# Play Magnus - Play Chess — Train, Learn & Play Chess

> Play and learn chess against Grandmasters with personalized coaching and performance tracking. (iPhone/iPad app by Chess.com.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-magnus-play-chess/id808138395 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552)
- Category: Games, Entertainment, Board, Strategy
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 4,019 App Store ratings · 402 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 9.0 · 260 MB
- Languages: Russian, American English, European Spanish, Italian, German (Germany), Norwegian Bokmål, Chinese (Simplified, China), French (France)
- Released: 2014-02-25
- Data updated: 2026-08-28
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-magnus-play-chess/id808138395/reviews.md

## What is Play Magnus?

Play and learn chess with the World Chess Champion, MAGNUS CARLSEN, today! 


You can also play chess against his Grandmaster friends like Wesley So, World Fischer Random Chess Champion, and Judit Polgar, the greatest women chess player of all time.

Discover their stories while you challenge them at different ages. Expect some tongue-in-cheek banter during the games. Unlock achievements and earn rewards for playing. 
Expect more Grandmasters to be introduced regularly, providing you with a fresh yet diverse chess experience.


A CHESS COACH IN YOUR POCKET
You can learn chess too, as we provide you with helpful hints in-game, take back pieces when errors are made, and use the Magnometer tool to guide you on the right and wrong decisions in the game.  
To become the best, you must train with the best. Nothing feels better than having World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen sit next to you and assist with your chess improvement. After walking you through the basics, Magnus starts sharing strategic tips and tactical tricks. Whether you aspire to become a Grandmaster or merely want to win your next game, his advice will prove invaluable to you. Also, expect to flex your mental muscles, as active learning is the key to success!


CONNECT WITH FRIENDS
Get detailed statistics on your performance. See how well your friends do and share your memorable games with them. Unlock achievements. Track your rating.


WANT MORE CHESS TRAINING?
Try our other award-winning app, Magnus Trainer, to get even more chess coaching from Magnus Carlsen himself. It’s a superb way to master chess with the reigning World Champion!
Or, if you are an ardent fan of solving mind-boggling chess puzzles, make sure to check out Tactics Frenzy – another app developed by a team of world-class chess experts led by Magnus Carlsen.

## Key features

- Play against Grandmasters
- In-game hints and guidance
- Take back moves
- Performance statistics
- Unlock achievements and rewards
- Challenge friends

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription - 50% | $2.49 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription - 30% | $34.99 | per year |
| Monthly Subscription - 30% | $3.49 | per month |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Video: Check & Checkmate | $1.99 | one-time |
| Video: The Initiative | $2.99 | one-time |
| 77 Extra Levels | $4.99 | one-time |
| Magnometer Unlimited Use | $6.99 | one-time |
| Brain Power ×500 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Brain Power ×2000 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Brain Power ×8000 | $8.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $18.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Play Magnus?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 👍 Very fun and easy to use
- 🤩 Great for building mind and fun to play
- 🚀 Simple and beautiful interface
- 🤓 Genuinely really good for chess practice
- 🤩 Awesome game, helps improve chess skills
- 🤩 Excellent for chess training and progression

**Cons**

- 🐛 Premium features not unlocked despite payment
- 🐛 Membership is glitchy and app crashes often
- 💰 Subscription and in-app purchases are overpriced
- 🐛 Frequent crashes, especially when close to winning
- 🐛 Buggy, with issues like pieces not moving properly
- 🐛 Crashes on newer devices, unplayable on some

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and freezes during gameplay
- Inconsistent point/ranking system, scores incorrect
- Inability to change profile picture or settings
- Paid features not working or unlocking properly
- Compatibility issues on newer iOS devices

**Most requested features**

- Add a 'resign' button to quit losing games
- Provide an option to undo moves after checkmate
- Add a landscape mode for better gameplay on tablets
- Implement a player vs player mode to challenge friends
- Include an ELO rating system to gauge skill level

## Recent user reviews (10 of 402)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-magnus-play-chess/id808138395/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Broken

*2026-08-16, version 5.1.53*

Game just crashes. Start a game, make a move, game crashes. Used to be fine. “App support” button goes to chess.com.

### 4/5 — Really good

*2026-07-21*

Play Magnus is a really good game and a very good progressive for any kind of player the only thing is that to train you have to get Magnus trainer it’s still really good though if I could I would give 4.5 but I can’t

### 5/5 — Great fun

*2026-07-11, version 5.1.53*

This app is excellent! To be able to play Magnus is not only a challenge, it is a privilege. Hey I played Magnus yesterday and I won! Okay…he was only 5 years old, but if you think it was easy, download this app and give it a try yourself. Thank you Magnus for the opportunity to play you at different stages of your life.

### 1/5 — Took money didn’t unlock functions

*2026-07-01, version 5.1.53*

I signed up for multiple premium membership plans and was still locked out of content with no clear explanation.

### 5/5 — Good

*2026-06-19, version 5.1.53*

I wish it had all content free

### 1/5 — No bug fixes in 4+ years

*2026-06-07, version 5.1.53*

App crashes mid game nearly every game

### 3/5 — I like the app, but…

*2026-05-28, version 5.1.53*

I genuinely can’t beat him at six! It doesn’t even make sense for a six year old to be at that level in chess.

### 2/5 — Paid membership don’t work

*2026-05-28*

I paid for the monthly membership and cant watch the videos e other things, and I can’t contact the support

### 1/5 — Paid but no access

*2026-04-28, version 5.1.53*

I’ve paid monthly subscription and restored purchases. All the content takes me to the sign up page. Trying to pay again tells me I’m already subscribed. Zendesk and other support links (including the one here) are dead.

### 2/5 — Pas d’assistance

*2026-02-21*

Je viens de prendre un abonnement et je n’ai pas tous les fonctionnalités.
De plus,l’assistance n’est pas disponible 
Comment puis-je procéder pour améliorer la situation ?

## Frequently asked questions about Play Magnus

### What is Play Magnus - Play Chess?

This app allows you to play and learn chess against Grandmasters, including World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, at various stages of their careers. You can receive in-game hints, take back moves, and utilize a special tool to guide your decisions and improve your strategic play.

### How can I improve my chess skills with this app?

The app acts as a chess coach in your pocket by providing in-game hints, the ability to take back pieces after errors, and the Magnometer tool to help you understand right and wrong decisions. Learning from and playing against top Grandmasters offers strategic tips and tactical tricks.

### Is this app free to use?

The app is free to download and play, but it does offer in-app purchases. This means you can access core features for free, with options to buy additional content or features.

### Can I play against friends on this app?

Yes, you can connect with friends on the app. It provides detailed statistics on your performance, allows you to see how your friends are doing, and enables you to share memorable games with them. You can also track your rating.

### What are the benefits of playing against Grandmasters at different ages?

Playing against Grandmasters at different ages allows you to discover their stories and challenge them as they were at various points in their careers. This provides a diverse and engaging chess experience, offering unique strategic insights and learning opportunities.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 5.1.53 — 2022-01-10

General bug fixes and improvements.

### 5.1.52 — 2021-09-07

This time you'll be able to play 17-year old Judit Polgar. Enjoy!

### 5.1.50 — 2021-09-05

Play against 12 and 17-year old Judit. This won't be easy. Remember, you have tools to aid you. Also, you might benefit from learning and training some more before you get started with Judit 12. Check out the training section in the app.

### 5.1.20 — 2021-05-31

Judit Polgar age 9 is here, the year she had a breakthrough! Can you beat her? Remember, you have tools to aid you. The Magnometer can help you understand when you need hints to turn the game around, or simply a reminder of when you're leading and might be close to checkmate. This is a great way to learn and train while playing.
There are more updates just around the corner. New players and a few cool features incoming… Stay tuned!

### 5.0.15 — 2021-04-29

Let's continue challenging the strongest female player of all time, Judit Polgar!
This time we've made it easier for you. Can you beat her as a 5-year old?
Stay tuned, there's more to come soon.

## Apps similar to Play Magnus

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## More apps by Chess.com

- [Chess.com - Play and Learn](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549)
- [chess24](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess24/id564777203)
- [Chess for Kids: Learn to Play](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-for-kids-learn-to-play/id629375826)
- [Chess Clock by Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-clock-by-chesscom/id858039162)
- [Magnus Trainer - Train Chess](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magnus-trainer-train-chess/id1097863089)

All apps by Chess.com: https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552

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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 2026-08-28.*