Merlins Adventure vs The Blocking Dead
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Telekinetic object manipulation
- Physics-based puzzles
- Retro pixel art graphics
- Built-in level editor
- Portrait mode for one-handed play
- Auto-save functionality
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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!
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.
- Over 100 levels
- One-touch controls
- Real-time physics simulation
- Game Center Leaderboards
- Achievements
- Variety of block types
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
| Parameter | Merlins Adventure | The Blocking Dead |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.5 (69 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 38.3% of reviews | 65.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 69 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 8.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 227 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Paul Stelzer | Drew Rogers |
Customer experience
Merlins Adventure
The Blocking Dead
In-app purchases
Merlins Adventure
- No ads$2.99
- Story Level Pack$3.99
The Blocking Dead
- Unlock Full Game$1.99
Questions
Is Merlins Adventure free?
Is The Blocking Dead free?
Do Merlins Adventure or The Blocking Dead have ads?
Which is updated more often, Merlins Adventure or The Blocking Dead?
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