# Shadowgate vs FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ

The clearest difference is price: Shadowgate at $2.99 against FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ's $20.99. Shadowgate also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.2) and review sentiment (62% vs 40%). FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ's advantage is ratings volume (1.4K vs 55) and chart position (#77 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Shadowgate costs $2.99 and FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ $20.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Shadowgate holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ has 1.4K ratings behind it against 55, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Shadowgate's written reviews are positive against 40% of FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shadowgate | FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $20.99 |
| Rating | **[4.2 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowgate/id996262760/reviews)** | [3.2 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/final-fantasy/id1041260001/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 55 | **1.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **62.1% of reviews** | 40.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#77** |
| Size | 1.3 GB | 2.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Zojoi](https://appshunter.io/developer/559255765) | [SQUARE ENIX](https://appshunter.io/developer/300186801) |

## What reviewers say

### Shadowgate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowgate/id996262760)

Embark on a perilous quest in a reimagined point-and-click adventure. Solve mind-bending puzzles, explore stunning hand-painted rooms, and choose your playstyle with customizable UI and difficulty levels. Uncover secrets and defeat an ancient evil in this classic reborn.

**Highlights:** Customized UI with modern or classic commands, Four difficulty levels that alter gameplay, First-person adventuring with inventory and mapping, Beautifully illustrated rooms with new and familiar locations, Mind-bending new and updated puzzles, Retro mode with classic graphics and sound, Over 50 player achievements

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Faithful and nostalgic remake
- ✨ Updated graphics and BGM
- 🎮 Great point-and-click adventure
- 💡 Tricky but not impossible puzzles
- 👍 Immersive story and atmosphere

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes on startup/intro
- 📱 Poorly optimized for phones
- 🤏 Small text and hitboxes
- 🥶 Overheats M1 Mac
- 🔄 Crashes when minimizing

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes after intro cinematic
- App closes when minimized
- Force quits on loading
- Game turns black after a minute
- Unplayable on iPhone X

**Requested features**

- Remake Deja Vu and Uninvited
- Add original game as bonus
- Sequel to Shadowgate
- Fix background crash issue
- Add original soundtrack option


### FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/final-fantasy/id1041260001)

**Currently charting:** #77 Top Paid · Role Playing, #156 Top Paid · Adventure (US App Store)

Relive a classic JRPG adventure on your mobile device. Explore a rich story with memorable characters, master unique abilities, and engage in strategic turn-based battles. Discover hidden secrets and enjoy various minigames.

**Highlights:** Learn and master abilities by equipping items, Enter Trance mode for powerful new skills in battle, Combine items and equipment through synthesis, Engage in various minigames like Chocobo Hot and Cold, Utilize game boosters like high speed and no encounter modes, Enjoy high-definition movies and character models

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shadowgate free?

Shadowgate costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ free?

FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ costs $20.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Shadowgate or FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ?

Shadowgate is rated higher. Shadowgate averages 4.2 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ averages 3.2 from 1.4K ratings.

### Do Shadowgate or FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ have ads?

Neither Shadowgate nor FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shadowgate or FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ?

Shadowgate ships an update monthly, and FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ monthly. Most recently, Shadowgate was updated on October 6, 2026 and FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ 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.*