The Ensign vs Eldrum
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
The Ensign
Embark on a challenging narrative-driven adventure where your choices have dire consequences. This game offers a fully accessible experience for VoiceOver users, delivering a difficult yet rewarding gameplay loop.
- 100% VoiceOver playable
- Challenging gameplay
- Narrative-driven
- No ads
- No data collection
- No in-app purchases
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death awaits. their humanity makes them strong. - 100% playable via VoiceOver - Pre-sequel to the #1 viral smash hit, A Dark Room. - Made with love by indie game developers. - No ads. - No data collection. - No IAP. - No crippled gameplay. - No data requirements. - No elevated device privileges. - Stupid difficult, but that's why you'll love it.
Eldrum
Embark on a dark, immersive text-based RPG where your decisions dictate your fate. Experience D&D-inspired gameplay, strategic turn-based combat, and branching storylines in a richly crafted, grimdark world. Explore, uncover secrets, and forge your own path to one of multiple endings.
- Branching storylines with multiple endings
- D&D-inspired gameplay mechanics
- Strategic turn-based combat
- Rich, dark, and immersive world
- Exploration with secrets and side quests
- Atmospheric audio and evocative imagery
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Dive into a dark, immersive world where your choices shape your destiny. Eldrum: Black Dust is a gripping text-based RPG that combines the depth of D&D, the strategic gameplay of CRPGs, and the narrative freedom of CYOA gamebooks. Key Features: - Branching Storylines: Every decision matters in this grimdark adventure, leading to multiple endings. - D&D-Inspired Gameplay: Experience the depth of tabletop RPGs in a mobile format. - Turn-Based Combat: Engage in strategic 2D battles reminiscent of classic CRPGs. - Rich, Dark World: Explore a meticulously crafted universe filled with moral ambiguity and tough choices. - Immersive Experience: Vivid text descriptions enhanced by evocative imagery and atmospheric audio. - Exploration: Roam the desert city and its surroundings, uncovering secrets and side quests. Eldrum: Black Dust brings the essence of traditional gamebooks and CRPGs to your fingertips, with a modern twist. Whether you're a fan of Choose Your Own Adventure stories, D&D campaigns, or simply looking for a deep, narrative-driven experience, this game offers hours of captivating gameplay. Our commitment to accessibility shines through - Eldrum: Black Dust is proudly created by a studio recognized for developing the Best Mobile Game for Blind Users (AppleVis Game of the Year 2020). Embark on your journey through the dark and unforgiving world of Eldrum today. Every choice you make, every path you take, will leave its mark on the Black Dust. What tale will you weave, and which of the multiple endings will you unlock? Eldrum: Black Dust is the third game in the Eldrum series. The games' stories are linked and there are references between the games, but they can be played in any order. Download now and start your grimdark adventure!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Ensign at none against Eldrum's 1. The Ensign also leads on price ($1.99 vs $8.99) and chart position (#83 vs unranked). Eldrum's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). On review sentiment, ads 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
The Ensign costs $1.99 and Eldrum $8.99 up front. Eldrum sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. The Ensign asks for nothing beyond the download.
Eldrum holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 552 and 160 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of The Ensign's written reviews are positive against 92% of Eldrum's.
The Ensign ships an update every 2 months, Eldrum every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Ensign | Eldrum |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $8.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (552 ratings) | 4.9 (160 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews | 92.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 552 — better | 160 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #83 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 186 MB |
| Age rating | +12 | 12+ |
| Developer | Amirali Rajan | Act None |
Customer experience
The Ensign
Eldrum
User reviews
The Ensign
From 552 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🌟 Compelling story and world-building
- 🤖 Unique and challenging gameplay
- 🎮 Rewarding progression and sense of accomplishment
- 💎 Excellent prequel to A Dark Room
- 🧠 Encourages strategic thinking and decision-making
Room to improve
- 🤯 Extremely difficult and punishing at times
- 🔁 Frustrating to restart from the beginning after dying
- 🕹️ Lack of checkpoints or save options
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🧭 Unclear navigation and objectives at times
Eldrum
From 160 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Immersive storytelling
- 🚀 Engaging combat system
- 💡 Accessible for blind users
- 🔒 Deep RPG mechanics
- 👍 Fantastic writing
Room to improve
- 🐛 Broken/tedious combat
- 🐛 Slow progression
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
Bugs and requests
The Ensign
Reported bugs
3 issues- Game crashing when trying to collect loot
- Inconsistencies between item descriptions and inventory
- Saved progress being lost after closing the app
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to save progress and resume later
- Difficulty settings or optional modes
- More narrative depth and character development
- Improved accessibility and UI for visually impaired players
Eldrum
Reported bugs
2 issues- Voiceover issues with health display
- RNG-heavy combat
Requested features
3 requests- More cities and activities
- Ability to improve fighting skills
- Clarity on save system
In-app purchases
The Ensign
No in-app purchases
Eldrum
- Mount Karnak DLC$4.99
