# iNethack2 vs Cataclysm

The clearest difference is rating: iNethack2 at 4.4 against Cataclysm's 3.9. iNethack2 also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (84% vs 69%). Cataclysm's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 12.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cataclysm sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. iNethack2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

iNethack2 holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 137 and 323 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of iNethack2's written reviews are positive against 69% of Cataclysm's.

iNethack2 ships an update every 2 months, Cataclysm every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iNethack2 | Cataclysm |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (137 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inethack2/id962114968/reviews)** | [3.9 (323 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cataclysm-dark-days-ahead/id1017236109/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 137 | **323** |
| Positive reviews | **84.1% of reviews** | 68.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 15 MB | 146 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **7.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Future Shock Software LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/705048664) | [Dancing Bottle](https://appshunter.io/developer/536995131) |

## What reviewers say

### iNethack2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inethack2/id962114968)

Embark on a single-player dungeon crawl to collect treasure, find the Amulet of Yendor, and survive perilous mazes. This port offers graphical tilesets, touch controls, and customizable shortcuts for an enhanced roguelike experience.

**Highlights:** Single-player dungeon exploration, Treasure collection and escape, Multiple graphical tilesets, Touchscreen gesture controls, Customizable keyboard shortcuts, Bones file sharing integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Faithful port of classic NetHack game
- 📱 Well-designed touch interface for mobile
- 🎨 Multiple tileset options available
- ♾️ Infinite replayability and depth
- 🆓 Free to play with no paywalls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 💾 Game files corrupted or lost unexpectedly
- ⌨️ Limited external keyboard support
- 🎮 Clunky movement controls
- 🖱️ Double-tap sensitivity issues

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes when using inventory (I command)
- Crashes on Plane of Water during save restore
- File corruption errors when switching apps
- Game freezes with Chinese pinyin keyboard input
- Crashes when equipping rings

**Requested features**

- Separate button labels from command values
- External Bluetooth keyboard support
- Directional pad for movement
- Swipe-based movement controls
- Character name customization


### Cataclysm

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cataclysm-dark-days-ahead/id1017236109)

A challenging post-apocalyptic survival roguelike with procedural generation. Explore, craft, and manage your needs to stay alive in a world overrun by monsters. Build, customize vehicles, and discover secrets in a vast, open-ended experience.

**Highlights:** Procedural world generation, Deep crafting system, Vehicle construction and modification, Survival mechanics (hunger, thirst, morale), Bionics and mutations, NPC interaction and quests, Open-ended exploration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Awesome Sound Pack | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great game
- 🚀 Highly customizable
- 💡 Endless possibilities
- 👍 Fantastic hardcore roguelike
- 👍 Addictive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Controls are clunky and unresponsive
- 🐛 Language issues (game in Russian/other languages)
- 🐛 Screen size issues (too small)
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Outdated version, needs updates

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard issues (gets stuck, doesn't work properly)
- Compatibility issues with newer devices/iOS versions
- Crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- Update the game to latest stable version
- Improve touch controls and UI for mobile
- Add screen zooming/magnification options
- Provide better language support and options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iNethack2 free?

iNethack2 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Cataclysm free?

Cataclysm is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iNethack2 or Cataclysm?

iNethack2 is rated higher. iNethack2 averages 4.4 out of 5 from 137 ratings, while Cataclysm averages 3.9 from 323 ratings.

### Do iNethack2 or Cataclysm have ads?

Neither iNethack2 nor Cataclysm shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iNethack2 or Cataclysm?

iNethack2 ships an update every 2 months, and Cataclysm every 3 weeks. Most recently, iNethack2 was updated on October 14, 2026 and Cataclysm on October 18, 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.*