# Almost Chess: Random Boards — AI battles & daily challenges

> Chess with a randomized board layout for a unique tactical challenge. (iPhone/iPad app by hourafter.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/almost-chess-random-boards/id6741071027 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [hourafter](https://appshunter.io/developer/1792872292)
- Category: Games, Board, Strategy
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.1 · 27 MB
- Languages: American English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified, China), Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan)
- Released: 2025-02-02
- Data updated: 2026-10-16
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/almost-chess-random-boards/id6741071027/reviews.md

## What is Almost Chess?

A familiar game. An unfamiliar board. Almost Chess is a chess variant with randomized starting positions, so you can focus on the position in front of you instead of memorized openings.

PLAY YOUR NEXT MOVE
Face AI opponents selected for your in-game rating. Tap a piece to see its legal moves, find tactical opportunities and work toward checkmate. Your rating tracks progress inside Almost Chess; it is not an official chess rating.

A NEW CHALLENGE TO RETURN TO
Try the daily challenge with three attempts per day. Weekly challenges rotate board restrictions for a different way to play. In the Gauntlet, each win brings a stronger opponent; a loss ends your run. Gauntlet games do not allow undo.

MAKE THE BOARD YOURS
Explore random boards with no queens, mirrored positions, pawns or extra chaos. Choose from 12 board themes and track your statistics and achievements.

LANGUAGE OPTIONS
Play in English, Korean, Japanese, Simplified Chinese or Traditional Chinese. Follow your device language or choose a language in Settings.

ADS AND OPTIONAL PURCHASE
Full-screen ads may appear between completed games. Eligible single-player games start with one free undo; you can choose to watch a rewarded ad for one more undo when an ad is available. The optional one-time Remove Ads purchase removes ads and gives unlimited undos in eligible single-player games. It does not add undo to the Gauntlet.

## Key features

- Randomized board layouts
- Single player AI challenges
- Two player local mode
- Daily puzzling positions
- Valid move highlighting
- ELO rating system

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Is Almost Chess safe?

Not enough ratings yet to assess Almost Chess.

## Is Almost Chess legit?

Almost Chess: Random Boards appears legitimate, with a few gaps. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Almost Chess is 73 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data.

## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/almost-chess-random-boards/id6741071027/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Game crashes on stalemate

*2025-04-12, version 1.0*

The game is very fun overall, but crashes everytime the ai gets put into a stalemate.

### 5/5 — Fun Game

*2025-04-12, version 1.0*

No chance to cancel or reset at stalemate. Only delete and reinstall. Pleas fix this issue

### 2/5 — Bug

*2025-04-10, version 1.0*

Games crashes on stalemate

## Frequently asked questions about Almost Chess

### What is Almost Chess?

Almost Chess is a free mobile game that offers a unique twist on the classic game of chess by starting each match with a randomized board layout. It's designed to test tactical thinking and adaptability rather than memorized patterns.

### Does Almost Chess have ads?

No, Almost Chess is ad-free, providing an uninterrupted gaming experience focused on pure chaotic chess fun.

### Can I play Almost Chess offline?

The description mentions a 'Single Player' mode against an AI and a 'Two Player' mode, suggesting offline play is possible for these modes. The 'Daily Challenge' might require an internet connection to fetch the new position.

### How does the ELO rating system work in Almost Chess?

Almost Chess features an ELO rating system, allowing players to climb the ranks in this unconventional version of chess. This system is designed to measure your skill level against other players or the AI.

### What devices does Almost Chess support?

Almost Chess is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, as indicated by its supported devices list.

### How often is Almost Chess updated?

The latest version of Almost Chess is 1.6.1, and it was last updated on April 14, 2026. This indicates a relatively recent update, suggesting ongoing support and development.

### What is the age rating for Almost Chess?

Almost Chess has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of players.

### Is there a way to get hints in Almost Chess?

Yes, Almost Chess includes a 'Valid Move Highlights' feature, which helps players by showing them the legal moves available on the board.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.7.0 — 2026-10-07

• Added Korean, Japanese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.
• Choose your language in Settings or follow your device language.
• Localized game instructions, results and challenges.

### 1.6.5 — 2026-10-05

What's new in 1.6.5

• Full-screen ads now appear between completed games.
• Remove Ads keeps every game ad-free and includes unlimited single-player undos.
• Improved ad loading so unavailable ads never delay the next game.

### 1.6.4 — 2026-09-21

What's new in 1.6.4

• Updated the store information to accurately describe optional rewarded ads and the Remove Ads purchase

### 1.6.3 — 2026-09-15

What's new in 1.6.3

• Fixed several chess rule edge cases so every legal move is available and illegal ones are blocked
• The AI now always answers quickly — no more long thinking pauses
• Game results, streaks and achievements are recorded correctly every time
• Saved games, Daily and Weekly Challenges resume exactly where you left off
• Lots of smaller fixes and polish

### 1.6.2 — 2026-07-23

What's new in 1.6.2

• Daily Challenge fixed: attempts now reset properly every day — no more getting stuck after a tough day
• Weekly Challenge: progress is saved correctly and resumes where you left off
• Your game is now auto-saved after every move — nothing lost if the app closes
• Smarter AI: it now understands pawn promotion and en passant
• Fixed pawn promotion wins not counting toward streaks and stats
• Many smaller fixes: undo, resigning, captured-pieces display, battery use

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## More apps by hourafter

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All apps by hourafter: https://appshunter.io/developer/1792872292

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-10-16.*