The Ensign vs Hardboiled
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.
Hardboiled
Embark on a turn-based RPG adventure in a post-apocalyptic world. Explore a desolate town, engage in strategic combat, and make choices that shape your character's destiny and the fate of survivors. Your decisions will determine whether you become a harbinger of justice or chaos.
- Explore desolate post-apocalyptic towns
- Strategic turn-based combat
- Atmospheric graphics and sound
- Scavenge for weapons and loot
- Dynamic reputation system
- Robust skill point system
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In a world ravaged by the devastating aftermath of humanity's self-destruction, survival is the ultimate goal. The cataclysmic blast unleashed chaos, leaving only remnants of abandoned towns and cities engulfed in the aftermath of radiation and disease. Among the survivors is Max, determined to piece together the fragments of his shattered life. However, his journey takes an unexpected turn after a few stolen car parts set off a chain of events that tests his resolve. Embark on a gripping adventure as Max navigates treacherous landscapes, encountering desperate factions vying for control. As he searches for a new home, conflicts arise, forcing him to confront the delicate balance between justice and survival. Will he reclaim the stolen parts and forge his own path, helping those in need along the way? Or will he resort to ruthless tactics, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake? The choice is yours as Max embraces his role as a harbinger of justice. Features: • Explore a desolate and perilous town, teeming with mysteries and dangers at every turn. • Engage in strategic turn-based combat, utilizing your wits and tactics to outsmart adversaries. • Immerse yourself in atmospheric graphics and immersive sound design, capturing the bleak essence of a post-apocalyptic world. • Arm yourself with an arsenal of diverse weapons and scavenge for valuable loot to enhance your chances of survival. • Shape Max's destiny through a dynamic reputation system, allowing you to choose between acts of compassion or acts of ruthlessness. • Develop Max's skills and attributes through a robust skill point stat system, customizing his abilities to suit your playstyle. • Enjoy an uninterrupted gaming experience with no intrusive ads or in-app purchases. Dive into this gripping post-apocalyptic tale, where your decisions shape the course of Max's journey towards redemption or chaos. Will you navigate the remnants of humanity with empathy and compassion, or will you succumb to the darkness that lurks within? The future lies in your hands. Good luck and have fun!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Hardboiled at free against The Ensign's paid. The Ensign's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 30 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 Hardboiled $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
The Ensign holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Ensign has 549 ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of The Ensign's written reviews are positive against 74% of Hardboiled's.
The Ensign ships an update every 2 months, Hardboiled every 30 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Ensign | Hardboiled |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | $1.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (549 ratings) — better | 4.1 (46 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews — better | 74.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 549 — better | 46 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 30 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #95 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 147 MB |
| Age rating | +12 | 12+ |
| Developer | Amirali Rajan | Game Dev Team |
Customer experience
The Ensign
Hardboiled
User reviews
The Ensign
From 549 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
Hardboiled
From 46 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- ✨ Fallout-like experience
- 💰 Good value for price
- ⚔️ Turn-based combat
- 🗺️ Post-apocalyptic theme
- 🎮 Simple and fun gameplay
Room to improve
- ⏳ Too short/limited content
- ❓ Vague quests/boring quests
- 📉 Steep learning curve
- 🤖 Unimaginative equipment
- 😠 Frustrating combat difficulty
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
Hardboiled
Reported bugs
14 issues- Combat locks you in
- Enemies walk away out of range
- Cannot save game
- Loot disappears after death
- Game crashes during combat
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- Cannot install with Face ID
- Raiders and guardians don't fight each other
- Enemies follow player constantly when attacked
- Cannot escape combat
- Guardians don't protect
- No save zones
- Inventory system unintuitive
- Last encounter is a weak boss
- Spelling mistakes
Requested features
18 requests- More content/levels/chapters
- Sequel with more features
- Save/load feature
- More in-depth character customization
- Perks system
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- Dialogue with NPCs
- Larger world/more maps
- Side quests
- Co-op/multiplayer options
- Tutorial
- Player customization
- More items and loot
- Factions
- Crafting system
- Ability to run away from fights
- GameCenter integration
- Passive skills
- Unique gear
In-app purchases
The Ensign
No in-app purchases
Hardboiled
No in-app purchases
