Comparison

DEVICE 6 vs The Ensign

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

Head to head
About

DEVICE 6

A surreal thriller where text serves as your map and narrator. Immerse yourself in an intriguing mystery of technology and neuroscience by reading, listening, and exploring three-dimensional photographs to solve puzzles and uncover secrets.

Highlights
  • Text-based navigation and narration
  • Interactive puzzles
  • 3D photographic elements
  • Intriguing mystery narrative
  • Exploration of technology and neuroscience themes
  • Unique blend of game and literature conventions
Features
Read full description

** Winner of Apple Design Award 2014 ** A surreal thriller in which the written word is your map, as well as your narrator. DEVICE 6 plays with the conventions of games and literature, entwines story with geography and blends puzzle and novella, to draw players into an intriguing mystery of technology and neuroscience. Anna wakes up in a castle on a remote island, with little recollection of how she got there. All she remembers is an unusually unpleasant doll. Why are there two identical castles on the island? Who is the mysterious man in the bowler hat? And above all, what is the purpose of the tests Anna is put through? Read, listen and peek into three-dimensional photographs to solve the bizarre mysteries of DEVICE 6. "DEVICE 6 is designed to linger in the mind long after the last code has been cracked and the last sentence read. Spy stories - even traditional ones - often haunt their readers' dreams once they've been completed. It's only appropriate, really. Is that a final full-stop or a microdot? Is this the end of the affair or an invitation to go deeper?" Eurogamer - 9/10 "In using its text both as narrative and as geography – and through its impressively restrained use of illustration and sound – it generates an almost unrivalled sense of place. It isn’t embarrassed to allow Device 6 to be a game when it needs to be, and yet it knows precisely when to let the story take over. The result is a sharp, striking mystery that is at once provocative, extraordinarily stylish and altogether essential" EDGE - 9/10 "In turning a text adventure into a world map, Simogo has resurrected a long-dead genre with style and confidence. Great presentation and brilliant puzzles complete a stellar package" Pocketgamer – 9/10 "Ever exceeding expectations, the developer has followed up one of 2013′s highlights with another title that can be classed as such. With a compelling story that keeps you guessing, and a pin-point utilisation of the platform, Device 6 is an accomplishment in games design, mobile or otherwise" God is a Geek - 9/10 "DEVICE 6 not only explores the boundaries of narrative storytelling, it also demonstrates the creative potential of touchscreen gaming" Appspy – 5/5 "Simogo’s doing something few others are doing, and it’s wonderful that someone is both providing great experiences and testing the limits of interactive media" 148apps - 5/5 "An ingenious slice of puzzling adventure that's as imaginative as it is stylish" Modojo - 4.5/5

About

The Ensign

Embark on a challenging narrative-driven adventure where your choices have dire consequences. This game offers a fully accessible experience for VoiceOver users, delivering a difficult yet rewarding gameplay loop.

Highlights
  • 100% VoiceOver playable
  • Challenging gameplay
  • Narrative-driven
  • No ads
  • No data collection
  • No in-app purchases
Features
Read full description

death awaits. their humanity makes them strong. - 100% playable via VoiceOver - Pre-sequel to the #1 viral smash hit, A Dark Room. - Made with love by indie game developers. - No ads. - No data collection. - No IAP. - No crippled gameplay. - No data requirements. - No elevated device privileges. - Stupid difficult, but that's why you'll love it.

Screenshots

DEVICE 64 screens
The Ensign4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: The Ensign at every 2 months against DEVICE 6's every 21 months. The Ensign also leads on price ($1.99 vs $3.99). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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

DEVICE 6 costs $3.99 and The Ensign $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for DEVICE 6 against 4.6 for The Ensign. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 882 and 549 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 81% of DEVICE 6's written reviews are positive against 86% of The Ensign's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DEVICE 6 ships an update every 21 months, The Ensign every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
DEVICE 6 versus The Ensign: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDEVICE 6The Ensign
Price$3.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.5 (882 ratings)4.6 (549 ratings) — better
Positive reviews81.4% of reviews86.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings882 — better549
Update frequencyEvery 21 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#75#67 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.011.0
Further details — not scored
Size760 MB32 MB
Age rating12++12
DeveloperSimogo ABAmirali Rajan

Customer experience

DEVICE 6

All ratings882 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral1.9%
Negative10.5%
Written reviews660 reviews
Positive81.4%
Neutral4.7%
Negative13.9%

The Ensign

All ratings549 ratings
Positive89.6%
Neutral2.0%
Negative8.4%
Written reviews340 reviews
Positive86.2%
Neutral2.9%
Negative10.9%

User reviews

DEVICE 6

From 882 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Unique and immersive experience
  • 🎨 Beautiful visuals and sound design
  • 🤯 Clever and challenging puzzles
  • 📚 Engaging and mysterious story
  • 💡 Innovative use of mobile device features

Room to improve

  • 🕰️ Short gameplay length
  • 🤔 Confusing or unclear puzzles
  • 🙉 Lack of accessibility for hearing-impaired users
  • 💰 Expensive for the amount of content

The Ensign

From 549 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🌟 Compelling story and world-building
  • 🤖 Unique and challenging gameplay
  • 🎮 Rewarding progression and sense of accomplishment
  • 💎 Excellent prequel to A Dark Room
  • 🧠 Encourages strategic thinking and decision-making

Room to improve

  • 🤯 Extremely difficult and punishing at times
  • 🔁 Frustrating to restart from the beginning after dying
  • 🕹️ Lack of checkpoints or save options
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
  • 🧭 Unclear navigation and objectives at times

Bugs and requests

DEVICE 6

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Sound not working on some devices
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Longer or more expansive story
  • Difficulty settings or hints for puzzles
  • Accessibility options like subtitles
  • More games or sequels in a similar style

The Ensign

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Game crashing when trying to collect loot
  • Inconsistencies between item descriptions and inventory
  • Saved progress being lost after closing the app

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to save progress and resume later
  • Difficulty settings or optional modes
  • More narrative depth and character development
  • Improved accessibility and UI for visually impaired players

In-app purchases

None

DEVICE 6

No in-app purchases

None

The Ensign

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DEVICE 6 free?
DEVICE 6 costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Ensign free?
The Ensign costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DEVICE 6 or The Ensign?
The Ensign is rated higher. DEVICE 6 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 882 ratings, while The Ensign averages 4.6 from 549 ratings.
Do DEVICE 6 or The Ensign have ads?
Neither DEVICE 6 nor The Ensign shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DEVICE 6 or The Ensign?
DEVICE 6 ships an update every 21 months, and The Ensign every 2 months. Most recently, DEVICE 6 was updated on September 24, 2026 and The Ensign on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, DEVICE 6 or The Ensign?
DEVICE 6 currently peaks at #75 in the App Store charts, and The Ensign at #67. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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