# 8bitWar vs HackEm

The clearest difference is review sentiment: 8bitWar at 94% against HackEm's 25%. 8bitWar also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.6) and ratings volume (196 vs 5). HackEm's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $2.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

8bitWar costs $2.99 and HackEm $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

8bitWar holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 8bitWar has 196 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of 8bitWar's written reviews are positive against 25% of HackEm's.

8bitWar ships an update every 14 months, HackEm every 21 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 8bitWar | HackEm |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **$1.99** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (196 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8bitwar-necropolis/id972045237/reviews)** | [3.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackem/id1667095744/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **196** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **94.2% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 14 months** | Every 21 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 31 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Rosendahl Software AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/591646413) | [Game Dev Team](https://appshunter.io/developer/561134317) |

## What reviewers say

### 8bitWar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8bitwar-necropolis/id972045237)

Engage in strategic combat by hiring and deploying diverse units against enemy forces. Overcome 100 challenging levels with 24 unique unit types. Compete against friends locally or online.

**Highlights:** Strategic unit placement, Tactical thinking required, 100 levels, 24 unique unit types, Local multiplayer, Online multiplayer

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 😊 Highly addictive and engaging gameplay
- 🎮 Simple yet strategic mechanics
- 🕹️ Nostalgic 8-bit retro aesthetic
- ⚡ Quick, easy-to-learn gameplay
- 🎯 Good replay value with multiple layouts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes on certain devices (iPhone 6, older models)
- 📱 Poor optimization for various screen sizes
- 🔊 No sound control options
- ⚠️ Limited unit variety in multiplayer mode
- 😑 Becomes repetitive over time

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes during large sandbox battles
- Multiplayer mode crashes or disconnects
- Occasional lag and performance issues
- Screen optimization problems on newer devices
- Purchased levels not working properly

**Requested features**

- More units and characters
- Additional campaign levels and missions
- Expanded multiplayer unit availability
- Larger battle space/more room for units
- Sci-fi themed version of the game


### HackEm

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackem/id1667095744)

Engage in a unique blend of real-time strategy and tower defense as a hacker seeking revenge. Build a base to extract data and defend against security drones and autobots on randomly generated maps. Upgrade weapons and equipment with earned credits.

**Highlights:** Real-time strategy and tower defense mix, Diverse enemies with unique mechanics, Randomly generated maps, Extensive weapon and equipment upgrades, Intuitive controls, No ads or in-app purchases

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 8bitWar free?

8bitWar costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HackEm free?

HackEm costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, 8bitWar or HackEm?

8bitWar is rated higher. 8bitWar averages 4.8 out of 5 from 196 ratings, while HackEm averages 3.6 from 5 ratings.

### Do 8bitWar or HackEm have ads?

Neither 8bitWar nor HackEm shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 8bitWar or HackEm?

8bitWar ships an update every 14 months, and HackEm every 21 months. Most recently, 8bitWar was updated on October 16, 2026 and HackEm on October 15, 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.*