Comparison

Piloteer vs DREDGE

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

Head to head
About

Piloteer

Master a state-of-the-art jetpack in this physics-based game. Complete challenging missions across beautiful environments to change public perception and experience dynamic, unpredictable gameplay with rewarding accomplishments.

Highlights
  • Physics-based jetpack control
  • Sixty challenging missions
  • Three beautiful environments
  • Career and Free Fly modes
  • Serene piano score
  • Ragdoll physics effects
Features
Read full description

In Piloteer, a whimsical and serenely challenging physics-based game about learning to fly, a renowned inventor is determined to overcome the stigma associated with flying a jetpack and convince the world that jetpacks should be revered by all. Blending elements of both physics and trick-based games, players will need to maneuver their state-of-the-art jetpack through the skies while completing a myriad of increasingly difficult missions to change public perceptions. Players will find themselves immersed in a wholly integrated physics simulation, making the beautiful world around them feel dynamic, unpredictable, and alive. Ridiculous failure is imminent in Piloteer, making the accomplishments along the way feel all the more rewarding. Put on your jetpack and take to the skies! FEATURES • Increasingly challenging gameplay with sixty different missions • Three beautiful environments to fly around in • Career and Free Fly modes • Custom-composed, serene piano score • Silly and ridiculous physics-based ragdoll effects • Universal support • GameCenter achievements • Share replays and screenshots via Facebook, Email, or Twitter _______________________________________________________________________________ • TouchArcade (5/5): "It’s hard as nails, immensely satisfying, and just plain fun." • PocketGamer (8/10): "Bonkers, masochistic gameplay." • Gamezebo (4/5): "It’s about as serene as a bag of hammers in a washing machine."

About

DREDGE

Explore remote islands and their depths as a fishing trawler captain. Sell your catch, complete quests to uncover local secrets, and upgrade your boat. Beware of the dangers lurking in the dark.

Highlights
  • Explore remote islands and depths
  • Catch and sell diverse sea life
  • Complete quests to uncover secrets
  • Upgrade fishing boat and equipment
  • Survive nighttime dangers
  • Unravel a dark mystery
Features
Read full description

*TRY BEFORE YOU BUY* Play the first area for free. One-time purchase unlocks the base game. DLC expansions available as additional in-app purchases. Captain your fishing trawler to explore a collection of remote isles, and their surrounding depths, to see what lies below. Sell your catch to the locals and complete quests to learn more about each area’s troubled past. Outfit your boat with better equipment to trawl deep-sea trenches and navigate to far-off lands, but keep an eye on the time. You might not like what finds you in the dark... Explore the Islands & Discover their Secrets Starting from your new home in the remote archipelago, ‘The Marrows’, take to the water and scour the depths for curious collectables and over 125 deep sea denizens. Explore each area while completing quests and visiting neighboring island regions – each with their own unique opportunities, inhabitants, and secrets. Dredge the Depths Someone wants you to dig up the past, but can you trust them and will it ever be enough? Beware the Fog Danger is everywhere, so watch for sharp rocks and shallow reefs, though the biggest threats of all lurk within the fog that cloaks the night-time seas... Game Features: - Unravel a Mystery: Captain your fishing trawler across a collection of remote islands, each with its own inhabitants to meet, wildlife to discover, and stories to unearth. - Dredge the Depths: Scour the sea for hidden treasures and complete quests to gain access to strange new abilities - Study Your Craft: Research special equipment and upgrade your boat’s capabilities to gain access to rare fish and valuable deep-sea curios. - Fish to Survive: Sell your discoveries to the locals to learn more about each area, and upgrade your boat to reach even more secluded locations. - Fight the Unfathomable: Strengthen your mind and use your abilities to survive trips out on the water after dark.

Screenshots

Piloteer4 screens
DREDGE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: DREDGE at Free against Piloteer's $2.99. DREDGE also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 80). Piloteer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 13.0). On review sentiment, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

DREDGE is free to download; Piloteer costs $2.99 up front. DREDGE sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Piloteer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DREDGE holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DREDGE has 1.1K ratings behind it against 80, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Piloteer's written reviews are positive against 60% of DREDGE's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Piloteer versus DREDGE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPiloteerDREDGE
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (80 ratings)4.3 (1.1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews53.7% of reviews59.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings801.1K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS7.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size264 MB785 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperFixpoint Productions Ltd.Black Salt Games

Customer experience

Piloteer

All ratings80 ratings
Positive71.3%
Neutral6.3%
Negative22.5%
Written reviews760 reviews
Positive53.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative38.0%

DREDGE

All ratings1,082 ratings
Positive82.2%
Neutral3.7%
Negative14.1%
Written reviews1,146 reviews
Positive59.9%
Neutral10.2%
Negative29.9%

User reviews

Piloteer

From 80 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fun and challenging
  • 👍 Charming art style and music
  • 🚀 Rewarding when mastered
  • 👍 Addictive gameplay

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent controls
  • 🐛 Unpredictable physics
  • 🐛 Frustrating difficulty
  • 🐛 Buggy landings and collisions

DREDGE

From 1.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great game
  • 🚀 Excellent port to mobile
  • 🎮 Supports controllers
  • 🎨 Stunning graphics
  • 🕹️ Intuitive controls

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive for a mobile game
  • 🔍 Misleading 'free' description
  • 📱 Text/UI too small on phones
  • 🐛 Crashes and performance issues
  • 🎮 Controller support needs improvement

Bugs and requests

Piloteer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes and freezes
  • Unresponsive controls
  • Compatibility issues with newer devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • More levels and content
  • Customization options for character and jetpack
  • Reverse control scheme
  • Reduce difficulty of birds and obstacles

DREDGE

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes on startup
  • Controller issues
  • Inventory/menu navigation problems

Requested features

5 requests
  • Larger text and UI options
  • Cross-save between devices
  • More content and DLC
  • Minimap or navigation aids
  • Ability to walk around boat/town

In-app purchases

None

Piloteer

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

DREDGE

One-time8
  • Blackstone Key$0.49
  • Blackstone Key$0.99
  • The Pale Reach$2.39
Show 5 more
  • The Iron Rig$4.79
  • The Pale Reach$5.99
  • Base Game Unlock$9.99
  • The Iron Rig$11.99
  • Base Game Unlock$24.99

Questions

Is Piloteer free?
Piloteer costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is DREDGE free?
DREDGE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Piloteer or DREDGE?
DREDGE is rated higher. Piloteer averages 4.0 out of 5 from 80 ratings, while DREDGE averages 4.3 from 1.1K ratings.
Do Piloteer or DREDGE have ads?
Neither Piloteer nor DREDGE shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Piloteer or DREDGE?
Piloteer ships an update every 3 weeks, and DREDGE every 3 weeks. Most recently, Piloteer was updated on October 26, 2026 and DREDGE on October 26, 2026.

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