# The Pyraplex vs Shattered Pixel Dungeon

The clearest difference is monetization model: Shattered Pixel Dungeon at free against The Pyraplex's paid. Shattered Pixel Dungeon also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

The Pyraplex costs $4.99 and Shattered Pixel Dungeon $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Shattered Pixel Dungeon holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shattered Pixel Dungeon has 4.2K ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of The Pyraplex's written reviews are positive against 93% of Shattered Pixel Dungeon's.

The Pyraplex ships an update every 6 months, Shattered Pixel Dungeon fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Pyraplex | Shattered Pixel Dungeon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | $4.99 |
| Rating | [4.4 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-pyraplex/id919429622/reviews) | **[4.9 (4.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shattered-pixel-dungeon/id1563121109/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 17 | **4.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 72.2% of reviews | **93.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#9** |
| Size | 54 MB | 134 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Kairosoft Co.,Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/381477233) | [Evan Debenham](https://appshunter.io/developer/1562920988) |

## What reviewers say

### The Pyraplex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-pyraplex/id919429622)

Build a magnificent pyramid and establish a thriving desert oasis. Attract diverse visitors, cultivate trade, and create amenities to enrich your culture and wealth. Manage resources and design with both form and function in mind to impress the Pyramid Association.

**Highlights:** Pyramid construction, Desert oasis management, Attract diverse visitors, Cultivate trade, Add amenities and handicrafts, Unearth hidden treasures, Annual evaluations

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Shattered Pixel Dungeon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shattered-pixel-dungeon/id1563121109)

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Paid · Role Playing, #19 Top Paid · Adventure, #96 Top Paid · Games, #158 Top Paid (US App Store)

Embark on a challenging roguelike dungeon crawl with six unique heroes. Explore procedurally generated levels, collect hundreds of items, and battle diverse enemies and bosses. Master unique hero mechanics and unlock powerful abilities to survive the depths.

**Highlights:** Six unique heroes with distinct playstyles, Procedurally generated dungeons and randomized enemies, Hundreds of items to collect, upgrade, and craft, Talent trees and subclass progression for heroes, Challenging bosses and optional achievements, Regular content updates

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Endless replayability
- 👍 Polished and well-designed
- 🎨 Excellent pixel art and aesthetics
- 💡 Innovative mechanics and depth
- 🕹️ Challenging yet rewarding gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Extremely challenging and punishing
- 🕰️ Runs can feel too long
- 🤖 Overpowered enemy mechanics (e.g. evasion)

**Reported bugs**

- Sound effects not working on iOS
- Occasional crashes or freezes

**Requested features**

- Permadeath optional mode
- Ability to continue progress across devices
- More character classes and customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Pyraplex free?

The Pyraplex costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Shattered Pixel Dungeon free?

Shattered Pixel Dungeon costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The Pyraplex or Shattered Pixel Dungeon?

Shattered Pixel Dungeon is rated higher. The Pyraplex averages 4.4 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Shattered Pixel Dungeon averages 4.9 from 4.2K ratings.

### Do The Pyraplex or Shattered Pixel Dungeon have ads?

Neither The Pyraplex nor Shattered Pixel Dungeon shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Pyraplex or Shattered Pixel Dungeon?

The Pyraplex ships an update every 6 months, and Shattered Pixel Dungeon fortnightly. Most recently, The Pyraplex was updated on October 26, 2026 and Shattered Pixel Dungeon on October 27, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*