# Incremental ELM Quest vs Archmage Idle

The clearest difference is rating: Archmage Idle at 4.7 against Incremental ELM Quest's 4.2. Archmage Idle also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 48%) and update cadence (daily vs every 6 days). Incremental ELM Quest's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Incremental ELM Quest sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Archmage Idle sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Archmage Idle holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 50 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Incremental ELM Quest's written reviews are positive against 82% of Archmage Idle's.

Incremental ELM Quest ships an update every 6 days, Archmage Idle daily. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Incremental ELM Quest | Archmage Idle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/incremental-elm-quest/id6760921175/reviews) | **[4.7 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archmage-idle/id6771789648/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **50** |
| Positive reviews | 47.6% of reviews | **82.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days | **Daily** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#140** |
| Size | 55 MB | 346 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eric Marin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1886824253) | [TopCog LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/936969300) |

## What reviewers say

### Incremental ELM Quest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/incremental-elm-quest/id6760921175)

Embark on a challenging incremental RPG adventure where every battle and defeat fuels your progress. Upgrade your hero, build your town, and strategize to overcome hundreds of unique foes and powerful bosses. This game offers a rewarding experience for both short sessions and extended play.

**Highlights:** Incremental RPG gameplay, Hero upgrades and evolutions, Town building for progression, Boss battles with unique tactics, Permanent bonuses from defeats, Hundreds of unique enemies

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buy Dev a Coffee (+30 Renown) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Buy Dev Lunch (+200 Renown) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Fully Support Dev (+450 Renown) | $9.99 | one-time |


### Archmage Idle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archmage-idle/id6771789648)

**Currently charting:** #140 Top Free · Role Playing (US App Store)

An idle RPG where you train skills to empower wizards and manage resources. Your guild continues to work and gather resources even when you are offline, allowing for continuous progression.

**Highlights:** Interconnected skill system, Recruit and train wizards, Elemental hex map combat, Resource management, Offline progression, Item collection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time Warp | $0.99 | one-time |
| VIP 1 - Apprentice Patron | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads + XP Boost | $4.99 | one-time |
| VIP 2 - Adept Patron | $4.99 | one-time |
| Animus Augment | $9.99 | one-time |
| Time Warp x10 | $9.99 | one-time |
| VIP 3 - Mage Patron | $9.99 | one-time |
| VIP 4 - Grandmage Patron | $14.99 | one-time |
| VIP 5 - Archmage Patron | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Incremental ELM Quest free?

Incremental ELM Quest is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Archmage Idle free?

Archmage Idle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Incremental ELM Quest or Archmage Idle?

Archmage Idle is rated higher. Incremental ELM Quest averages 4.2 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Archmage Idle averages 4.7 from 50 ratings.

### Do Incremental ELM Quest or Archmage Idle have ads?

Archmage Idle shows ads; Incremental ELM Quest does not.

### Which is updated more often, Incremental ELM Quest or Archmage Idle?

Incremental ELM Quest ships an update every 6 days, and Archmage Idle daily. Most recently, Incremental ELM Quest was updated on September 22, 2026 and Archmage Idle on September 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*