Comparison

DRAGON QUEST VIII vs ATOM RPG

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

Head to head
About

DRAGON QUEST VIII

Embark on an epic 3D adventure in a cursed kingdom. Recruit a party of unique companions, master a deep combat system with tension and skill points, and explore a vast world filled with monsters to tame and items to craft. Enjoy all content in a single purchase.

Highlights
  • Full 3D world exploration
  • Streamlined touch controls
  • Tension System for powerful attacks
  • Skill Point customization
  • Monster team recruitment and battles
  • Alchemy Pot for item crafting
  • In-game casino with mini-games
Read full description

The phenomenally popular DRAGON QUEST VIII has sold 4.9 million units worldwide, and now it's coming to the iPhone and iPad for the first time! This was the first title in the series to be presented in full 3D, and its exquisitely detailed world has to be seen to be believed! Set off on an unforgettable adventure with Yangus, the bandit with a heart of gold, Jessica, the high-born magical minx, and Angelo, knight and lothario, by your side! Everything you need is here in a single package! Once the app is downloaded, there's no more to pay, as every last shred of content is yours to enjoy. So get ready to play the epic that is DRAGON QUEST VIII from beginning to end—and far beyond! Prologue Legends tell of an ancient sceptre, within which is sealed a fearsome power... When the relic's long-dormant magics are awoken by the treachery of a malign magician, an entire kingdom falls into a cursed slumber, prompting a young soldier to embark on an unforgettable journey... Game Features – Simple, Accessible Controls The control system has been streamlined to work perfectly with modern touch interfaces. The position of the directional pad can be adjusted freely, enabling players to switch between one-handed and two-handed play with a tap of the screen. The combat system has also been reworked, allowing for one-tap battles as well as more complex play. – The Tension System During battle, you can select 'Psyche Up' to give your next attack some extra oomph! The more you psyche a character up, the higher their tension will rise, until they finally reach an insane state known as super-high tension! – Skill Points Skill points are earned when your characters level up, and can be assigned to various skills in order to learn new spells and abilities. This system allows you to perfectly tailor your team to your liking. – Monster Teams Certain monsters found in the field can be scouted for your monster team – if you're tough enough to beat them, that is! Once assembled, your crack squad can take part in the fiercely contested tournaments held at the monster arena, and can even come to your aid in battle! – The Alchemy Pot Combine existing items to create entirely new ones! Even the most unassuming objects could be ingredients for the greatest items of all! Seek out the recipes hidden all over the world, and see if you can cook up something truly special! – The Casino Fans of the series will be pleased to learn that the casino is back, and fully-equipped for fun! This time around, there are three exciting activities to enjoy: bingo, slot machines and roulette! Just don't get so caught up in the action that you forget your adventure entirely! [Supported Operating Systems] iOS15.0 and Above [Supported Devices] iPhone 6s or Higher/iPad (5th Generation or Better)

About

ATOM RPG

Explore a post-apocalyptic Soviet Wasteland, creating your own hero. Investigate bunkers, battle mutants, and uncover conspiracies in this offline RPG. Features deep character creation, turn-based combat, and nonlinear gameplay with multiple quest solutions.

Highlights
  • Character creation tool
  • Offline single-player RPG
  • Dozens of skills
  • Turn-based combat
  • Nonlinear gameplay
  • Multiple quest solutions
  • Deep dialogues
Features
Read full description

In 1986 the world war between the Soviet Union and the Western Bloc ended in mutual nuclear bombings. Both superpowers went down in flames. The impact of the fallout almost ended civilization as we know it. You are one of the survivors of the apocalypse. Your mission - to explore the wild and wondrous postnuclear world of the Soviet Wasteland. To earn your place under the sun in this new age. To investigate retro style bunkers, descend into a stalker filled metro, fight terrible mutants and solve a shadowy conspiracy, aimed at destroying all that is left of life on Earth. ATOM RPG is: - A powerful character creation tool, aimed at making the wasteland hero you want to portray; - A balanced offline single player roleplaying system. Each stat combination provides a unique cRPG experience, unique dialogues, and new ways to solve some quests; - Dozens of skills, from lockpicking to gambling; - Many hours of gameplay on all sorts of locations. Meet the other survivors in a brave new settlement, built from the remains of the old world. Venture into the wilds, where mutants and bandits lurk. Work out the secrets of an old military bunker. Or simply lose yourself, fishing at a scenic pond; - Turn-based combat, inspired by classic RPG’s of the nineties. Find your own strategy and develop the tactics needed to win; - Random encounters with the dwellers of the Soviet Wasteland - both friendly and dangerous. Sometimes all at the same time; - Many deep, multiple-choice dialogues that feel like real conversations with the unique NPCs of the game; - Nonlinear gameplay! This edition of the game features dozens of quests, most with alternative solutions. Play the game like you want to! Recommended: iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, SE, 6S, 6S Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, X, XS, XR; iPad Mini 6, 5, 4; iPad Air 3+, 2; iPad Pro Technical Support: You can contact the developers at support@atomrpg.com

Screenshots

DRAGON QUEST VIII4 screens
ATOM RPG4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ATOM RPG at $9.99 against DRAGON QUEST VIII's $19.99. ATOM RPG also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 16 months). DRAGON QUEST VIII's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On review sentiment, ratings volume and device support 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

DRAGON QUEST VIII costs $19.99 and ATOM RPG $9.99 up front. ATOM RPG sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. DRAGON QUEST VIII asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ATOM RPG holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 400 and 221 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of DRAGON QUEST VIII's written reviews are positive against 69% of ATOM RPG's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DRAGON QUEST VIII ships an update every 16 months, ATOM RPG every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
DRAGON QUEST VIII versus ATOM RPG: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDRAGON QUEST VIIIATOM RPG
Price$19.99$9.99 — better
Rating3.8 (400 ratings)4.3 (221 ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.6% of reviews68.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings400 — better221
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank—#87 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1.9 GB3.0 GB
Age rating9+17+
DeveloperSQUARE ENIX Co., Ltd.ATENT GAMES LTD

Customer experience

DRAGON QUEST VIII

All ratings400 ratings
Positive66.0%
Neutral12.3%
Negative21.8%
Written reviews320 reviews
Positive61.6%
Neutral16.6%
Negative21.9%

ATOM RPG

All ratings221 ratings
Positive79.2%
Neutral5.4%
Negative15.4%
Written reviews312 reviews
Positive68.9%
Neutral6.4%
Negative24.7%

User reviews

DRAGON QUEST VIII

From 400 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Smooth gameplay
  • 🎨 Gorgeous graphics
  • 📱 Convenient mobile experience
  • 🕹️ Intuitive controls
  • 🕰️ Faithful to original PS2 version

Room to improve

  • 🔇 Lack of voice acting
  • 🔍 Limited camera controls
  • 🔋 Battery drain issues
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
  • 🔒 Cloud save problems

ATOM RPG

From 221 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great when you give it a chance
  • 🚀 Huge game with lots of content
  • 🚀 Replayable with multiple paths
  • 👍 Scratches the Fallout itch
  • 👍 Immersive atmosphere and writing

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Controls constantly break
  • 🐛 Crashes and performance issues
  • 🐛 Unbalanced gameplay and difficulty
  • 🐛 Text and UI issues on mobile
  • 🐛 Glitches and bugs

Bugs and requests

DRAGON QUEST VIII

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes during boss battles
  • Inability to load cloud saves
  • Unresponsive touch controls
  • Graphical glitches in certain areas

Requested features

5 requests
  • Landscape mode support
  • Controller support
  • Orchestral soundtrack option
  • Ability to customize characters
  • Downloadable voice acting

ATOM RPG

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Controls breaking
  • Frequent crashes
  • Text/UI issues
  • Glitches and bugs

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add controller support
  • Improve UI scaling and readability
  • Add more content and updates
  • Fix bugs and stability issues

In-app purchases

None

DRAGON QUEST VIII

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ATOM RPG

One-time1
  • ATOM RPG - Supporter Pack$2.99

Questions

Is DRAGON QUEST VIII free?
DRAGON QUEST VIII costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ATOM RPG free?
ATOM RPG costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DRAGON QUEST VIII or ATOM RPG?
ATOM RPG is rated higher. DRAGON QUEST VIII averages 3.8 out of 5 from 400 ratings, while ATOM RPG averages 4.3 from 221 ratings.
Do DRAGON QUEST VIII or ATOM RPG have ads?
ATOM RPG shows ads; DRAGON QUEST VIII does not.
Which is updated more often, DRAGON QUEST VIII or ATOM RPG?
DRAGON QUEST VIII ships an update every 16 months, and ATOM RPG every 5 weeks. Most recently, DRAGON QUEST VIII was updated on September 26, 2026 and ATOM RPG on September 24, 2026.

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