Report updated Apr 17, 2026
Gleam of Fire Plus+
For retro gaming enthusiasts and fans of challenging 2D platformers who appreciate high-polish, skill-based action.
Gleam of Fire Plus+ is an established games app that is a paid app. With a 3.7/5 rating from 286 reviews, it shows polarized user reception. Users particularly appreciate core gameplay experience, though monetization and ads remains a common concern.
What is Gleam of Fire Plus+?
Current Momentum
v2.0 · 17mo ago
ZombieGleam of Fire Plus+ remade World 1-1 and introduced a new checkpoint system in its last major update. The app is currently in a zombie state with no new features since 2019.
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
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What Are The Key Features?
Unique 2D platformer bow shooting where gravity shifts as you charge arrows in mid-air.
Fluid combat mechanics allowing players to chain sword attacks and special skills.
Full support for external gamepads to enhance the retro arcade experience.
How much does it cost?
- $3.99 (iOS)
- $2.49 (Android)
- Reward-based ads
The app uses a hybrid model that is causing significant friction: an upfront premium price combined with reward-based ads for revives. This contradicts the 'Plus+' branding which usually implies an ad-free experience.
Who Built It?
Su Min Kim
Developing stylized dark fantasy RPGs with accessible one-touch controls. Focused on delivering high-speed action and strategic depth to mobile players.
Portfolio
7
Apps
What other apps does Su Min Kim make?
Explore the full Su Min Kim report
Portfolio breakdown, audience, momentum, and every app published by Su Min Kim.
What do users think recently?
High confidence · 40 reviews analyzed
How did the latest release land?
What is the recent mood?
Recent user voice shows a mixed sentiment. Users appreciate core gameplay experience, but report monetization and ads and control issues.
Limited review volume (40 reviews). Sentiment analysis will deepen as more data lands.
View the full user-sentiment analysis
Mood gauge, ratings & review-volume history, every praise / complaint / request, and sentiment over time.
What is the competitive landscape for Gleam of Fire Plus+?
How's The Games Market?
How does it evolve in the Games market?
Rank progression
105 active rankings tracked — 30-day window
The rivals identified
The outtake for Gleam of Fire Plus+
Strengths to defend, gaps to attack
Core Strengths
- Unique gravity-shifting bow mechanics
- High-performance 60 FPS rendering
- Strong aesthetic and musical polish
Critical Frictions
- Low level count (30) vs competitors (89+)
- Broken Bluetooth controller support
- Conflicting monetization strategy (Ads in paid app)
Growth Levers
- Level Editor implementation to increase replayability
- RPG/Equipment systems to deepen progression
- Metroidvania-style world expansion
Market Threats
- High-value rogue-lites (Dead Cells) dominating the premium space
- Platform removal risk on iOS due to lack of updates since 2019
What are the next best moves?
Remove reward ads for paid users
Monetization is the #1 complaint theme; users feel betrayed by ads in a paid title, leading to a 'declining' sentiment trend.
Fix Bluetooth and Virtual Control mapping
Technical failures in controls are a medium-frequency complaint that directly undermines the 'precision control' value proposition.
Develop an Endless Mode or Level Editor
Competitors like Apple Knight (Level Editor) and Goblin Sword (89 levels) offer significantly more content than Gleam of Fire's 30 levels.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- Level Editor (available in Apple Knight)
- Endless Mode (available in Apple Knight)
- RPG/Equipment customization (available in Goblin Sword)
- Weapon leveling system (available in Cally's Caves 4)
- Metroidvania exploration (available in Castlevania: SotN)
Key Takeaways
Gleam of Fire Plus+ has a brilliant mechanical core but is suffering from a 'maintenance mode' identity crisis. If the developer does not resolve the monetization friction and fix the broken controller support, the app will continue to lose ground to more content-rich competitors like Goblin Sword.
Where Is It Heading?
Declining
User sentiment is 'Frustrated' due to the introduction of ads in a paid title.
Recent updates focused on SDK/billing maintenance rather than content expansion.
iOS version has not been updated since Feb 2019, indicating potential abandonment.