Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Retro Bowl vs BASEBALL 9

Retro Bowl 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Retro Bowl
BASEBALL 9 4.5★ · Free + IAP 60

Retro Bowl is the better choice for a more consistently enjoyable and less frustrating sports simulation experience, despite some reported bugs and balance issues.

Full reviews: Retro Bowl · BASEBALL 9

Retro Bowl offers an addictive and fun football management experience with deep dynasty mode and customization, though some users report bugs and balance issues. BASEBALL 9 provides engaging baseball gameplay but is heavily criticized for its aggressive monetization, slow progression, and perceived rigged mechanics.

Head to head

Gameplay Experience & Fun edge: Retro BowlR5R8R9R10
Retro Bowl Retro Bowl is widely praised as fun, addictive, and the best mobile football game, allowing players to build a legacy R8R50. Users enjoy the customization options and the challenge of leading a team R5R41. However, some find the gameplay repetitive without updates, leading to boredom once they get good R18. Interceptions are a frequent complaint, with some feeling they are unrealistic or rigged R9R10.
BASEBALL 9 BASEBALL 9 is described as fun, amazing, and the best mobile baseball game by many users R71. Hitting homers is satisfying, and the game offers cool earnable items R71. Conversely, a significant number of reviews describe the game as 'ragebait,' 'trash,' 'terrible,' and 'rigged' R61R79. Common complaints include outfielders making impossible catches, unfair umpire calls, and an inability to hit or win games, especially at higher levels R61R68R72.
Reliability & Bugs tieR6R7R11R19
Retro Bowl Retro Bowl users report various bugs and technical issues, including the game freezing and becoming unplayable on Mac R6, lagging R7, not loading or crashing on iOS R19, and issues with in-app purchases not delivering coins R27. Some also mention problems with team selection resetting R11 or franchises being lost .
BASEBALL 9 BASEBALL 9 has fewer explicit reports of crashes or unplayability, but one user noted it wouldn't work after upgrading to a newer iPhone model . There are also reports of badges being taken away and not receiving purchased or earned gems . One user mentioned a very long download time .
Progression & Monetization edge: Retro BowlR3R5R10R27
Retro Bowl Retro Bowl offers an 'unlimited version' which users find cheap and worth it R5R35R41. Some users report issues with purchasing the unlimited version R3 or not receiving purchased coins R27. There are complaints about the salary cap system R10 and a feeling that draft picks are being nerfed to push microtransactions . One user mistook a potential future version for a monthly subscription .
BASEBALL 9 BASEBALL 9 is heavily criticized for its grindy progression system and aggressive monetization R70R79R85. Users feel that advancement becomes incredibly slow in higher leagues, forcing them to spend money to make progress R70R85R87. The game is perceived as rigged to encourage spending R79. Prices for in-app purchases are considered ridiculous by some .
Features & Customization edge: Retro BowlR5R18R24R26
Retro Bowl Retro Bowl offers fun customization options R5R41 and a deep dynasty mode . Users appreciate features like player injuries, trades, retirement, and drafts . However, many request more features, such as different routes, more dialogue, punt/onside kick returns, bigger rosters, more defensive positions, league leaders stats, online multiplayer, and controller support R18R24R26.
BASEBALL 9 BASEBALL 9 allows players to earn cool items and customize bats R71. Users request features like a home run derby , the ability to play with friends , and controller support . One user mentioned the inability to have two teams on the same device .
Pick Retro Bowl if

you want an addictive and highly-rated football management game with a one-time, cheap premium upgrade and a focus on building a legacy R5R8R35.

Pick BASEBALL 9 if

you are a dedicated baseball fan looking for a mobile game with satisfying hitting mechanics and item collection, and are prepared for a significant grind or potential in-app purchases to progress R71.

Evidence note: Retro Bowl has a much larger volume of ratings, which contributes to more diverse feedback. BASEBALL 9's reviews show a strong negative skew towards monetization and perceived unfair gameplay mechanics, despite a good lifetime rating.

Frequently asked

Is Retro Bowl free to play?
Yes, Retro Bowl is free to download and play, but offers an 'unlimited version' via in-app purchase that many users find cheap and worth it R5R35R41R50.
Does BASEBALL 9 require in-app purchases to progress?
While BASEBALL 9 is free to play and allows earning items without paying, many users report that progression becomes extremely slow and grindy in higher leagues, effectively pushing players towards in-app purchases to advance R70R71R85R87.
Are there common bugs in Retro Bowl?
Yes, common bugs in Retro Bowl include the game freezing or crashing on Mac and iOS devices, issues with in-app purchases not delivering items, and problems with team selection or lost franchises R6R7R11R19.
Do users feel BASEBALL 9 gameplay is fair?
Many users feel BASEBALL 9 gameplay is not fair, describing it as 'rigged' due to issues like impossible outfield catches, unfair umpire calls, and difficulty hitting or winning games, especially when the game seems to manipulate outcomes R61R68R72R79.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R5] Retro Bowl 5/5 · US Amazing game buying the unlimited version is so worth it and cheap: Customizing is very fun and lots of options
  2. [R8] Retro Bowl 5/5 · US Fun: The game is fun i like how you can build a legacy 67
  3. [R9] Retro Bowl 3/5 · US Bullshiddo: Play choices a bad in critical situations. Need to be able to pick plays, not the game. I guess after you win it all, your star QB becomes the king of interceptions by defenders no where near the ball.
  4. [R10] Retro Bowl 1/5 · US GARBAGE: Lopsided and lamest football game ever! Interceptions are out of control, extremely uneven play. The token/salary cap system sucks hard, trades are weak af much like this game. Don’t waste the download.
  5. [R6] Retro Bowl 3/5 · US PLEASE FIX ON MAC: This game is so much fun but recently has completely bugged out on Mac and is officially unplayable. The games glitches out and freezes, you cant look through the menus or even click anything. Please fix.
  6. [R7] Retro Bowl 1/5 · US Bad game: Game kept lagging and everytime I scored a touchdown and a 2pt the other team would score the exact same amount
  7. [R11] Retro Bowl 4/5 · US I’m mad: Whenever I click on the team I want to start with for a new save, it automatically chooses a random team that I do not wish to have. If you are able to fix this problem, I will consider making my review 5 stars
  8. [R19] Retro Bowl 1/5 · US Won’t load: I click the game and it opens them immediately crashes what do I do? I can only run on iOS 12
  9. [R3] Retro Bowl 3/5 · US Review: It will not let me buy the unlimited version
  10. [R27] Retro Bowl 3/5 · US Please fix this: It would be a five star but every time I purchase coins it doesn’t give me the coins and I bought 250 coins twice and I didn’t receive them. So please fix this.
  11. [R18] Retro Bowl 3/5 · US Repetitive play Without Crucial Updates: The game is an excellent style of football, it’s unique and without a doubt is one of the top games to download. HOWEVER, updates are needed for people to consistently play and take it to the next level! ADD MORE DIFFERENT ROUTES, ADD MORE DIALOGUE, ADD THE ABILITY TO RETURN PUNTS AND ONSIDE KICKS, MAKE THE ROSTER BIGGER, DEVELOPER LISTEN TO THE FANS PLEEEE
  12. [R24] Retro Bowl 3/5 · US Fix Onside Kick Conditional: Change your onside kick conditional to if quarter == 4 && deficitExists. Not deficit >= x or time left <= y. If it is the 4th quarter and I have a deficit I should be allowed to onside kick. Period.
  13. [R26] Retro Bowl 4/5 · US Great: I love the game very fun and on some games challenging, no ads which is obviously great, but there is one thing I would like them to add, a way for people to play against other people or friends.
  14. [R35] Retro Bowl 5/5 · US Great game: I love this game. One of my all time favorites. Lots of fun with premium too. Overall a fun game!
  15. [R41] Retro Bowl 5/5 · US Loyalty mechanic for players: Me and my brother have loved this game for so long, just the fact you can customize players names and stuff is amazing, even the premium is so cheap even a 8 year old could buy it easily with change he found on the floor, but one thing that would make me and a lot over players stay with this game forever is if you a loyalty system where players or coaches if they like
  16. [R50] Retro Bowl 5/5 · US PEAK: This is the best mobile game ever it’s so addicting you can choose your favorite team s to play on to this game Is free which is even better
  17. [R70] BASEBALL 9 1/5 · US Things that need improved!!!: I’ve played Baseball 9 for years, and it’s one of the best mobile baseball games available. The gameplay is fun, the controls are smooth, and it’s easy to get hooked. Unfortunately, the progression system has become so grindy that it’s taken the enjoyment out of the game. The biggest issue is the reward and upgrade system. Once you reach the higher leagues, leveling
  18. [R71] BASEBALL 9 5/5 · US Best baseball game: Like there’s nothing that I really need to say BASEBALL 9 is just a great game. It’s fun. It’s cool items in the game that you can earn and you can get items without needing to pay real money which is a great thing.
  19. [R85] BASEBALL 9 1/5 · US Grind fest: While the game mechanics are fun, there are a few things which are unintuitive, and take some googling to work out (e.g. how to use exp potions. However, by the far the biggest problem with the game is the scaling. Where you initially make rapid progress, within 40 games your pace has slowed considerably, and by 10 games into your second season, you’re going to have to start shelling
  20. [R87] BASEBALL 9 3/5 · GB Great game but..: This game is great one of the best out there however it costs far too much for everything and feels like you have to grind for years and years just to get anywhere and most that cost an absolute fortune shouldn’t even be costly at all so sadly this game will get boring take a zero off all the purchasing item etc
  21. [R61] BASEBALL 9 1/5 · US Literally ragebait: It’s a fun game when you do good, but the outfielders can make a 30 ft diving catch and still catch on the easiest difficulty. Every time it goes to the outfield they catch it this game is the dumbest thing ever
  22. [R68] BASEBALL 9 4/5 · US Jordan: We need abs review because I threw a pitch and it called it a ball that hit the zone and the umpires suck
  23. [R72] BASEBALL 9 3/5 · US Great game ,but one problem: So when I hit it into the outfield and it hits the ground before it hits the outfielders glove it counts it as in out. It’s always doing this when it is close to the glove and hits the ground it’s in out, but other than that the game is addicting and fun.
  24. [R79] BASEBALL 9 1/5 · US Terrible: rigged, awful umpires, rigged ABs/ outcomes... bad game... rigged for you to spend money

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store