Comparison

Merlins Adventure vs The Blocking Dead

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

Head to head
About

Merlins Adventure

Solve physics-based puzzles and platforming challenges in a retro pixel art dungeon. Use magical telekinesis to move objects, overcome traps, and escape the king's prison. Features a level editor for creating and sharing custom rooms.

Highlights
  • Telekinetic object manipulation
  • Physics-based puzzles
  • Retro pixel art graphics
  • Built-in level editor
  • Portrait mode for one-handed play
  • Auto-save functionality
Features
Read full description

Move crates with your finger, lift cages off the ground and escape the king's dungeon! Merlins Adventure: Room Escape is a puzzle platformer and jump n run in charming retro pixel art – every room is a small puzzle you solve with brains, timing and magic. MAGIC AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Merlin masters telekinesis. Touch a crate, a boulder or even a cage and drag it through the room with your finger. Build stairs, block traps, let things hover over chasms – and keep running while you do it. This blend of jump n run and physics puzzle is unlike any other platformer. THE STORY The king won't tolerate sorcery. Because Merlin's magic unsettles the people, the king has him locked in a cage and thrown deep into the dungeon. But bars can't hold a wizard. Room by room you jump, run and cast your way back to daylight – past guards, spikes, bear traps and arrows. SHORT ROOMS, TRICKY PUZZLES - Every room is a puzzle of its own – perfect for a few minutes on the go - Chapters of 10 puzzle rooms, each bringing fresh ideas - Levers, pressure plates, portals, switches, guards and traps - Up to three stars per room: can you beat it without dying and against the clock? - Collect emeralds if you're a true puzzle pro - Stuck? After a while you can skip a room LEVEL EDITOR: BUILD YOUR OWN ROOMS Build your own puzzle rooms with the built-in level editor – using every element you have unlocked in the game. A random room generator gives you ideas, and one tap shares your room with friends. RETRO FEEL, PIXEL ART LOOK - Handcrafted 8-bit pixel graphics with torchlight and dark dungeons - Retro music and sound effects - Made for one hand: portrait mode, big touch buttons - Auto save – continue exactly where you left off - English, German, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese Merlins Adventure is the remake of a classic: rebuilt from scratch for phones and tablets, with new puzzles and new controls. FREE TO PLAY The game is free and supported by ads. A one-time purchase removes all ads forever and lets you skip rooms instantly. More chapters are available as a level pack. Privacy policy: https://merlins-adventure.paul-stelzer.de/privacy-policy-app/ Love jump n runs, puzzle games, platformers and retro pixel games? Download Merlins Adventure now and help Merlin escape the king's dungeon!

About

The Blocking Dead

A gravity-based physics puzzler where you must destroy zombies and prevent brains from falling. It features over 100 levels with intuitive one-touch controls and real-time physics simulation.

Highlights
  • Over 100 levels
  • One-touch controls
  • Real-time physics simulation
  • Game Center Leaderboards
  • Achievements
  • Variety of block types
Features
Read full description

The best Zombie puzzle game around! Challenge your logical mind and reaction time all at once in this funny, gravity-based physics puzzler. The objective? It's simple: destroy the Zombies, and don't let any of the Brains fall off the platform. Be quick about it, but watch where you're tapping, or else you might squish a precious Brain or detonate a Bomb! ● Over 100 levels, and more being added with each update! ● Easy and intuitive one-touch controls. ● Real-time physics simulation. ● Stunning and original visual effects! ● An original, zombie-inspired music soundtrack. ● Funny sound effects and Zombie facial expressions! ● A variety of block types, including Zombies, Brains, Crates, Bombs, and more. ● Game Center Leaderboards and Achievements! They said it wasn't possible, but the Zombie apocalypse has finally happened. Reasonable human that you are, you've decided to ride it out inside your apartment. Luckily, you have your favorite game to keep you from getting bored! It's hilarious. It's horrific. It's not ashamed of its punny title... It's The Blocking Dead!

Screenshots

Merlins Adventure3 screens
The Blocking Dead4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Blocking Dead at 65% against Merlins Adventure's 38%. The Blocking Dead also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Merlins Adventure sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and The Blocking Dead sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Merlins Adventure ships an update every 5 months, The Blocking Dead monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Merlins Adventure versus The Blocking Dead: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMerlins AdventureThe Blocking Dead
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.5 (69 ratings) — better
Positive reviews38.3% of reviews65.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—69 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB227 MB
Age rating9+9+
DeveloperPaul StelzerDrew Rogers

Customer experience

Merlins Adventure

Written reviews47 reviews
Positive38.3%
Neutral17.0%
Negative44.7%

The Blocking Dead

All ratings69 ratings
Positive89.9%
Neutral2.9%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive65.2%
Neutral13.0%
Negative21.7%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Merlins Adventure

One-time2
  • No ads$2.99
  • Story Level Pack$3.99
1 purchases

The Blocking Dead

One-time1
  • Unlock Full Game$1.99

Questions

Is Merlins Adventure free?
Merlins Adventure is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is The Blocking Dead free?
The Blocking Dead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Merlins Adventure or The Blocking Dead have ads?
Neither Merlins Adventure nor The Blocking Dead shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Merlins Adventure or The Blocking Dead?
Merlins Adventure ships an update every 5 months, and The Blocking Dead monthly. Most recently, Merlins Adventure was updated on November 6, 2026 and The Blocking Dead on November 1, 2026.

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