Hardboiled vs Pathos
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hardboiled
Embark on a turn-based RPG adventure in a post-apocalyptic world. Explore a desolate town, engage in strategic combat, and make choices that shape your character's destiny and the fate of survivors. Your decisions will determine whether you become a harbinger of justice or chaos.
- Explore desolate post-apocalyptic towns
- Strategic turn-based combat
- Atmospheric graphics and sound
- Scavenge for weapons and loot
- Dynamic reputation system
- Robust skill point system
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In a world ravaged by the devastating aftermath of humanity's self-destruction, survival is the ultimate goal. The cataclysmic blast unleashed chaos, leaving only remnants of abandoned towns and cities engulfed in the aftermath of radiation and disease. Among the survivors is Max, determined to piece together the fragments of his shattered life. However, his journey takes an unexpected turn after a few stolen car parts set off a chain of events that tests his resolve. Embark on a gripping adventure as Max navigates treacherous landscapes, encountering desperate factions vying for control. As he searches for a new home, conflicts arise, forcing him to confront the delicate balance between justice and survival. Will he reclaim the stolen parts and forge his own path, helping those in need along the way? Or will he resort to ruthless tactics, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake? The choice is yours as Max embraces his role as a harbinger of justice. Features: • Explore a desolate and perilous town, teeming with mysteries and dangers at every turn. • Engage in strategic turn-based combat, utilizing your wits and tactics to outsmart adversaries. • Immerse yourself in atmospheric graphics and immersive sound design, capturing the bleak essence of a post-apocalyptic world. • Arm yourself with an arsenal of diverse weapons and scavenge for valuable loot to enhance your chances of survival. • Shape Max's destiny through a dynamic reputation system, allowing you to choose between acts of compassion or acts of ruthlessness. • Develop Max's skills and attributes through a robust skill point stat system, customizing his abilities to suit your playstyle. • Enjoy an uninterrupted gaming experience with no intrusive ads or in-app purchases. Dive into this gripping post-apocalyptic tale, where your decisions shape the course of Max's journey towards redemption or chaos. Will you navigate the remnants of humanity with empathy and compassion, or will you succumb to the darkness that lurks within? The future lies in your hands. Good luck and have fun!
Pathos
Embark on a challenging roguelike adventure inspired by Nethack's rule set. Select from 13 distinct classes and delve into a perilous dungeon. Your mission is to confront your nemesis in hell and escape with as much treasure as possible.
- Nethack-inspired gameplay
- 13 playable classes
- Deep dungeon exploration
- Defeat nemesis in hell
- Loot collection and escape
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Pathos is a roguelike adventure game inspired by the rule set from Nethack. Choose from 13 classes and journey deep into the dungeon. Descend to hell to defeat your nemesis before escaping the dungeon with all the loot you can carry! Email mailto:hodgskin.callan@gmail.com Twitter https://twitter.com/callan_hodgskin Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/pathos_nethack Discord https://discord.gg/TRhRZhX Made with Invention https://gitlab.com/hodgskin-callan/Invention
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Pathos at Free against Hardboiled's $1.99. Pathos also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 30 months). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
Pathos is free to download; Hardboiled costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Pathos holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pathos has 360 ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Hardboiled's written reviews are positive against 89% of Pathos's.
Hardboiled ships an update every 30 months, Pathos every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hardboiled | Pathos |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.1 (46 ratings) | 4.7 (360 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 74.4% of reviews | 88.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 46 | 360 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 30 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 12.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 147 MB | 142 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Game Dev Team | Callan Hodgskin |
Customer experience
Hardboiled
Pathos
Bugs and requests
Hardboiled
Reported bugs
14 issues- Combat locks you in
- Enemies walk away out of range
- Cannot save game
- Loot disappears after death
- Game crashes during combat
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- Cannot install with Face ID
- Raiders and guardians don't fight each other
- Enemies follow player constantly when attacked
- Cannot escape combat
- Guardians don't protect
- No save zones
- Inventory system unintuitive
- Last encounter is a weak boss
- Spelling mistakes
Requested features
18 requests- More content/levels/chapters
- Sequel with more features
- Save/load feature
- More in-depth character customization
- Perks system
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- Dialogue with NPCs
- Larger world/more maps
- Side quests
- Co-op/multiplayer options
- Tutorial
- Player customization
- More items and loot
- Factions
- Crafting system
- Ability to run away from fights
- GameCenter integration
- Passive skills
- Unique gear
Pathos
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Hardboiled
No in-app purchases
Pathos
No in-app purchases
