# Penrose stairs — Chess-Like BoardGame

> Two-player chess-like board game with paradoxical Escher-inspired visuals. (iPhone/iPad app by Johannes Loeffler.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penrose-stairs/id1090010583 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Johannes Loeffler](https://appshunter.io/developer/967323440)
- Category: Games, Education, Board, Strategy
- Price: $2.99 with in-app purchases
- Rating: 1.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 9.0 · 11 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2016-05-18
- Data updated: 2026-06-27
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penrose-stairs/id1090010583/reviews.md

## What is Penrose stairs?

*PenroseStairs* is a  "chess-like" board game for two players.
The game boards are paradoxical scenes of impossible stairs, similar to the drawings of M. C. Escher.
Animatable representations of these optical illusions open up the possibility for a new, unique board game:
  --- The 2 players try to stack their blocks and eliminate their opponent's blocks by jumping on them ---
The strategy can be to block the other player's moves first.
You can play a turn-based or a non-turn-based game. 
PenroseStairs supports Game Center, so you can play online with friends.

Two different 1-player training modes allow you to improve your skills:
- In the first mode you try to follow an arrow, the race continues as long as you are fast enough and don't make a wrong move.
- In the second mode you'll try to stack a marked block in a specific position, a stacking exercise.

## Key features

- Chess-like strategy gameplay
- Paradoxical board designs
- Block stacking and elimination
- Turn-based and real-time modes
- Online multiplayer via Game Center
- Single-player training modes

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: $2.99.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Level 0 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Level 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Levels | $19.99 | one-time |
| Level 3 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Level 2 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Level 4 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Level 0 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Level 5 | $5.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penrose-stairs/id1090010583/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Still, no instructions!

*2018-09-26*

I just can’t stand it when developers put out apps without instructions. I guess they get their jollies this way.

### 1/5 — No instructions

*2016-06-16*

I downloaded this app thinking it looked cool.  I cannot figure out how it works.  I found a setup screen but again it is NOT obvious what and how to use it.  This app is useless without this info..

**Developer response:** The new version includes a helper function and also demonstrations of the race, stack and chess modes.

## Frequently asked questions about Penrose stairs

### What is Penrose stairs?

Penrose stairs is a two-player board game featuring a chess-like strategy where players stack and eliminate blocks on paradoxical game boards inspired by M.C. Escher's impossible stairs.

### How do you play Penrose stairs?

Players aim to stack their blocks and eliminate the opponent's blocks by jumping on them. Strategic blocking of opponent's moves is a key tactic. The game supports both turn-based and real-time play.

### Can I play Penrose stairs online?

Yes, Penrose stairs supports Game Center, allowing you to play online with friends. This feature enables online multiplayer matches.

### Does Penrose stairs have single-player modes?

Yes, Penrose stairs offers two distinct 1-player training modes to help you improve your skills. These include an arrow-following race and a block-stacking exercise.

### What devices is Penrose stairs available on?

Penrose stairs is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed for iOS devices.

### What is the price of Penrose stairs?

Penrose stairs is a paid application, priced at $1.99. This is a one-time purchase with no additional in-app purchases mentioned.

### How often is Penrose stairs updated?

The latest version, 2.19, was last updated on May 10, 2026. This indicates a recent update, suggesting ongoing support and development.

### What is the age rating for Penrose stairs?

Penrose stairs has an age rating of 4+. This suggests it is suitable for young children and above.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.19 — 2026-05-10

Disappearing shadow on stairs issue fixed.

### 2.18 — 2025-10-09

Improved animations.

### 2.17 — 2025-09-15

Improved Shadow animations.

### 2.16 — 2025-08-28

Improved Shadow drawing performance. Bug fix.

### 2.15 — 2025-08-22

Bug fix.

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## More apps by Johannes Loeffler

- [G^N](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gn/id1049422307)
- [Music Check](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/music-check/id1222506270)

All apps by Johannes Loeffler: https://appshunter.io/developer/967323440

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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 2026-06-27.*