Comparison

Asterlock Archives vs Pocket Detective

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

Head to head
About

Asterlock Archives

Engage in a compact terminal investigation, searching archived files and decoding encrypted evidence to solve cases. The game offers a tutorial and a mystery inspired by classic detective fiction, with optional purchases for additional content. No account or online profile is needed to play.

Highlights
  • Terminal-based investigation
  • Archived file searching
  • Keyword collection
  • Evidence decoding
  • Case solving
  • Tutorial and mystery cases
Read full description

Asterlock Archives turns detective work into a compact terminal investigation. Search archived files, collect keywords, decode encrypted evidence, and close each case using only the clues you can prove. The starter archive includes a tutorial case and a larger mystery inspired by early public-domain detective fiction. Optional purchases add more archive cases and cosmetic extras. No account is required. No online profile. Just the files, the facts, and your own brain. Use the terminal directly or tap the active dossier to inspect evidence, open locks, and track your next lead.

About

Pocket Detective

A logic puzzle game where you deduce criminals by analyzing statements and role-based rules. Progress through cases, compete on leaderboards, and play offline.

Highlights
  • Logic puzzle gameplay
  • Interrogate suspects
  • Role-based deduction
  • Multiple game modes
  • Offline play
  • Detailed statistics
  • Game Center integration
Features
Read full description

Pocket Detective is a single-player logic game about catching liars. Study the case file, interrogate suspects, test their statements against the rules of their claimed roles, and arrest every criminal. Witnesses tell the truth. Criminals lie while posing as witnesses. Bystanders are not criminals, but they can still disrupt the investigation. Each of 40 roles brings its own information, passive effect, or ability. The answer is on the board. You just have to prove it. • Academy: Learn the rules step by step across more than 30 handcrafted cases. New roles and mechanics are introduced as you progress. • Career: Solve as many cases as possible before your three lives run out. Build your score and compete on the Game Center leaderboard. • Daily Case: Everyone receives the same new investigation each day. • Custom Case: Choose the suspects, criminals, and role sets yourself, or enter a Case Number to replay a known investigation. • Track your record: Review detailed statistics, compare your performance across roles and modes, and earn Game Center achievements. • Play offline: Case generation and gameplay work without an internet connection. Pocket Detective is designed exclusively for iPhone and iPad. Download free and play Academy Tier 1. Complete it to unlock Career, Daily Case, and Custom Case with a starter set of roles. A small one-time Full Game purchase unlocks Academy Tiers 2 through 5, and all 40 roles. There are no subscriptions or consumable purchases.

Screenshots

Pocket Detective4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Asterlock Archives at free against Pocket Detective's free with in-app purchases. Pocket Detective's advantage is ratings volume (4 vs 1) and device support. On price, rating, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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. Asterlock Archives sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Pocket Detective sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Asterlock Archives against 5.0 for Pocket Detective. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Asterlock Archives versus Pocket Detective: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAsterlock ArchivesPocket Detective
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better
Update frequency—Weekly
Ads—No
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Devices—iPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB83 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperJeffrey MunsonCameron Shemilt

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Asterlock Archives

One-time3
  • Operator Skin Pack$0.99
  • Founder Supporter File$1.99
  • Archive Pack Vol. 1$2.99
1 purchases

Pocket Detective

One-time1
  • Full Game$4.99

Questions

Is Asterlock Archives free?
Asterlock Archives is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pocket Detective free?
Pocket Detective is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Asterlock Archives or Pocket Detective?
Asterlock Archives and Pocket Detective are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 4 ratings respectively.

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