete quests, and unlock legendary titles. Enjoy beautiful art and sound design.
- 200+ unique elements to discover
- Addictive merge-and-discover gameplay
- Local and global challenges
- Powerful skill upgrades
- Detailed alchemy data book
- Quests and mastery challenges
- Beautiful art and effects
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[TRY BEFORE YOU BUY] Try the first 10 elements to merge, experience the music, the animations, and the entire retro-pixel art style before you decide to embark on the full alchemist journey for only $4.99! One-time purchase - free update, elements, mechanics at no additional cost with regular weekly updates! Enter the mysterious laboratory of "Alchemy for Beginners"—the ultimate merge-and-discover puzzle game where you are the apprentice creator! Starting with the four basic elements—Fire, Water, Earth, and Air—you will combine, experiment, and weave them together to discover over 200+ unique ingredients, mythical creatures, and cosmic anomalies. From simple plants and stone tools to legendary entities like the Kitsune, Phoenix, and Akupara, every combination reveals a piece of a larger universe. Do you have what it takes to rise from a novice to a legendary Alchemist? GAME FEATURES • 200+ UNIQUE ELEMENTS TO DISCOVER Mix and match to reveal everything from basic materials (Lava, Steam, Glass) to advanced tools, scientific advancements, and mythical creatures (Valkyries, Werewolves, Golems, and even Black Holes!). • ADDICTIVE MERGE-N-DISCOVER GAMEPLAY Drag, drop, and merge ingredients on the board. The simple, intuitive puzzle interface keeps the magic at your fingertips. • CHALLENGE FELLOW ALCHEMISTS LOCALLY OR GLOBALLY Connect locally or globally to race against the elements with alchemists from all over the world! • POWERFUL SKILL UPGRADES As your mastery grows, use your hard-earned gold to purchase special perks, such as enabling self-merging and discovering new founding elements. • DETAILED ALCHEMY DATA BOOK Keep track of all your recipes and completed creations. Study the elements you've unlocked and figure out what combinations you still need to find. • QUESTS & MASTERY CHALLENGES Complete quests to earn rewards, climb the ranks of alchemy, and unlock legendary titles like "God's Apprentice," "Mythical Tamer," and "Gods' Favorite Child." • BEAUTIFUL ART & EFFECTS Enjoy responsive, eye-catching animated backdrops, premium particle effects, and sound design that make every single discovery feel like a true magic spell. Are you ready to unlock the secrets of organic creation, tame mythical beasts, and master the elements? Download "Alchemy for Beginners" today and start your journey!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Dawnfolk at free against Alchemy for Beginners's free with in-app purchases. Dawnfolk also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 62%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Dawnfolk sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Alchemy for Beginners sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Dawnfolk ships an update every 5 days, Alchemy for Beginners weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Dawnfolk | Alchemy for Beginners |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (51 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 75.5% of reviews — better | 62.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 51 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 323 MB | 569 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | Short Circuit Studio | Prince Arora |
Customer experience
Dawnfolk
Alchemy for Beginners
In-app purchases
Dawnfolk
- Dawnfolk$7.99
Alchemy for Beginners
- Full Game$4.99
Questions
Is Dawnfolk free?
Is Alchemy for Beginners free?
Do Dawnfolk or Alchemy for Beginners have ads?
Which is updated more often, Dawnfolk or Alchemy for Beginners?
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