Comparison

DRAGON QUEST VIII vs PixelOrcSlayer

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
Currently charting
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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

PixelOrcSlayer

Features
Read full description

Hunt orcs to obtain better gear! Strengthen and synthesize your gear to hunt even more powerful orcs!

Screenshots

DRAGON QUEST VIII4 screens
PixelOrcSlayer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PixelOrcSlayer at Free against DRAGON QUEST VIII's $19.99. PixelOrcSlayer also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 16 months). DRAGON QUEST VIII's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#68 vs unranked). On in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

PixelOrcSlayer is free to download; DRAGON QUEST VIII costs $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DRAGON QUEST VIII ships an update every 16 months, PixelOrcSlayer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
DRAGON QUEST VIII versus PixelOrcSlayer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDRAGON QUEST VIIIPixelOrcSlayer
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating3.8 (400 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews61.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings400 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#68 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.9 GB108 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperSQUARE ENIX Co., Ltd.Sanghyun Kim

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

PixelOrcSlayer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

DRAGON QUEST VIII

No in-app purchases

None

PixelOrcSlayer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DRAGON QUEST VIII free?
DRAGON QUEST VIII costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PixelOrcSlayer free?
PixelOrcSlayer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do DRAGON QUEST VIII or PixelOrcSlayer have ads?
PixelOrcSlayer shows ads; DRAGON QUEST VIII does not.
Which is updated more often, DRAGON QUEST VIII or PixelOrcSlayer?
DRAGON QUEST VIII ships an update every 16 months, and PixelOrcSlayer every 3 weeks. Most recently, DRAGON QUEST VIII was updated on September 29, 2026 and PixelOrcSlayer on September 20, 2026.

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