# Hard Time vs The Wanderer

The clearest difference is rating: The Wanderer at 4.6 against Hard Time's 4.0. The Wanderer also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (44K vs 4.3K). Hard Time's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hard Time sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and The Wanderer sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Wanderer holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Wanderer has 44K ratings behind it against 4.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Hard Time's written reviews are positive against 80% of The Wanderer's.

Hard Time ships an update every 3 months, The Wanderer weekly. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hard Time | The Wanderer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hard-time/id718021930/reviews) | **[4.6 (44K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-wanderer-post-nuclear-rpg/id1365548683/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4.3K | **44K** |
| Positive reviews | 70.7% of reviews | **79.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 56 MB | 429 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | +17 | 4+ |
| Developer | [MDickie Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/498978165) | [Jamie Parish](https://appshunter.io/developer/836670881) |

## What reviewers say

### Hard Time

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hard-time/id718021930)

Simulate life as an inmate in a challenging prison environment. Manage your health, mental state, and attributes while interacting with other inmates and guards. Earn money, improve your skills, and try to survive.

**Highlights:** Create and customize inmate, Survive in a prison with 12 areas, Manage health and mental state, Improve character attributes (Strength, Agility, Intellect, Reputation), Earn money through work or trade, Interact with 100+ inmates and civilians, Navigate prison laws and wardens

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP Upgrade | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Unique prison simulation experience
- 😊 Nostalgic and memorable
- 🎮 Great mobile game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🤖 Annoying AI behavior
- 💰 Monetization issues
- 🕰️ Repetitive and grindy

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes after ads
- Inconsistent character controls
- Unrealistic physics and damage
- Inability to complete certain tasks

**Requested features**

- Online multiplayer mode
- Expanded map and exploration
- More customization options
- Improved warden/police functionality
- Additional game modes


### The Wanderer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-wanderer-post-nuclear-rpg/id1365548683)

Explore a post-apocalyptic wasteland, scavenge for supplies, and battle enemies in this Fallout-inspired RPG. Customize your character, upgrade stats, and find a companion to survive the harsh environment. Features include randomized maps, various locations to explore, and selectable difficulty levels for high replayability.

**Highlights:** Post-apocalyptic RPG survival, Character customization, Upgradeable stats and items, Randomized map and locations, Companion system, Difficulty selection, Camper van traversal

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Access Content | $4.99 | per month |
| 1000 Bottle Caps | $1.99 | one-time |
| 1 Token | $2.99 | one-time |
| 6 Survivor Tokens | $4.99 | one-time |
| STARTER PACK | $4.99 | one-time |
| Material Scavenger | $5.49 | one-time |
| 5000 Bottle Caps | $5.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ad Banners/Billboards | $5.99 | one-time |
| Maximum Bag Upgrade | $6.99 | one-time |
| Van Warranty | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun way to kill some time
- 👍 Very fun game
- 👍 Enjoyable gameplay
- 👍 Interesting style
- 👍 Relaxing and low key

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and glitches
- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🐛 Laggy performance
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 💰 Excessive ads and monetization

**Reported bugs**

- Inventory and storage issues
- Disappearing vehicle parts
- Incorrect or missing information display
- Inconsistent difficulty scaling
- Progression-blocking bugs

**Requested features**

- More maps and locations to explore
- Ability to move camp and settle in new areas
- More enemy and faction variety
- Craftable weapons and gear
- Cooking and food preparation options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hard Time free?

Hard Time is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is The Wanderer free?

The Wanderer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Hard Time or The Wanderer?

The Wanderer is rated higher. Hard Time averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while The Wanderer averages 4.6 from 44K ratings.

### Do Hard Time or The Wanderer have ads?

The Wanderer shows ads; Hard Time does not.

### Which is updated more often, Hard Time or The Wanderer?

Hard Time ships an update every 3 months, and The Wanderer weekly. Most recently, Hard Time was updated on November 3, 2026 and The Wanderer on November 3, 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.*