# Hoplite vs Forward

The clearest difference is update cadence: Forward at every 4 days against Hoplite's every 3 months. Forward also leads on price ($1.99 vs $3.99). Hoplite's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (91% vs 75%). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and chart position there is nothing between them.

Hoplite costs $3.99 and Forward $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Hoplite holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hoplite has 791 ratings behind it against 117, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Hoplite's written reviews are positive against 75% of Forward's.

Hoplite ships an update every 3 months, Forward every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hoplite | Forward |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **$1.99** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (791 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoplite/id782438457/reviews)** | [4.5 (117 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forward-escape-the-fold/id1550498827/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **791** | 117 |
| Positive reviews | **90.8% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #92 | #92 |
| Size | 39 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Douglas Cowley](https://appshunter.io/developer/782438460) | [Christophe Coyard](https://appshunter.io/developer/1411999676) |

## What reviewers say

### Hoplite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoplite/id782438457)

**Currently charting:** #92 Top Paid · Puzzle, #122 Top Paid · Strategy (US App Store)

Engage in challenging turn-based tactical combat on small maps. Strategize your moves carefully to overcome procedurally generated levels and unlock upgrades. Compete with friends on leaderboards and test your skills in daily challenges.

**Highlights:** Turn-based tactical movement, Procedurally generated levels, Quest mode with upgrades, Challenge mode with daily challenges, Leaderboard rankings, Hard but fair gameplay

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple yet deep gameplay
- 👍 Addictive and challenging
- 🕹️ Elegant and intuitive controls
- 💎 Excellent value for money
- 🔍 Surprising depth and strategy

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or compatibility issues
- 🔧 Lack of landscape mode support
- 🔊 Mutes music/podcast playback
- 🕹️ Accidental moves due to controls

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch with certain OS versions
- Agility upgrade not functioning properly

**Requested features**

- More game modes or levels
- Customization options for the character
- Landscape mode support
- Ability to start at higher levels


### Forward

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forward-escape-the-fold/id1550498827)

**Currently charting:** #92 Top Paid · Card (US App Store)

Embark on a card-based roguelike dungeon crawl. Choose a champion, collect items to enhance abilities, and strategically move through procedurally generated levels. Each decision is critical to defeating monsters and clearing the dungeon.

**Highlights:** Card-based dungeon crawling, Procedurally generated levels, Item collection and combinations, Unique playable characters, Turn-based strategic movement, Resource management

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hoplite free?

Hoplite costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Forward free?

Forward costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hoplite or Forward?

Hoplite is rated higher. Hoplite averages 4.7 out of 5 from 791 ratings, while Forward averages 4.5 from 117 ratings.

### Do Hoplite or Forward have ads?

Neither Hoplite nor Forward shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hoplite or Forward?

Hoplite ships an update every 3 months, and Forward every 4 days. Most recently, Hoplite was updated on October 29, 2026 and Forward on October 27, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Hoplite or Forward?

Hoplite currently peaks at #92 in the App Store charts, and Forward at #92. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*