Comparison

Vigil RPG vs Candybox

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

Head to head
About

Vigil RPG

Embark on a solo hero's quest in this 8-bit style RPG. Engage in quick, strategic turn-based battles against monsters and goblins. Enjoy a premium experience with no ads or timers, and a continuously auto-saved adventure.

Highlights
  • Solo hero turn-based RPG
  • Strategic combat with enemy tells
  • Fast-paced, one-tap combat rounds
  • Continuous auto-saving
  • Offline play supported
  • No ads or in-app purchase nags
Features
Read full description

One of the 10 best JRPGs available on iOS! -TouchArcade.com Now celebrating 10 years on the App Store: 2014-2024! Vigil RPG is a single-player, 8-bit-style, premium RPG, where *every* battle — not just boss fights — is quick, yet has interesting decision-making. Be a solo hero on a quest to discover the hidden cause behind the sudden appearance of marauding bands of goblins and monsters! Vigil RPG is the ideal pocket-size turn-based RPG, by incorporating features that you may come to wish that every mobile game had: • Created by a one-person development team with a design goal of maximum FUN — not maximum monetization! Vigil RPG has no ads (even before you buy!), premium currencies, stamina timers, or even "leave a review!" nags. If a feature doesn't add fun, then it didn't make the cut. • Meaningful decision-making in every combat — even vs. non-boss enemies! Every enemy has unique attack patterns and "tells" for a clever player to overcome. Healing is hard to come by outside of town, so employing efficient battle strategy is important and rewarding. • Fast turn-based combat! Select an action and launch each combat round in a single tap — no menus to navigate through. Each round takes about one second to play out. Zip through battles quickly against easy enemies; take your time to consider your strategy vs. tougher foes. Vigil RPG respects your time! • No annoying tropes common to console-port RPGs: No imprecise on-screen virtual joystick; just tap your destination to move. No save points, or manual saving; your progress is continually auto-saved -- even mid-battle! • No Internet connection required! Aside from a one-time in-app purchase to unlock the full game (after the generous free demo), you could play from start to closing credits in Airplane Mode! • Unlike many other mobile games, doesn't unduly drain your phone's battery! Vigil RPG is 100% implemented in Apple's native Objective-C and Swift programming languages — no bulky 3rd-party frameworks used! VIGIL RPG SPECIAL 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION - Huge v3.0 free update! • Vigil RPG is now free-to-try! Play through several quests before unlocking the full game with a single in-app purchase! No ads after -- OR BEFORE -- you buy! • Challenge HONOR MODE! Inspired by a certain awesome hit 2023 AAA RPG -- okay, fine, it's Baldur's Gate 3 -- you can now opt in to this challenging new mode, featuring even more difficult bosses, and PERMADEATH! • Bo the Bartender has even more new advice, commentary, and humor for you! Tap him at the tavern for more tips! • Reworked several normal enemies to be more fun to battle! The Armored Goblin now really doesn't like it if you bypass his shield block with LIGHTNING, for one! • Local high scores for quests! Challenge your best times from prior playthroughs! • Beautiful high resolution support for all iPhone and iPad sizes, from iPhone SE to the 13" iPad Pro! (Runs on your Apple Silicon chip Mac, too -- but Vigil RPG is best enjoyed as an iPhone game!)

About

Candybox

Embark on an ASCII art role-playing adventure starting with candy collection. Discover a world of quests, battles, exploration, and crafting. Unravel mysteries and upgrade your character to uncover hidden secrets.

Highlights
  • Candy collection and resource management
  • Text-based role-playing adventure
  • Combat against various enemies
  • Exploration of diverse game worlds
  • Quest completion and puzzle solving
  • Crafting and item upgrading
  • Discovery of hidden secrets and Easter eggs
Features
Read full description

Embark on an unforgettable journey in Candy Box, where a simple candy-collecting game turns into an epic adventure! Start with a handful of candies and discover a world filled with mysteries, quests, and battles. This text-based incremental game will surprise you at every turn with its depth and charm. Game Features: Start Simple, Dream Big: Begin by collecting candies, but don’t be fooled by the simplicity! As you gather more, the game reveals layers of new content, from shops and inventory to quests and exploration. Battle Fierce Enemies: Equip powerful swords, potions, and spells to take down a variety of enemies. Each foe presents a unique challenge that will test your strategy and preparation. Explore Vast Worlds: Travel through enchanted forests, mysterious dungeons, and grand castles. Each area is packed with secrets, treasures, and surprises waiting to be uncovered. Solve Puzzles and Complete Quests: Not just about combat—Candy Box offers intricate puzzles and quests that will require your wit and creativity. Unravel hidden mysteries and unlock powerful rewards. Craft and Upgrade: Use the candies you collect to craft powerful items, upgrade your gear, and customize your character. The more you play, the more powerful you become. Discover Hidden Secrets: Candy Box is full of Easter eggs, hidden features, and secret endings. Can you find them all? Why You'll Love Candy Box: Candy Box offers a unique blend of simplicity and depth, perfect for both casual players and those looking for a more complex experience. Whether you’re in it for the candy or the adventure, you’ll find something to love in this quirky, delightful game. Download now and see how far a single candy can take you!

Screenshots

Vigil RPG4 screens
Candybox4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Vigil RPG at 92% against Candybox's 44%. Vigil RPG also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.2). Candybox's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, ads 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. Vigil RPG sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Candybox sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Vigil RPG holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 31 and 15 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Vigil RPG's written reviews are positive against 44% of Candybox's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Vigil RPG ships an update every 2 months, Candybox daily. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Vigil RPG versus Candybox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVigil RPGCandybox
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (31 ratings) — better3.2 (15 ratings)
Positive reviews92.3% of reviews — better44.4% of reviews
Number of ratings31 — better15
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size124 MB31 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperJonathan SchneiderNoe LE PHILIPPE

Customer experience

Vigil RPG

All ratings31 ratings
Positive80.6%
Neutral6.5%
Negative12.9%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive92.3%
Neutral3.8%
Negative3.8%

Candybox

All ratings15 ratings
Positive46.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative46.7%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral11.1%
Negative44.4%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Vigil RPG

One-time1
  • Full Game Unlock$4.99
1 purchases

Candybox

One-time1
  • Remove ads$1.99

Questions

Is Vigil RPG free?
Vigil RPG is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Candybox free?
Candybox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Vigil RPG or Candybox?
Vigil RPG is rated higher. Vigil RPG averages 4.4 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while Candybox averages 3.2 from 15 ratings.
Do Vigil RPG or Candybox have ads?
Neither Vigil RPG nor Candybox shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Vigil RPG or Candybox?
Vigil RPG ships an update every 2 months, and Candybox daily. Most recently, Vigil RPG was updated on October 16, 2026 and Candybox on September 20, 2026.

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