Comparison

Severed vs Grimvalor

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

Head to head
About

Severed

Embark on a surreal journey as a one-armed warrior wielding a sentient sword. Master touch-based combat, explore a nightmarish world, and sever enemies to gain powers. This critically acclaimed title features a unique art style and an award-winning soundtrack.

Highlights
  • Dungeon combat with touch controls
  • Sever enemies for new powers
  • Branching exploration routes
  • Award-winning original soundtrack
  • Upgrade equipment and abilities
  • Puzzle solving and hazard avoidance
Features
Read full description

** Winner of Apple Design Award 2017 ** ** Apple iPad Game of the Year 2016 ** Take control of a one-armed warrior named Sasha, wielding a living sword on her journey through a nightmare world in search of her family. ----- ACCOLADES ----- • "Apple Design Award 2017", Apple • "iPad Game of the Year 2016", Apple • "Best Mobile Game of 2016", Destructoid • "Best Mobile Game + Best Musical Score", Canadian Video Game Awards 2016 • "Battery Park Award for Best Handheld Game", 2017 New York Game Awards • "Handheld Game of the Year -- Nominee", 20th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards • "Mobile Game of the Year -- Nominee", 2017 SXSW Gaming Awards • "Best Mobile Game -- Nominee", The Game Awards 2016 • "5 best mobile games of 2016", GameSpot • "Best Mobile Game of 2016 -- Nominee", IGN • "10 best video games of 2016", Mashable "Severed is a super compelling game that looks great. Its mechanics go to surprising depths and the sword-swiping combat feels fantastic on iOS." 5/5 - 148Apps "With great game mechanics, unique artwork and tough to master gameplay, Severed is well worthy of your time." 8/10 - Post Arcade "Severed is just a game that's all-around cool. Its aesthetic is top-notch, its combat is deep and engaging." 5/5 - TouchArcade ----- KEY FEATURES ----- • Dungeon Combat: Master offensive and defensive touch combat techniques to survive intense battles against a menagerie of enemies. • Severing: Best enemies in combat for a chance at severing their body parts -- then wear them to gain new powers or consume them to upgrade your equipment and abilities. • Exploration: Follow branching routes through the unknown, using your wits to avoid hazards and solve puzzles. • Award-Winning Soundtrack: Immerse yourself in the haunting original score from Juno- and Polaris-nominated band YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN, featuring Pantayo. Also includes: • Graphical optimizations for Metal-enabled devices • Gameplay video recording with ReplayKit (requires Metal-enabled device running iOS 9+) • Multiple difficulty modes • Game Center Achievements • Cloud Save • iMessage Sticker Pack (requires iOS 10) • 3D Touch support (3D Touch-enabled device required)

About

Grimvalor

Embark on a dark fantasy adventure as a lone warrior battling through a corrupted realm. Master skill-based combat, explore atmospheric landscapes, and face epic boss fights in this challenging hack and slash platformer. Restore the kingdom and uncover the fate of its lost king.

Highlights
  • Skill-based combat
  • Exploration of dark fantasy world
  • Epic boss fights
  • Stunning 3D visuals
  • Customizable touch controls
  • MFi controller support
  • Offline play
Features
Read full description

Slash your way through the hordes of darkness and defeat King Valor's fearsome guardians in this breathtaking adventure! "Chaining together a slick series of attacks, dodges, and jumps, is incredibly satisfying." — PocketGamer "I suspect mobile gaming fans will be playing and replaying this one for years to come." — TouchArcade, 5/5 A malicious power stirs in the forgotten kingdom of Vallaris. Tasked with discovering the fate of its lost king, your quest quickly takes a sinister turn and you are cast into darkness. Surrounded and outnumbered, you must grab your sword, steel your temper and fight your way through a land that does not welcome you. Except for the friendly merchant - he's grateful for your business. ABOUT THE GAME Grimvalor is a challenging hack & slash platformer with fast-paced combat in a dark fantasy world. Take control of a lone warrior on a quest to restore a corrupted realm. Embark on a journey through atmospheric landscapes and dungeons in a massive story-driven premium experience. COMBAT & EXPLORATION Master skill-based combat, learn enemy patterns and bring them down with all your fury. Explore the shattered lands of Vallaris, find and upgrade equipment and level up your character. Face the legacy of King Valor's madness and prevail! FEATURES • Epic boss fights • Stunning 3D visuals accelerated by Metal graphics • Accurate and customizable touch controls • Full support for MFi game controllers • Use iCloud to keep your saves in sync between devices. • Play offline - perfect for commute. • No ads or in-app purchases

Screenshots

Severed4 screens
Grimvalor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Severed at $0.99 against Grimvalor's $5.99. Severed also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.0). Grimvalor's advantage is ratings volume (9.8K vs 1.3K). On rating, review sentiment, ads 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

Severed costs $0.99 and Grimvalor $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Severed against 4.9 for Grimvalor. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Grimvalor has 9.8K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of Severed's written reviews are positive against 91% of Grimvalor's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Severed ships an update every 3 weeks, Grimvalor every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 30, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Severed versus Grimvalor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSeveredGrimvalor
Price$0.99 — better$5.99
Rating4.8 (1.3K ratings)4.9 (9.8K ratings) — better
Positive reviews88.6% of reviews90.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.3K9.8K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#181#107 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size224 MB739 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperDrinkBox StudiosDirelight

Customer experience

Severed

All ratings1,338 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral0.5%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews739 reviews
Positive88.6%
Neutral3.4%
Negative8.0%

Grimvalor

All ratings9,754 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.4%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews803 reviews
Positive90.8%
Neutral3.2%
Negative6.0%

User reviews

Severed

From 1.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Beautiful and unique art style
  • 🚀 Engaging and challenging gameplay
  • 💡 Innovative combat mechanics
  • 🎨 Stunning visuals and atmosphere
  • 🎶 Haunting and memorable soundtrack

Room to improve

  • 🔁 Repetitive enemy encounters towards the end
  • 🕹️ Controls can be finicky on certain devices
  • 🕰️ Backtracking and navigation can feel tedious
  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches reported

Grimvalor

From 9.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Smooth gameplay
  • 👍 Excellent controls
  • 🎨 Beautiful graphics
  • 🎶 Great soundtrack
  • 💰 Worth the price

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
  • 🕹️ Challenging difficulty spikes
  • 🕹️ Frustrating jumping puzzles
  • 🕹️ Dodge mechanic issues
  • 🔍 Lack of character customization

Bugs and requests

Severed

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Compatibility issues on newer iPhone models
  • Crashes and freezes reported by some users

Requested features

3 requests
  • Difficulty options for more challenge
  • Expanded skill tree and progression system
  • Ability to revisit areas and see new content

Grimvalor

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Dodge not registering properly
  • Crashes in New Game Plus
  • Companion AI issues
  • Graphical glitches on older devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • More levels and content
  • Ability to replay bosses
  • Enemy scaling for higher difficulties
  • Expanded weapon and trinket selection
  • New game plus improvements

In-app purchases

None

Severed

No in-app purchases

None

Grimvalor

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Severed free?
Severed costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Grimvalor free?
Grimvalor costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Severed or Grimvalor?
Grimvalor is rated higher. Severed averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while Grimvalor averages 4.9 from 9.8K ratings.
Do Severed or Grimvalor have ads?
Neither Severed nor Grimvalor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Severed or Grimvalor?
Severed ships an update every 3 weeks, and Grimvalor every 2 months. Most recently, Severed was updated on September 30, 2026 and Grimvalor on September 30, 2026.
Which is more popular, Severed or Grimvalor?
Severed currently peaks at #181 in the App Store charts, and Grimvalor at #107. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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