Comparison

Mini Chess vs Dark Chess Tournament

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Mini Chess

Enjoy a simplified, faster version of chess on your mobile device. Play against AI or a friend on a smaller board with fewer pieces. Ideal for beginners and quick matches.

Highlights
  • Simplified 6x6 chessboard
  • Fewer pieces (no knights/bishops)
  • Play against 3 AI levels
  • Local multiplayer mode
  • Quick matches
  • Beginner-friendly
Features
Read full description

The traditional game of chess made easier and quicker, perfect for iPhone and iPad. Download it now for free and start play in just 1 tap! Mini Chess is a modern simplified version of classic chess, perfect for playing on your phone and tablet, on your own, with 3 level of Artificial Intelligence, or with a friend on the same device (multiplayer). Play on a smaller chessboard (6x6), with less pieces (no knights and bishops) and have fun on more speedy matches than classic chess. Play straight away, with friends, online or solo, and every match takes just minutes. Mini Chess is also perfect for kids to start play the all-time-favourite classic board game. Kids and beginners will find it so easy to learn and to enjoy in just 1 tap and experts will love the new challenge of playing in a different setting. Thanks for playing!

About

Dark Chess Tournament

Experience a tactical chess variant with a "Fog of War" feature that conceals opposing pieces. Compete in live multiplayer matches and tournaments with the chance to win real prizes. Enjoy fast-paced gameplay and a rewarding loyalty program.

Highlights
  • Fog of War chess variant
  • Live player vs player multiplayer
  • Win prizes in tournaments
  • Skillz eSports platform integration
  • Loyalty program rewards
  • Fast-paced gameplay
Read full description

Dark Chess Tournament is a game of chess with "Fog of War" feature, a chess variant with incomplete information. "Fog of War" conceals opposing armies. Enemy units become visible in proximity of one square around friendly units or within a striking move. Only the first unit under direct threat is shown. This adds a great amount of unpredictability and a scouting aspect to the game. Makes it exceptionally tactical. The goal of the game is not to checkmate the king, but to capture it. Failing to move the king out of check or moving him into check are legal moves. It can result in a capture and loss of the game. • Fast play, no time to get bored • Live player versus player multiplayer with winner takes all • Extra score for surviving the game and time bonus in async mode • Player with the most points wins • Compete against players of similar skill • Play in tournaments with actual rewards • Access the amazing loyalty program that rewards you for playing! Win Big Challenge people around the world with Skillz, a competition platform complete with leaderboards, trophies, physical or virtual prizes, and an amazing loyalty program that rewards you just for playing! Skillz: eSports for Everyone. Tournaments are available around the world but are not enabled in the following states: AZ, AR, CT, DE, LA, MT, SC, SD, and TN. Even if you don't live in a prize-enabled region, you can still play for fun with our virtual currency! If you have any questions about the Skillz system or cash tournaments please contact: support@skillz.com

Screenshots

Mini Chess4 screens
Dark Chess Tournament4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Dark Chess Tournament at none against Mini Chess's 1. Dark Chess Tournament also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). Mini Chess's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (345 vs 45). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Mini Chess sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Dark Chess Tournament asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Mini Chess against 4.7 for Dark Chess Tournament. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mini Chess has 345 ratings behind it against 45, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of Mini Chess's written reviews are positive against 88% of Dark Chess Tournament's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mini Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, Dark Chess Tournament every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Mini Chess versus Dark Chess Tournament: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMini ChessDark Chess Tournament
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (345 ratings)4.7 (45 ratings) — better
Positive reviews82.9% of reviews87.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings345 — better45
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB227 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperOutOfTheBit LtdTall Troll Games Ou

Customer experience

Mini Chess

All ratings345 ratings
Positive89.0%
Neutral6.1%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews82 reviews
Positive82.9%
Neutral7.3%
Negative9.8%

Dark Chess Tournament

All ratings45 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral4.4%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral6.3%
Negative6.3%

Bugs and requests

Mini Chess

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Checkmate declared incorrectly with viable moves available
  • Queen positioned on wrong color
  • AI allows illegal moves to prevent player from winning
  • Stalemate not handled correctly
  • Perpetual check rules unfairly favor opponent

Requested features

10 requests
  • Add Knights and Bishops to piece options
  • Alternative piece combinations (2 Rooks + 2 Bishops)
  • Randomized starting positions
  • Landscape mode for iPad
  • Random color assignment (white/black alternation)
Show 5 more
  • Ability to play full traditional chess
  • Create custom board feature
  • Extremely hard difficulty level
  • Physical board version
  • Draw by repetition after 3 moves

Dark Chess Tournament

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Mini Chess

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99
None

Dark Chess Tournament

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mini Chess free?
Mini Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Dark Chess Tournament free?
Dark Chess Tournament is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Mini Chess or Dark Chess Tournament?
Dark Chess Tournament is rated higher. Mini Chess averages 4.6 out of 5 from 345 ratings, while Dark Chess Tournament averages 4.7 from 45 ratings.
Do Mini Chess or Dark Chess Tournament have ads?
Both Mini Chess and Dark Chess Tournament show ads.
Which is updated more often, Mini Chess or Dark Chess Tournament?
Mini Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, and Dark Chess Tournament every 4 months. Most recently, Mini Chess was updated on October 24, 2026 and Dark Chess Tournament on October 24, 2026.

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