Comparison

GameShard vs Addon Forge

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

Head to head
About

GameShard

Features
Read full description

GameShard is the backlog tracker that knows how you actually play. It times your sessions, keeps your Steam playtime in sync, and tells you when you'll clear your backlog at your real pace. Can't decide what to play tonight? Pick a mood and how much time you've got, and Play Next picks a game from your backlog. WHAT TO PLAY NEXT · Pick a mood (chill, challenge, story, mindless fun) and how long you've got · Play Next suggests a game from your backlog, not a random store page · Average completion times for every game KNOWS HOW YOU PLAY · One-tap session timer, or log past play time by hand · Steam playtime syncs by itself, no button to press · Backlog forecast: "At your pace, you'll clear your backlog in 2 years 4 months." Share it if you dare · Free home screen widget with a live timer and your progress toward finishing the game · Achievements for streaks, finishing games and clearing your backlog YOUR 2026 WRAPPED, FREE · Every December: your hours, top games, busiest month, longest streak and your player type · Swipe through it like a story, then share the card IMPORT IN SECONDS · Connect Steam and import your library with real playtime · Or tap the popular games you've played, and search millions of titles from IGDB YOUR LIBRARY, YOUR WAY · Shelves: Playing, Backlog, Wishlist, Finished, Dropped · Rate games, rate a whole Steam import in one go, and add notes · Sort by playtime, rating or name, and filter by platform or genre · Get a reminder the day a game on your Wishlist comes out · Share cards with your rating and hours, free for everyone PRIVATE BY DESIGN · No account. Your library stays on your phone · Back up to Files and restore on a new phone, free. Export to CSV too · No ads. No tracking GAMESHARD PREMIUM · Full play history: total hours, sessions and a per-game time ranking · Deep stats: hours by week, month and year, streaks, activity heatmap, completion speed, drop rate · Year in Review · Premium achievements tied to your play habits · Medium and large widgets with your week, streak and shelf counts · Make it yours: Midnight theme, compact and grid layouts, rename shelves Monthly or yearly subscription. Cancel anytime in Settings. Game data provided by IGDB. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://dv1sual.github.io/GameShelf/privacy-policy.html

About

Addon Forge

Easily create custom items, blocks, and crafting recipes for your favorite block-building game. Simply type your idea in plain language, and the app generates a unique add-on with original textures. Save, share, and modify your creations with ease.

Highlights
  • Create custom items, blocks, and recipes
  • Generate add-ons from text descriptions
  • Multiple texture styles (blocky, realistic)
  • Save, share, and combine add-ons
  • Import external .mcaddon files
  • Edit existing creations with text
Features
Read full description

"A sword that sets mobs on fire." Type one sentence like that, tap Forge it, and about a minute later it's a real mod: a fire sword with its own original art and crafting recipe. No coding, no computer. Addon Forge is an independent, unofficial mod maker, addon maker and texture maker in one. It turns plain words into a standard .mcaddon file for the block-building game on your phone or tablet (sold separately), and it opens straight into the game on the same iPhone or iPad. No sketchy download sites. Parents: what it makes and how gems and ads work are all below. ONE SENTENCE REALLY IS ENOUGH • "a sword made of emeralds" → an emerald sword with its own pixel art • "a block that bounces you sky-high" → a bounce pad you craft and place • "a blaster that shoots green lasers" → a blaster with glowing green beams More detail (colors, powers, what crafts it) gets even closer to what you pictured. WHAT IT MAKES • Things you hold, wear or eat: swords, bows, wands, blasters, armor, snacks • Blocks you place: glowing lava blocks, bounce pads • A crafting recipe for each one Each forge makes one thing. For a set, tap Add a related item (uses gems), up to 3 things per add-on: ammo for your blaster, or boots to match your helmet. With Plus, a Full add-on pack makes many items and blocks from one idea. HOW IT WORKS 1. Pick a type and write your idea in plain words 2. Tap Forge it. Most creations take about a minute (full packs about 1½ minutes, armor about 2, Realistic art a bit longer) 3. Follow the numbered steps: Put it in your game (Download add-on), Make it better, What's inside, How to play MAKE IT BETTER • Customize: type a change (uses gems), or edit the name and stats for free • Repaint (uses gems) or Edit recipe (free) on anything inside • Tap the pen to rename your add-on, free Every creation stays on your Add-ons shelf to download again, share or combine. PICK YOUR LOOK Blocky: crisp 128px pixel art that fits right in. Realistic (Plus): smooth HD art at 256px or 512px. Swords, tools and blasters are drawn the way the game holds them. HOW GEMS WORK • A Basic creation costs 3 gems; bigger jobs cost more, and the price shows before you tap • 3 free welcome gems: your first creation is on us • Daily bonus: 2 free gems. Optional ads: up to 2 a day, 3 gems each That's up to 8 free gems a day, enough for two Basic creations. ADDON FORGE PLUS (optional subscription) • 400 gems every week, enough for 133 Basic creations • Full add-on packs, Advanced mode and the Realistic look Addon Forge Plus is $4.99 per week. Payment is charged to your Apple Account. The subscription renews automatically each week until cancelled; cancel at least 24 hours before the week ends to avoid the next charge. Manage or cancel anytime in your iOS Settings. Plus gems reset each week and end when Plus ends. FOR FAMILIES • A creative tool, not a feed: no sign-up (no email, name or password), no chat, no profiles • No loot boxes, no gambling-style mechanics, no fake countdowns, and no gem packs: the only purchase is Plus • If a forge fails, its gems come back automatically • Optional ads only: an ad plays only when you tap "Watch an ad". Ads aren't personalized, and dating, gambling, alcohol and other sensitive topics are blocked GOOD TO KNOW • Works with the Bedrock (phone, tablet and console) version of the game that opens .mcaddon files, purchased separately • Does not work with the PC-only Java edition • Makes items, armor, blocks and crafting recipes • Addon Forge is an unofficial, independent tool, not made by, approved by or associated with the game's publisher Privacy Policy: https://addon-forge-addon-forge.vercel.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://addon-forge-addon-forge.vercel.app/terms INDEPENDENT AND UNOFFICIAL. NOT MADE BY, APPROVED BY OR ASSOCIATED WITH THE PUBLISHER OF THE GAME IT WORKS WITH.

Screenshots

GameShard4 screens
Addon Forge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: GameShard at none against Addon Forge's shown. Addon Forge's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, 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. GameShard sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Addon Forge sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GameShard ships an update every 2 weeks, Addon Forge every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
GameShard versus Addon Forge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGameShardAddon Forge
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 6 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB20 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperLUCA MANZONIROCKY JOSEPH RIGDEN

In-app purchases

2 purchases

GameShard

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$14.991 Year
1 purchases

Addon Forge

Subscriptions1
  • Addon Forge Plus$4.997 Days

Questions

Is GameShard free?
GameShard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Addon Forge free?
Addon Forge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do GameShard or Addon Forge have ads?
Addon Forge shows ads; GameShard does not.
Which is updated more often, GameShard or Addon Forge?
GameShard ships an update every 2 weeks, and Addon Forge every 6 days. Most recently, GameShard was updated on October 17, 2026 and Addon Forge on October 24, 2026.

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