Comparison

Hexkeep vs Shadow Merge

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

Head to head
About

Hexkeep

This is a roguelite Match-3 RPG where matching tiles on the board initiates attacks, casts spells, and allows you to acquire loot and items. Progress through a cursed tower, facing mythological deities and challenging bosses with each run.

Highlights
  • Match-3 combat mechanics
  • Roguelite progression
  • Spellcasting system
  • Loot and item acquisition
  • Turkish mythology deities
  • Boss battles
Read full description

Hexkeep is not your average match-3 game. It's a roguelite Match-3 RPG where the board is your weapon: match tiles to strike enemies, cast spells, loot rare gear and buy powerful items, then climb a cursed wizard's tower ruled by deities from Turkish mythology. Every run is a gamble. Match three to attack, chain bigger combos to hit harder, and pray the curse tiles don't bury you before the boss does. The board fights back This is no calm match-3 puzzle. Matches are attacks, fusions and spells. Read the board, line up your chains, and end the fight before it ends you. Borrow the power of gods Strike a pact with deities pulled from Turkish myth. Each one bends the rules of your run a different way, so no two climbs feel the same. Die, learn, climb again A true roguelite: death ends the run and drops you back at the foot of the tower. You come back smarter, with new gear, new spells and a score to settle. Spells, curses and dark bargains Hurl spells across the grid, shatter curse tiles before they spread, or twist that dark magic into a weapon of your own. Loot, gold and a shifty merchant Tear weapons, gems and rare relics from your enemies, then haggle with the merchant until your build breaks the game. A tower with teeth Fight through cursed dungeons and distant regions, dig up secrets, and topple the bosses guarding the floors above. If match-3, roguelike runs and real RPG loot are your thing, Hexkeep will eat your evenings. Climb the tower. Cheat death. Beat the gods.

About

Shadow Merge

Features
Read full description

Match 3 stones. Summon an army. Watch the shadows burn. Shadow Merge: Tactics is a dark fantasy match 3 auto battler roguelite. Plan your moves on a 6x6 stone board, raise a swarm of warriors and archers, and send them into an endless siege against monsters, elite fiends and towering bosses. There is no castle to defend: your army is your only life. Lose it and the run is over. HOW IT WORKS - PREPARE: every round you get action points (AP) to swap stones. Match 3 or more to spawn units. Bigger matches call bigger armies. - COMBAT: the grid locks and your army fights automatically in a fast, smooth pixel battle. No pausing, no micromanaging: your planning wins the war. - SURVIVE: clear the wave, keep your survivors and prepare for something worse. Mini-bosses arrive every 5th wave, the Dark Lord every 10th. SEVEN STONES, SEVEN CHOICES - Dark Wood spawns archers for ranged damage. - Metal spawns warriors for the front line. - Water wraps your units in a defensive shield aura. - Demon's Blood sends them into a frenzy. - Berserk and Wizard Stones summon elite fighters. - Soul Crystals refund AP and fuel your permanent upgrades. ROGUELITE DEPTH - Choose a Rite after big fights: pick one blessing to shape the run, from Iron Front to Rain of Bolts and Soul Broker. - Spend Soul Crystals in the Meta-Shop on permanent upgrades: Vanguard Training, Strategic Reserve and Alchemical Insight. - No two runs feel the same. Chain combos, plan AP and decide what to buff. BUILT FOR MOBILE - Fast 2x battle speed toggle when you want the action quicker. - Play offline. No internet needed to fight. - Global leaderboards for Max Wave and Max Power with Sign in with Apple. - Haptics, atmospheric dark fantasy music and a hand-crafted gothic interface. - Available in English, Turkish, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Swedish. FAIR MONETIZATION - Free to play with 4 free runs every day. Watch a short ad for a bonus run or to revive your fallen army once per run. - Shadow Merge Pro is a one-time purchase: unlimited daily runs, a free revive every run and no banner ads. No subscription, no tricks. If you love puzzle strategy, auto battlers, roguelike runs, army builders and dark fantasy tactics, this one is for you. Match, merge and conquer the shadows. Support: https://shadowmerge.netlify.app/support Privacy Policy: https://shadowmerge.netlify.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://shadowmerge.netlify.app/terms

Screenshots

Hexkeep4 screens
Shadow Merge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Hexkeep at every 2 days against Shadow Merge's every 4 days. On price, ads, 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. Hexkeep sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Shadow Merge sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hexkeep ships an update every 2 days, Shadow Merge every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Hexkeep versus Shadow Merge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHexkeepShadow Merge
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 4 days
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size469 MB73 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperOzcan YESILYURTOzan Can OCAK

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Hexkeep

One-time4
  • Gem Pile$0.99
  • Gem Pouch$4.99
  • Gem Barrel$9.99
Show 1 more
  • Gem Chest$19.99
1 purchases

Shadow Merge

One-time1
  • Shadow Merge Pro$1.99

Questions

Is Hexkeep free?
Hexkeep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shadow Merge free?
Shadow Merge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Hexkeep or Shadow Merge have ads?
Both Hexkeep and Shadow Merge show ads.
Which is updated more often, Hexkeep or Shadow Merge?
Hexkeep ships an update every 2 days, and Shadow Merge every 4 days. Most recently, Hexkeep was updated on November 5, 2026 and Shadow Merge on November 10, 2026.

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