# HIARCS Chess — user reviews > 218 indexed App Store user reviews of HIARCS Chess by Applied Computer Concepts Ltd., rated 4.80/5 from 199 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hiarcs-chess/id327708154/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hiarcs-chess/id327708154.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 170 · 4★ 20 · 3★ 2 · 2★ 4 · 1★ 3 ## What do users think of HIARCS Chess? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Strong chess engine - 👍 Human-like play - 🧠 Excellent coaching/analysis features - 🔧 Customizable difficulty levels - 💾 Saves and loads games well - 🎨 Nice visual design **Cons** - 🐛 Crashes and stability issues - 🔍 Lacks advanced features (PGN import/export, database navigation) - 🖼️ Outdated or subpar UI/UX - 💤 Slow move animations - 🤖 Engine strength may be overstated **Commonly reported bugs** - Crashes on certain iOS versions - Discount codes not working - Issues with hotspot mode **Most requested features** - PGN import/export functionality - Advanced database navigation (next/previous game) - Endgame tablebase support - Improved UI/UX for modern devices - More customization options ## Newest reviews (14 of 218) ### 2/5 — Wasting time in a draw game. *2025-12-14, version 13.88* It was a game where I had King, rook and pawn against king and rook. I offered a draw and the app refused. ### 4/5 — Engine is good but UI can be improved *2025-11-20* Engine is working, good and tactics of all defined, and I like it but when comes to UI Move backward and forward options are not visible in iPhone. The steps it might not need it for every user, so that can be hidden and more options. Slider is not visible always. ### 4/5 — No ‘next game’ button :( *2025-09-29, version 13.88* Please add a ‘next game’ button to go to the next game in the current PGN database. The game interface is good enough, but going through games in a database is clunky. A ‘next’ button would make Hiarcs the only chess app I’d need. ### 4/5 — Great but not "fun" *2025-01-19, version 13.88* This is a really great chess program, as far as I, an extremely casual and occasional player, can tell. If I was avid, if I wanted to improve my game dramatically, etc., this would probably be my go-to app. I am no longer willing to invest that many mental resources in a game, however, which makes HIARCS a bit more serious and bare-bones than I'd like. I like knowing that HIARCS can achieve an Elo rating of 3125 on my iPhone 13 Pro Max even though I'll never need it to be anywhere near that strong. For my purposes, though, I'd prefer a "friendlier" app, that I can adjust to move the pieces more slowly and humanlike which would help me keep up with the action without having to regularly step back a move or two to see what just happened; that will show captured pieces, as that's one of my most basic ways to quickly gauge how the game is going; and while I'm at it, my ideal app will not have a forbidding, evil-looking icon (HIARCS's icon is just about as creepy as an iPhone icon can be). If you're looking for pure chess-playing power in an app that has a fair chance of beating a world champion, HIARCS is for you. If you would prefer something friendlier and better suited to the casual player, Then I'd recommend chess(dot)com or a different app. 🙏🏻 ### 2/5 — FEN import. Quick In-PGN games navigation. *2024-12-10, version 13.88* It would be great to have a FEN clipboard/email import function. Back <~> Forward buttons, to navigate already open PGN. ### 4/5 — Super app en cours de test *2024-12-09* Je viens de l’installer pour jouer avec mon millenium EOne M841. Apparement super app mais m’étonne de l’absence de marquage sur l’échiquier qui me semble indispensable et simple à mettre en place, raison de l’étoile en moins. Je passe à 4 étoiles car la version iPhone qui coûte le même prix que la version IPAD ne dispose pas des coordonnées de clavier ce qui est étonnant car toutes les autres app le mettent et sur l’IPAD on en dispose. ### 5/5 — Excellent engine! Human-like. *2024-02-07* I have tried many different engines and Hiarcs is the closest thing to a real human opponent. You can really train at various elo with this app which is not the case for many engines (they cannot tune down elo in a realistic manner.) Congrats to the developper! ### 5/5 — Einer der besten und stärksten Schach Engines *2024-01-07* Egal ob Blutiger Anfänger oder bis hin zum Großmeister ist die stärke individuell einstellbar ,ich spiele so gegen 1400 Elo und drunter spielt Hiracs echt gute Spiele nicht dauernd wie viele Engines dasselbe sondern mit viel Abwechslung so das man dabei auch was lernt top Schach App greift zu sie ist jeden Cent wert. ### 3/5 — HIARCS *2023-10-29* Программа устарела, раньше действительно неплохо играла. Жаль, что забросили…☹️ ### 3/5 — great app but missing chessnut e-board support *2023-10-23* great app but missing chessnut e-board support. as soon it supports the chessnut boards i‘ll swich to 5 stars. ### 5/5 — Merci au développeur anglais ! 🙏 *2023-09-08* Développée par un passionné, je suis fidèle à Hiarcs depuis vingt ans car son style de jeu ressemble beaucoup à celui de la compétition. Il « mime » le jeu humain. J’aimerais pouvoir reprendre un coup par une flèche retour : l’interface reste à ce niveau, à revoir. Le développeur est très à l’écoute ! C’est très rare : j’ai pu échanger qq fois avec lui, c’est un super 👍 bonhomme ! Merci !! ### 5/5 — Best By Far *2023-08-16, version 13.88* I’ve tried several chess apps over the years but this one is the best for me by far. The coaching has taken me forward from beginner and has given me the self confidence to continue learning and growing while having a great deal of fun along the way. All of this without intrusive tracking or ads. Try it, you’ll never need another one. ### 4/5 — Fantastic engine but annoying animations *2023-07-02, version 13.88* This chess app is fantastic, I plan to buy the desktop version soon. The adaptive rating makes it feel like you’re playing another real person, and it improves as you do. The only issue is the in-app animations, they flip the whole screen around and look super old and dated. Please fix this in the next update! ### 5/5 — Excellent Chess Game *2023-06-04, version 13.88* HIARCS is a no BS chess game. It has a vast database of moves and provides excellent coaching advice. Also, there are no constant reminders to purchase upgrades! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — There is no feedback from the developer. *2025-10-02, version 13.88* It would be great to have a FEN clipboard/email import function. Back <~> Forward buttons, to navigate already open PGN. ### 1/5 — Discount code not working *2025-08-26, version 13.88* If you are purchasing this product thinking you might get it for free once you purchase the PC/Mac version do not waste your money. The code does not work. Before purchasing product I contacted customer support involving another issue and have not received a reply. I am sure if I sent a message to customer service involving this issue I am sure the result will be the same. Customer service for Hiarcs prove me wrong. ### 1/5 — There is no feedback from the developer. *2025-07-01, version 13.88* It would be great to have a FEN clipboard/email import function. Back <~> Forward buttons, to navigate already open PGN. By the way, discount codes for Chess Explorer do not work. ### 1/5 — Th most unintuitive interface ever *2025-04-09, version 13.88* This tap is a complete disaster in terms of UI. Even if you try to make it worse you will fail. Unbelievably frustrating to deal with. ### 1/5 — There is no feedback from the developer. *2025-04-02, version 13.88* It would be great to have a FEN clipboard/email import function. Back <~> Forward buttons, to navigate already open PGN. ### 1/5 — Not upto date *2023-12-29, version 13.88* Hiarcs has not bern updated for ages and it has fallen behind. Also currently there are issues with uploading and running it. ### 1/5 — Oui mais dommage *2021-04-27* L’application est très bien surtout pour les personnes comme moi qui possède un échiquier électronique de la marque millenium, elle aurais mérité les cinq étoiles malheureusement je ne mets qu’une seule étoile car je trouve scandaleux de payé deux fois pour la même application sur iPhone et iPad. ### 1/5 — Crashes frequently *2020-03-13, version 13.82* Does not appear to be compatible with 13.3.1. Have tried reinstalling but that does not work. Don’t recommend buying until an update to fix the app is released. ### 1/5 — Very poor :–( *2018-12-29* This app for iPhone does NOT connect to the Millenium M2000 Chess board although it was announced. No support from Apple, no replacement. I spend 10,99 Euro for a non working app ... extremely disappointing. ### 1/5 — New iPhones not supported *2018-12-02* Update your chess GUI based on an open source project now - and support latest iPhone resolutions . ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Enjoying getting back to chess *2026-05-28, version 13.88* Excellent chess App. I havent played for years and enjoy setting the FIDE rating on this App to see what my current level is. ### 5/5 — Mieux que Stock Fish et suffisamment bien pour moi . Plus rapide que stock fish et plus tactique . *2026-03-08* Le Best selon moi . ### 5/5 — Bonne application *2025-12-08* Très bon ### 5/5 — Très bien *2025-05-02* Très bien ! Agréable et Convivial ! ### 5/5 — Hiarcs *2025-02-15, version 13.88* Great chess program for iPhone and Mac , strong and can be adjusted to a strength near to your own standard ### 5/5 — Top *2025-01-12* insgesamt erfüllt es sehr gut den Zweck als Alternative zu einem Schachcomputer in Ergänzung mit einem E-Board. Die Menüführung ist noch etwas old school, aber ansonsten alles gut. Ich vermisse nur die Ansicht meines eigenen Profils, mit meiner Spielstatistik. ### 5/5 — Klasse mit Feedback *2024-06-12* Gut und auch für nicht so erfahrene ### 5/5 — Top Schach-App *2024-02-18* Ganz tolle Schach-App, die wunderbar mit meinem Millenium Exclusive-Brett funktioniert. Jeden Cent wert, weiter so! ### 5/5 — Nice app, looking for an update *2024-02-13* I have enjoyed playing chess on this app. Would love to see some innovation and updates. ### 5/5 — Etwas altbacken, aber schöner Spielstil *2024-02-08* Das UI sollte dringend moderner werden, aber sonst gut. Vorschläge: Dark Mode, Brettkoordinaten, Analyse mit Pfeifen usw. --- *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 2026-09-01.*