# Mini Chess vs Orbit Dodger

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Orbit Dodger at none against Mini Chess's 1. Orbit Dodger also leads on ads (none vs shown). Mini Chess's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 39 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Mini Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, Orbit Dodger every 39 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and July 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mini Chess | Orbit Dodger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (345 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mini-chess-quick-chess/id1048990809/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **345** | — |
| Positive reviews | 82.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 39 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 29 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [OutOfTheBit Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/286210012) | [Grant Stevens-Wade](https://appshunter.io/developer/689787244) |

## What reviewers say

### Mini Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mini-chess-quick-chess/id1048990809)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast-paced, quick gameplay
- 👍 Easy to learn and beginner-friendly
- 🎮 Addictive and fun
- 💡 Innovative simplified chess concept
- ⚙️ Multiple difficulty levels

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Check notification animation interrupts gameplay flow
- 😴 Gets repetitive and stale quickly
- 🤖 AI makes too many mistakes, even on hard mode
- 📺 Excessive and intrusive ads
- ⚖️ Unfair perpetual check mechanics

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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)


### Orbit Dodger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbit-dodger/id6448219258)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mini Chess free?

Mini Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Orbit Dodger free?

Orbit Dodger is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Mini Chess or Orbit Dodger have ads?

Mini Chess shows ads; Orbit Dodger does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mini Chess or Orbit Dodger?

Mini Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, and Orbit Dodger every 39 months. Most recently, Mini Chess was updated on September 18, 2026 and Orbit Dodger on July 21, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*