# Esfera Chess — 3D Spherical Strategy Game > 3D spherical chess game with unique strategic challenges and interactive learning. (iPhone/iPad app by Squz.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esfera-chess/id411270782 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Squz](https://appshunter.io/developer/355300334) - Category: Games, Education, Board, Strategy - Price: Free - Rating: 4.40/5 from 11 App Store ratings · 25 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 16.0 · 7 MB - Released: 2011-01-03 - Data updated: 2026-09-06 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esfera-chess/id411270782/reviews.md ## What is Esfera Chess? Chess reimagined on a sphere. Two armies clash on a geodesic world of 132 hexagonal and pentagonal cells — familiar pieces, completely new strategy. Every piece you know from chess is here — kings, queens, rooks, bishops, knights, and pawns — but the curved surface changes everything. There are no edges, no corners, and no safe back rank. Attacks come from every direction. PLAY LOCALLY Challenge the built-in AI, or pass-and-play with a friend on the same device. Pick your color before every game. LEARN An interactive 10-step tutorial teaches every piece type hands-on. Tap a piece to see where it can move. An in-game rules reference is always available. FEATURES - 132-cell geodesic sphere with translucent surface - Pinch to zoom, swipe to rotate, two-finger twist - Animated piece movements with auto-rotating globe - Cinematic intro sequence - Sound effects for moves, captures, and check - Full iPad support - No ads. No pay-to-win. Just chess on a sphere. ## Key features - 132-cell geodesic sphere board - Familiar chess pieces, new strategy - Local AI and pass-and-play modes - Interactive 10-step tutorial - Animated piece movements - Full iPad support ## Recent user reviews (10 of 25) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esfera-chess/id411270782/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Fascinating Take on the game of chess. *2026-03-28* This is chess reinvented. I love the interpretation of this the pieces move across the sphere. Certainly makes your brain work in new ways. Love it. ### 5/5 — Wild! *2026-03-06* This game is nuts! I’ve seen spherical chess games before but they just wrap a square grid around a sphere. Boring as. This is like nothing I’ve ever seen before! The moves are super cool, especially the queen (omg!). Can you do multiplayer? ### 5/5 — Surprisingly addictive *2026-03-06* Downloaded expecting a novelty, ended up playing way more than I planned. The geometry is surprisingly deep and the controls are smooth. Worth it if you like strategy games. Would be epic to play online against friends. ### 1/5 — Can’t work on iOS 14 *2020-12-22* Please update the game. I loved it on my old phone but I want to play it on my new one. ### 5/5 — Wow *2017-09-13* The most complicated mode of chess I have witnessed or played. Serious mind fcuck. Lots of fun, but seriously mind warping. ### 5/5 — Fun *2016-12-30* It's good because people can look over my shoulder and ask what I'm doing and then I feel smart ### 5/5 — One problem *2016-01-07* Cannot attack when in "check". Please fix? Great game! I love it. ### 3/5 — Great visual concept *2014-03-05* This is an excellent adaption of chess, but what it gains from the design and execution, it loses from complexity. Possible moves are very difficult to understand without the "preview". Auto-rotation sphere after computer turn is confusing, too quick and should toggled on/off. Flipping pieces which are on the underside is cute but adds to the confusion. ### 4/5 — Very fun, quite addictive *2013-07-07* Ummm...settings? Difficulty levels? Ability to store old games or at least game results? There are no settings or preferences of any kind. It seems like a no brainer to at least be able to choose difficulty. Unless I'm missing something. Otherwise very fun, transfixing even. Rotation of the sphere is fluid and easy. Pretty hard but I beat the computer on the 2nd game, I hope it stays challenging. One other gripe, every time the computer plays the view shifts very fast to where you last played. Too fast, it's disorienting. It would be great if it transitioned a lot more slowly, maybe even be able to adjust the speed. ### 5/5 — Brilliant concept *2013-01-23* Scintillating idea. Streamlined controls and sublime visuals synthesise to create an almost perfect experience. Still a few minor flaws that need to be ironed out - en passant currently fails to exist (even as an optional rule), the AI's response to a human move is easily missed if the board is inadvertently rotated, etc at the time (an option to highlight the computer's last move, as exists in DeepGreen for example, would be an largely invaluable addition). A stronger AI engine would also be an ideal improvement, the current version appears to be almost exclusively preoccupied with advancing its pawns in response to virtually any move - an intriguingly consternating strategy that, rather surprisingly, fails to actually be effective whatsoever. With these improvements this could easily be marketed as an extremely worthwhile paid app (which it would be, this being the point). ## Frequently asked questions about Esfera Chess ### What makes Esfera Chess different from traditional chess? Esfera Chess is played on a 3D spherical board with 132 cells, eliminating edges and corners. This creates unique strategic challenges as attacks can come from any direction, unlike the fixed board of traditional chess. ### Can I play Esfera Chess offline? Yes, Esfera Chess can be played offline. You can challenge the built-in AI or use the pass-and-play mode to play with a friend on the same device without an internet connection. ### How does Esfera Chess teach new players? Esfera Chess features an interactive 10-step tutorial designed to teach every piece type hands-on. It also includes an in-game rules reference for quick access to information. ### What devices is Esfera Chess available on? Esfera Chess is available on both iPhone and iPad devices, offering full iPad support for an enhanced experience. ### Does Esfera Chess have ads? No, Esfera Chess is ad-free. The developers state 'No ads. No pay-to-win. Just chess on a sphere.' ### What is the age rating for Esfera Chess? Esfera Chess has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of players. ### How often is Esfera Chess updated? The latest version, 2.0, was released on March 5, 2026, indicating active development and updates for the game. ### What are the controls for navigating the spherical board in Esfera Chess? The game allows for intuitive navigation with pinch-to-zoom, swipe-to-rotate, and two-finger twist gestures to explore the 3D spherical board. ## Version history (last 3 releases) ### 2.0 — 2026-03-05 Esfera Chess 2.0 — completely rebuilt from the ground up. - New cinematic intro sequence - Interactive 10-step tutorial - Improved AI opponent - Two-finger rotation - Sound effects for moves, captures, and check - Pass-and-play local multiplayer - Full iPad support ### 1.1 — 2013-11-17 * Tap your opponent's pieces to see possible moves. * Fixed crash on iOS7 * Full screen support on iPhone 5 and later ### 1.0 — 2011-01-03 No release notes. ## More apps by Squz - [MultiMaze](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/multimaze/id355300331) - [Your World](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/your-world/id412566625) All apps by Squz: https://appshunter.io/developer/355300334 ## Related topics [esfera chess](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/esfera-chess) --- *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 2026-09-06.*