Comparison

Crusaders Quest vs Blue Archive

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

Head to head
About

Crusaders Quest

Embark on a pixel art adventure in a world threatened by ancient evils. Assemble a team of heroes, strategically match skill blocks to unleash powerful abilities, and battle your way through a compelling story. Enjoy a retro aesthetic with modern gameplay mechanics.

Highlights
  • Pixel art graphics
  • Skill block matching combat
  • Hero collection and growth
  • Diverse in-game events
  • Single-player focused gameplay
  • Guild play options
Features
Read full description

Experience the nostalgic dot-aesthetic of classic RPG right in your hands in this story of adventure where children become adults and adults become children! A century after the Apostles' War, a crisis looms over Hasla due to the sudden appearance of a mysterious woman, 'Sylunis', in the Hyro Forest. As the newly appointed Captain of 'Hero Town', you are the only one who can prevent Sylunis' conspiracy to free the Apostles sealed in the Soulstone. Assist the apprentice goddess, Sera, save the goddesses and prevent the resurrection of the Apostles! Experience the pixel action RPG unfolding in Hasla, "Crusaders Quest." ■ Puzzle? Action! Skill Block Match Play Collect skill blocks and use them together! Use heroes that create skill synergy to become stronger! Simple yet strategic battle play ■ Dots, all dots! Retro aesthetic graphics Loved for nearly a decade, the unique pixel art of Crusader Quest Constantly pushing the boundaries of what can be expressed each year! Filled with charming pixel art embodying cuteness, splendor, grandeur, and wit Even with stunning and captivating illustrations...! ■ Choose and enjoy events and battles in your own style Zero pressure for guild play! Battle Delegation available! Gameplay featuring single-player-centric battle contents and events, Choose and proceed according to your play style ■ A relatively easy-to-collect RPG No need for duplicate heroes for hero growth Paid currency obtainable in Arena every week Maximum hero growth achievable within a day ■ Familiar events, innovative events Familiar events like world raid bosses, consecutive boss battles, deal competitions, random team competition Mini-game events like rhythm games, bread tycoon, maze finding, bingo, fishing Experimental events like stock market, prize lottery, auction, roguelike dungeon ■ Delivering the latest information through official channels ⊙ Official website: https://cq-official.online/en ⊙ Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrusadersQuest ⊙ Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnhS12kc_rJiiPtz0kXHtcQ ■ Minimum device specifications iOS 11 and above / RAM 2GB and above ■ Device app access permission guide We request the minimum optional permissions required for smooth gameplay. You can refuse to grant optional access rights, but please understand that this may restrict the use of certain features. [Optional Access Rights] - Notifications: Used when receiving push notifications - Photos/Camera: For attaching screenshots when reporting bugs and inconveniences to the Customer Support Center [How to change access rights] Settings > Crusader > Set each access right

About

Blue Archive

Lead charming allies in strategic 3D real-time battles within a vast academy city. Uncover thrilling stories of friendship and adventure while deepening bonds with your characters through in-game interactions. Build special memories and resolve endless incidents.

Highlights
  • 3D real-time battles
  • Strategic team management
  • Character relationship building
  • In-game messenger (Momo Talk)
  • Unpredictable main story
  • Sub stories and club activities
Read full description

Embark on an adventure with the girls of this epic anime fantasy RPG, Blue Archive, and dive into its world of strategic combat, brought to life by stunning animations. Your journey through Kivotos will be one filled with victory and loss, love and heartbreak, all alongside an unforgettable, touching story. Build strong, deep relationships and get to know each student's unique story while leading your squad. So let's go, Sensei! ■A Fantasy-Filled Anime RPG You'll Never Forget! Step into Kivotos and your adventure as a teacher will begin. Experience a story of love and friendship with stunning cinematics, in both 2D and 3D animation. Throughout your journey, you'll meet and befriend the students of this world, learning their unique stories and motivations. Each girl plays a vital role in the story: building strong bonds, forming squads to protect those they love, and creating heartwarming memories with Sensei! ■Lead Elite Anime Girls into Battle in this Tactical RPG Experience! Form a squad with the girls you meet, each contributing their own unique combat elements. Adapt your strategies throughout the adventure to lead them to victory! With stunning animation and 3D cinematics, Blue Archive's combat is a blend of strategy and rich visuals. ■Foster Bonds with the Girls in Relationship Stories! Every girl in Blue Archive has her own story of love to share. Foster strong bonds with your students in their relationship episodes as you unlock new sides to them in MomoTalk and private chats that shape this fantasy world. With every chapter, you'll find new connections and elements that make this RPG what it is today. ■Explore an Anime-Inspired Fantasy MMORPG Full of Stories Experience a world where beautiful animation meets RPG mechanics. Its fascinating stories will immerse you as you experience life with the girls of Kivotos. Whether you're on secret missions, battling through gacha content, or enjoying club antics, every corner invites you into another adventure. Lead your squad into each challenge—victory and new stories await every encounter. ■Gacha Your Way to Victory—With Strategy, Epic Fantasy, and Anime Girls! Recruit students to your squad and battle your way to victory! Each new girl brings a fresh story and a powerful element to wield in your adventure. As you take them into battle, you'll develop new strategies and formations for your RPG adventure. Create strong synergy and lead your squad to victory, unlocking secret episodes! Blue Archive is more than a game—it's an epic RPG journey, filled with poignant stories of resilience, growth, and love. Experience a school story brought to life by unforgettable girls in this fantasy world. Meet the students of Kivotos and build your squad today! Follow Us: Official Site: https://bluearchive.nexon.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EN.BlueArchive Twitter: https://twitter.com/EN_BlueArchive Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsrnDYrkovQhCCE8kwKcvKQ Note: An internet connection is required to play this game. *For the best gaming experience, the following specs are recommended: iOS 16 or higher / iPhone 14 or higher / Minimum 3GB RAM required By downloading this game, you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. - Terms of Service: http://m.nexon.com/terms/304 - Privacy Policy: http://m.nexon.com/terms/305 ■ App Permission Information In order to provide services below, we are requesting certain permissions. [Optional Permission] Camera: To take photos or record videos for upload Photos: To save and upload photos / videos Microphone: Required to record videos for uploads. Security: Required for personalized advertising and service usage analysis. * You can still use the service without agreeing to the optional permissions. [Permission Management] ▶Go to Settings > Privacy, select a permission and toggle the button next to the app's name. ※ This app offers in-app purchases. You can disable this feature by adjusting your device settings.

Screenshots

Crusaders Quest4 screens
Blue Archive4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Crusaders Quest at 4.7 against Blue Archive's 4.0. Crusaders Quest also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 47%). Blue Archive's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases 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. Crusaders Quest sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Blue Archive sells 25 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Crusaders Quest holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5K and 5.5K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Crusaders Quest's written reviews are positive against 47% of Blue Archive's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Crusaders Quest ships an update every 3 weeks, Blue Archive every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Crusaders Quest versus Blue Archive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCrusaders QuestBlue Archive
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (5K ratings) — better4.0 (5.5K ratings)
Positive reviews77.4% of reviews — better47.1% of reviews
Number of ratings5K5.5K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.8 GB426 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperLoadCompleteNEXON Company

Customer experience

Crusaders Quest

All ratings4,951 ratings
Positive93.2%
Neutral2.5%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews1,441 reviews
Positive77.4%
Neutral6.2%
Negative16.4%

Blue Archive

All ratings5,498 ratings
Positive74.0%
Neutral4.1%
Negative21.9%
Written reviews1,424 reviews
Positive47.1%
Neutral12.1%
Negative40.8%

User reviews

Crusaders Quest

From 5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Addictive gameplay
  • 👍 Generous free-to-play model
  • 🎨 Cute pixel art style
  • 🎢 Engaging story and characters

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and loading issues
  • 🕰️ Slow progression without spending money
  • 📦 Large file size and constant updates
  • 🤖 Repetitive and grindy at times

Blue Archive

From 5.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Engaging story and characters
  • 🎨 Excellent art and animations
  • 🎶 Great soundtrack
  • 🎮 Unique and fun gameplay
  • 💰 Generous with in-game currency

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
  • ⏱️ Slow loading times
  • 💸 Gacha rates are poor, 200 pulls for pity
  • 🤖 Auto-play makes gameplay too passive
  • 🤕 Concerns over censorship and broken promises

Bugs and requests

Crusaders Quest

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Lost account data after updates
  • Inability to download game files
  • Crashes during boss battles
  • Glitches with certain hero abilities

Requested features

4 requests
  • Option to change character names
  • More variety in hero selection
  • Improved PvP and competitive modes
  • Easier access to rare/limited heroes

Blue Archive

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when entering certain menus or battles
  • Pyroxene (currency) disappearing after pulls
  • Notifications causing crashes on iOS devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improve gacha rates and pity system
  • Reduce loading times and crashes
  • Add more player control in battles
  • Improve PvP mechanics and matchmaking

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Crusaders Quest

One-time10
  • 5 Jewels$2.99
  • 18 Jewels$4.99
  • 18 Jewels$9.99
Show 7 more
  • Daily Jewels Ticket$9.99
  • ChampPackage$9.99
  • Starter Package$17.99
  • 55 Jewels$29.99
  • Limited Package 01$29.99
  • Limited Package 02$49.99
  • Limited Package 03$99.99
25 purchases

Blue Archive

One-time25
  • New Sensei Welcome Pack$0.39
  • New Teacher Pyroxene Pack$0.99
  • Weekly AP Pack$1.69
Show 22 more
  • Recruitment Support Pack$2.99
  • Monthly Pyroxene Half Pack2 variants$2.99
  • 2-Week AP Pack$2.99
  • Monthly Pyroxene Pack2 variants$6.99
  • StartDash 3-Star Ticket$11.99
  • Weekly Activity Report Pack$11.99
  • StartDash 3-Star Ticket Ⅱ$11.99
  • 3-Star Guaranteed Recruit Pack$18.99
  • HiddenRuins 3Start Select Pack$18.99
  • Code:BOX 3-Star AttackTypePack$18.99
  • Midnight Party LuckyPouchPack$18.99
  • Sheside 3-Star Guaranteed Pack$18.99
  • Sheside 3-Star Selective Pack$18.99
  • aLIVE! 3-Star Guaranteed Pack$18.99
  • aLIVE! Lucky Pouch Pack$18.99
  • Pyroxene x2352$18.99
  • 3-Star DivisionRecruitmentPack$18.99
  • Cyber New Year LuckyPouchPack$18.99
  • Pyroxene x6,600$64.99
  • Pyroxene x4800$64.99
  • Monthly Pyroxene x6,600$64.99
  • Pyroxene x8000$64.99

Questions

Is Crusaders Quest free?
Crusaders Quest is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Blue Archive free?
Blue Archive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Crusaders Quest or Blue Archive?
Crusaders Quest is rated higher. Crusaders Quest averages 4.7 out of 5 from 5K ratings, while Blue Archive averages 4.0 from 5.5K ratings.
Do Crusaders Quest or Blue Archive have ads?
Crusaders Quest shows ads; Blue Archive does not.
Which is updated more often, Crusaders Quest or Blue Archive?
Crusaders Quest ships an update every 3 weeks, and Blue Archive every 5 weeks. Most recently, Crusaders Quest was updated on September 24, 2026 and Blue Archive on September 24, 2026.

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