Comparison

The Lost Heir vs Eldrum

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

Head to head
About

The Lost Heir

Embark on an epic fantasy adventure as you reclaim your stolen throne. Develop your unique prince or princess, explore a world of magic and mystery, and make choices that shape your destiny in this text-based interactive novel.

Highlights
  • Text-based interactive story
  • Character development (good/evil)
  • Multiple character classes/roles
  • Choice-driven narrative
  • Romance and friendship options
  • Mystery and treasure hunting
Features
Read full description

Take back the throne that was rightfully yours! When demon-summoning usurpers assassinate the king and queen, the right of rulership falls to you, their only child. Develop your own unique prince or princess, discovering a world of fantasy, magic, mystery, and adventure. "The Lost Heir: The Fall of Daria" is an epic 145,000-word interactive fantasy novel by Mike Walter—the first of a trilogy—where your choices control the story. The game is entirely text-based--without graphics or sound effects--and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination. Develop your own unique prince or princess, for good or evil! Become a noble knight, a greedy thief, an evil priest, a nature-loving druid, a charming bard, a deadly assassin, a wise monk, a well-traveled ranger, a martial cleric, a kind priest, a brutal thug, a steadfast guard, a powerful wizard or any combination you choose. Your highness, the kingdom of Daria awaits you! • Play as male or female, gay or straight. • Pursue love interests, make friends, or be a loner. • Uncover the mysteries of demon summoning. • Uncover and collect legendary magical items and treasure.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

The Lost Heir4 screens
Eldrum4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Eldrum at none against The Lost Heir's shown. Eldrum also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 11 months). The Lost Heir's advantage is price ($4.99 vs $8.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume 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

The Lost Heir costs $4.99 and Eldrum $8.99 up front. The Lost Heir sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Eldrum 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for The Lost Heir against 4.9 for Eldrum. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 204 and 162 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of The Lost Heir's written reviews are positive against 92% of Eldrum's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Lost Heir ships an update every 11 months, Eldrum every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
The Lost Heir versus Eldrum: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe Lost HeirEldrum
Price$4.99 — better$8.99
Rating4.8 (204 ratings)4.9 (162 ratings) — better
Positive reviews89.9% of reviews92.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings204 — better162
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#188 — better#191
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB186 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperHosted Games LLCAct None

Customer experience

The Lost Heir

All ratings204 ratings
Positive96.1%
Neutral1.0%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews89 reviews
Positive89.9%
Neutral2.2%
Negative7.9%

Eldrum

All ratings160 ratings
Positive95.6%
Neutral3.1%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews51 reviews
Positive92.2%
Neutral3.9%
Negative3.9%

User reviews

The Lost Heir

From 204 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎮 Exceptional replay value with multiple character classes and story paths
  • 📖 Well-written narrative with compelling characters and world-building
  • 🎯 Meaningful choices that significantly impact the story and outcomes
  • 💑 Excellent relationship and romance system with depth
  • 🏆 High-quality interactive fiction with intricate storytelling

Room to improve

  • ⚠️ Unclear stat requirements for skill checks
  • 🎲 Frustrating stat system requiring narrow specialization
  • 😤 Difficulty balancing multiple character builds effectively
  • 🔄 Repetitive gameplay loop for trial-and-error stat optimization
  • ❌ Limited viability of hybrid character builds

Eldrum

From 162 App Store ratings

What 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 Lost Heir

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Legacy Advantage purchase fails on standalone version (works on Hosted Games app)
  • Endurance skill check (45) doesn't work in dark temple near Vernex
  • Relationship stat effects sometimes confusing and unexpected
  • Money loss after inputting smaller transaction amounts
  • Inconsistent dialogue outcome effects on character relationships

Requested features

9 requests
  • Save/checkpoint system to avoid replaying entire game
  • Back button to undo choices without restarting
  • Chapter-by-chapter save options
  • More random adventures before main quest
  • Expanded demon summoning mechanics and battles
Show 4 more
  • More mature relationship themes and romance options
  • Longer overall game length
  • Clearer stat requirement indicators before attempting actions
  • More diverse combat encounters

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

1 purchases

The Lost Heir

One-time1
  • The Legacy Advantage2 variants$1.99
1 purchases

Eldrum

One-time1
  • Mount Karnak DLC$4.99

Questions

Is The Lost Heir free?
The Lost Heir costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Eldrum free?
Eldrum costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, The Lost Heir or Eldrum?
Eldrum is rated higher. The Lost Heir averages 4.8 out of 5 from 204 ratings, while Eldrum averages 4.9 from 162 ratings.
Do The Lost Heir or Eldrum have ads?
The Lost Heir shows ads; Eldrum does not.
Which is updated more often, The Lost Heir or Eldrum?
The Lost Heir ships an update every 11 months, and Eldrum every 3 days. Most recently, The Lost Heir was updated on November 1, 2026 and Eldrum on November 8, 2026.
Which is more popular, The Lost Heir or Eldrum?
The Lost Heir currently peaks at #188 in the App Store charts, and Eldrum at #191. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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