Comparison

Grid Swarm vs Grimoire Run

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

Head to head
About

Grid Swarm

Features
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You are outnumbered. Outgunned. Surrounded on all sides. It doesn't matter. You're about to become the most dangerous thing on the grid. Grid Swarm: Survivors is a retro roguelite bullet-hell where you dodge, upgrade, and obliterate wave after wave of relentless swarms. Every run builds differently. Every build feels broken in the best way. [Become Overpowered] Choose from 100+ upgrades each run to craft builds that shred through hordes. Stack damage, chain effects, and watch the screen fill with destruction of your own making. [Survive the Swarm] Waves of enemies swarm from every direction in pure bullet-hell chaos. Boss fights hit hard. Massive hordes push harder. Survive long enough and you'll become untouchable. [No Two Runs Are the Same] Roguelite progression means every session is a fresh challenge. Unlock new power combinations, discover hidden synergies, and chase that perfect run. [Pick Up and Play] Quick sessions designed for mobile. Whether you have 5 minutes or 5 hours, one more run is always one tap away. [Features] - 100+ upgrades with deep combo potential - Bullet-hell swarm combat with boss fights - Retro arcade aesthetic with modern roguelite depth - Autoplay mode to watch your best builds in action - Fast sessions - perfect for mobile If you love Vampire Survivors, Brotato, or 20 Minutes Till Dawn - you'll feel right at home. Download free. Survive everything.

About

Grimoire Run

Features
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Mow down endless waves of monsters with auto-firing weapons — and make it out alive in just 4 minutes. Simple to pick up, impossible to put down. ā–¶ ONE FINGER, INFINITE CHAOS Your weapons fire on their own. You focus on dodging, positioning, and choosing the right power-ups. Easy controls, deep strategy. ā–¶ FUSE WEAPONS INTO ULTIMATE FORMS Collect weapons, max them out, then fuse two together to create something devastating. With dozens of combinations, no two runs play the same. ā–¶ GATE RUN — CHOOSE YOUR PATH Rush through stat gates that boost or challenge you. Every gate is a gamble — pick wisely and become unstoppable. ā–¶ GRIMOIRE DROPS Defeat powerful mid-bosses to earn Grimoire rewards — rare upgrades that can turn the tide of battle in an instant. ā–¶ PIXEL ART WITH SOUL Hand-crafted retro pixel sprites, fluid animations, and flashy ultimate attacks that feel incredible on every screen. ā–¶ BUILD YOUR MAGE, YOUR WAY Each character has a unique passive ability that changes how you play. Stack accessories, upgrade stats, and craft the perfect build for your playstyle. ā–¶ SHORT SESSIONS, DEEP REPLAY Every run is 4 minutes. Quick enough for a coffee break, addictive enough to chain ten in a row. Permanent upgrades carry over between runs so you always grow stronger. ā–¶ 6 LANGUAGES SUPPORTED Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French

Screenshots

Grid Swarm4 screens
Grimoire Run3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Grid Swarm at none against Grimoire Run's 6. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Grimoire Run sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Grid Swarm asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Grid Swarm ships an update every 2 weeks, Grimoire Run every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 5 level
Grid Swarm versus Grimoire Run: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGrid SwarmGrimoire Run
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size101 MB145 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperAmir ArdroudiAtsuki Kurihara

In-app purchases

None

Grid Swarm

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Grimoire Run

One-time6
  • 500 Coins$0.99
  • 1,290 Coins$2.99
  • 2,650 Coins$5.99
Show 3 more
  • 8,000 Coins$19.99
  • 19,000 Coins$39.99
  • 33,000 Coins$69.99

Questions

Is Grid Swarm free?
Grid Swarm is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Grimoire Run free?
Grimoire Run is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Grid Swarm or Grimoire Run have ads?
Both Grid Swarm and Grimoire Run show ads.
Which is updated more often, Grid Swarm or Grimoire Run?
Grid Swarm ships an update every 2 weeks, and Grimoire Run every 3 weeks. Most recently, Grid Swarm was updated on September 13, 2026 and Grimoire Run on September 14, 2026.

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