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

Idle Magic Academy vs Almost a Hero

Idle Magic Academy 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Idle Magic Academy
Almost a Hero 4.8★ · Free + IAP 60

Idle Magic Academy is the better choice for players seeking a more actively updated and responsive idle game, despite its own content limitations, while Almost a Hero suffers from a perceived lack of developer support and persistent bugs.

Full reviews: Idle Magic Academy · Almost a Hero

Idle Magic Academy offers an engaging, Harry Potter-inspired idle experience with responsive developers, but many users hit content walls waiting for updates. Almost a Hero, while praised for its F2P friendliness and unique art, is plagued by crashing issues and a perceived abandonment by developers, despite a recent patch.

Head to head

Features & Content tieR2R3R7R8
Idle Magic Academy Users enjoy the magic-themed gameplay and find it addictive, comparing it to Harry Potter . However, a significant number of players report reaching the end of available content quickly, waiting for new maps and updates for months R2R3R8R11. Some find certain levels, like Winter Land, to be too difficult or slow to progress R7.
Almost a Hero Almost a Hero is praised for its original art style, engaging gameplay, and replayability, with various heroes, gear, artifacts, and pets R55. However, many users express concern about a lack of new content and updates, with some believing the game has been abandoned by developers R54.
Ease of Use & Reliability edge: Idle Magic AcademyR1R4R6R9
Idle Magic Academy Many users experience frequent crashes, especially after reaching certain levels or updates R1R4R6. Some report glitches with specific game elements, like shops not having students or ads not loading R9. There are also complaints about a lack of in-game guides . However, some users note that developers have been responsive in fixing issues R36R37.
Almost a Hero Almost a Hero is plagued by significant reliability issues, including frequent crashes at loading screens or during gameplay, especially on iOS 15 . A recurring bug involves an unclosable purchase pop-up that prevents users from playing . Some users also report losing progress or having issues with cloud saves .
Price & Value tieR9R13R30R55
Idle Magic Academy The game is free with in-app purchases (IAP). Some users consider buying the ad-free option but are hesitant due to glitches R9. One user reported fewer rewards after purchasing something in-app to remove ads R30. There are also concerns about the lack of account binding for safeguarding purchases R13.
Almost a Hero Almost a Hero is considered F2P friendly with optional ads R55. However, some users find the game pushy with microtransactions . There are serious accusations of untrustworthy microtransaction deals, with users being charged more than the advertised price . Some users wish for an option to pay to remove ads .
Support & Updates edge: Idle Magic AcademyR2R3R5R11
Idle Magic Academy Many users are actively waiting for updates and new content, with some noting the last update was months ago R2R3R5R11. However, developers are noted as responsive, with some users reporting that issues they raised were fixed R36R37. There's a lack of in-game support or account binding R13.
Almost a Hero A major point of contention for Almost a Hero is the perceived lack of developer support and updates, with many reviews stating the last update was two years ago R54. While a recent patch was noted by one user, offering a glimmer of hope R52, the overall sentiment is that the game is abandoned. Users also report issues with cross-platform account transfers .
Pick Idle Magic Academy if

You enjoy Harry Potter-themed idle games and appreciate developers who respond to bug reports, even if content updates can be slow R36R37.

Pick Almost a Hero if

You are looking for a free-to-play friendly idle game with unique art and engaging mechanics, and are willing to overlook potential stability issues and a slower update cycle R55.

Evidence note: Reviews for both apps show a common theme of users reaching the end of available content and waiting for updates, indicating a general challenge in keeping idle games fresh. Almost a Hero's recent reviews are heavily skewed negative due to persistent crashing and perceived abandonment, despite a higher lifetime rating.

Frequently asked

Do these games have offline progression?
Idle Magic Academy's reviews do not explicitly state whether it has offline progression, but one user mentioned that ads sometimes fail to load for away earnings in Almost a Hero, implying it does have an offline earning mechanic, though another user claimed nothing is gained offline R75R65.
Are there any known bugs or glitches?
Idle Magic Academy users report frequent crashes, especially after updates or reaching certain levels, and issues with ads not loading or shops not populating R1R4R6R9. Almost a Hero is widely reported to crash at loading screens, freeze due to unclosable purchase pop-ups, and have issues with cloud saves and specific game stages .
Are the developers responsive to feedback and bug fixes?
Idle Magic Academy developers are noted for being responsive and fixing reported issues R36R37. In contrast, Almost a Hero users frequently complain about a lack of updates and perceived abandonment by developers, though one review noted a recent patch R52R54.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 100 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. [R2] Idle Magic Academy 4/5 · GB When is the new maps going to be added?: I gave this game a 4/5 because you can only go so far before you are doing the same thing over and over. It’s a fun game and super easy to play but sadly it gets a bit boring and tedious after a while when you can’t progress. There is a new map called Shadow isles but it’s not loading and has been there for a while now, is there going to be any updates on
  2. [R3] Idle Magic Academy 3/5 · GB A lot fun but needs updating more often: I’ve had a lot of fun with this game but I’ve reached max and unlocked almost everything and have so many resources that are going unused. When is the 5th area being unlocked and please add plenty of updates or new things to use Holy Water/Orange Gems on
  3. [R7] Idle Magic Academy 1/5 · GB ?: Gra beznadziejna. O ile dwa poerwsze poziomy były ok, to trzeci poziom jest nie do przejścia. Nikt nie będzie spędzał długich tygodni, przyciskając w kółko dwa mniejsca, aby uzbierać na jeden element. Sala Wizard equipment zawsze po odpaleniu gry jest pusta, potem musze czekać pół godziny, aż napełni się uczniami. Co mam robić w tym czasie? W tej grze nie ma absolutnie nic do roboty. Absolutn
  4. [R8] Idle Magic Academy 5/5 · GB When is the last school open?: I’ve been playing this game for a long time and have maxed out everything on the first 4 maps and it’s been great. But for the longest time I’ve just gone into the game to see if the last map is open yet because I can’t do anything else. It’s a really cool game, perfect little idle adventure, but I am so ready for the last map!
  5. [R1] Idle Magic Academy 1/5 · GB Turning off: Bit disappointed get to a certain level and then when ever it loads up it crashes and the app closes tried reinstalling and still does the same after a certain level in game
  6. [R4] Idle Magic Academy 1/5 · GB Awful: I never really leave negative reviews but having said that, this game deserves it. I have no idea if this is a good game or not as every time I try and open the app, it crashes straight away. I have had it installed for three days and it keeps on doing the same thing.
  7. [R6] Idle Magic Academy 3/5 · GB I did love it but No longer works: App doesn’t open since the last update
  8. [R9] Idle Magic Academy 3/5 · GB Ad free: Was thinking of buying ad free but game ha a lot of glitches and can’t zoom in and out. Other than that good game I guess.
  9. [R13] Idle Magic Academy 1/5 · GB Essential updates?: Was about to make purchases but there is no way to safeguard them as no save progress to another device. Why is there no account binding? Also no support within game. Please don’t expect players to purchase packs until this is remedied.
  10. [R30] Idle Magic Academy 4/5 · GB Good game: Only been playing for a day but i am addicted. Its the first apple game i have purchased something inside the app. I did it so didnt have to keep watching ads to get money but since buying this i have had less rewards which is disappointing.
  11. [R55] Almost a Hero 5/5 · US F2P friendly!: This game’s original art style and gameplay is top notch! I can see myself playing this for a long time. And, it’s completely F2P with optional ads. I’m loving the game so far. :>
  12. [R5] Idle Magic Academy 5/5 · GB So frustrating: Got so excited that the game was updated today but literally just bug fixes and no expansion….When will the next level be ready??? Been waiting way too long !!!!!
  13. [R11] Idle Magic Academy 5/5 · GB When will the last school on the map be added?: Really like this game. It’s by far the best idle game that I have played. But I am now on the last map and unlocked pretty much all that I can and when I looked at the map the next level just says Update coming soon and has been like that for months now. Please can you tell me when the next update will be so that I can finally move on to the last sch
  14. [R65] Almost a Hero 1/5 · US Idle… maybe: Downloaded the game, played for awhile, stopped once I realized the game is only idle when it’s on your screen. nothing gained offline.
  15. [R75] Almost a Hero 1/5 · US Great game - broken ads: I haven’t played in a few days, I login and queue up the ad to increase my away earnings, and it errors out, leaving me with NO AWAY EARNINGS AT ALL. Fix your game and give me what I earned, uninstalling until then.
  16. [R36] Idle Magic Academy 5/5 · GB Fab game, responsive developers!: Really good game! Cant wait to continue playing!! Would highly recommend 😁 Previously updated the game after playing for a while, unfortunately is kept freezing! Left a review saying my issue, developers have fixed the issue & let me know! Fantastic! I don't leave many reviews as most don't reply or listen to issues, so was nice to see 👍🏻 Perfect, keep up the go
  17. [R37] Idle Magic Academy 5/5 · GB Game not working. ☹️ / It works! 🤗: After the last update V1.7, the game stopped loading. ☹️ Update: Thank you! With version 1.8, the game works again! 🤗 · translated
  18. [R52] Almost a Hero 5/5 · US Will there be updates?: Hello developers. Could you please tell me if there will be regular updates for the game? I was tracking them and the last one was two years ago, but now I see a patch was released a week ago. There's hope the game will live on! · translated
  19. [R54] Almost a Hero 1/5 · US Good game but dead: Last update was 2 years ago but they still keep this game up to milk peoples money. If you play this game, do not spend a penny. It's definitely not worth it and developers already abandoned this game now they're just greedy

Synthesized from 100 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store