# Really Bad Chess vs Miracle Merchant

The clearest difference is rating: Miracle Merchant at 4.4 against Really Bad Chess's 3.8. Miracle Merchant also leads on review sentiment (69% vs 46%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Really Bad Chess sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Miracle Merchant sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Miracle Merchant holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.6K and 1.7K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Really Bad Chess's written reviews are positive against 69% of Miracle Merchant's.

Really Bad Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, Miracle Merchant monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Really Bad Chess | Miracle Merchant |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921/reviews) | **[4.4 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/miracle-merchant/id1127370841/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.6K | **1.7K** |
| Positive reviews | 46.3% of reviews | **68.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 125 MB | 250 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | +12 |
| Developer | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) | [Arnold Rauers](https://appshunter.io/developer/538013421) |

## What reviewers say

### Really Bad Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921)

This app reimagines chess with completely randomized pieces, offering a fresh strategic challenge. It's perfect for both seasoned players seeking a new puzzle and beginners looking to learn the fundamentals in a fun, accessible way.

**Highlights:** Randomized chess piece sets, AI opponent challenges, Ranked, Daily, and Weekly modes, Freeplay practice mode, Local multiplayer (with IAP), Alternate color palettes (with IAP)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Undos | $0.99 | one-time |
| Full Game Unlock | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive and fun gameplay
- 🤔 Unique and innovative concept
- 👍 Challenging and engaging
- ⭐ Great way to learn chess

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🕰️ Slow AI response times
- 💰 Paywalls for essential features
- 📺 Intrusive and excessive ads
- 🔁 Repetitive AI moves leading to stalemates

**Reported bugs**

- Pieces unable to move as per chess rules
- Game freezes and crashes
- Incorrect checkmate detection

**Requested features**

- Add draw conditions and stalemate rules
- Implement online/multiplayer mode
- Provide more difficulty settings
- Allow custom piece arrangements
- Sync progress across devices


### Miracle Merchant

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/miracle-merchant/id1127370841)

Become an alchemist's apprentice in this solitaire-style card game. Mix and combine ingredient cards to brew potions for adventurers. Enjoy a unique, randomly generated challenge with each game and collect a variety of masterfully crafted potions.

**Highlights:** Solitaire style gameplay, 41 collectable potions, Daily tasks, Daily game with global highscores, Mix and combine puzzle gameplay, 2-3 minute playtime per game

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Character Unlock 5 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Character Unlock 6 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Character 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Character 3 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Character 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Character 4 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Miracle Merchant | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💎 Gorgeous art style and visuals
- 🎶 Excellent, soothing soundtrack
- 🧠 Challenging yet addictive gameplay
- ⏱️ Quick, bite-sized gameplay sessions
- 🕹️ Simple but deep card game mechanics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔁 Repetitive gameplay with limited variety
- 🤑 Paid features feel essential for full experience
- 🤔 Unclear scoring system and objectives
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 💰 High price for the amount of content

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes when completing potions
- Daily tasks and challenges not working properly
- Inability to restore purchases on reinstall
- Compatibility issues on newer iOS devices

**Requested features**

- More game modes and progression systems
- Ability to customize or upgrade potion shop
- Clearer tutorial and in-game explanations
- Synchronization of progress across devices
- Expanded potion and ingredient variety


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Really Bad Chess free?

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

### Is Miracle Merchant free?

Miracle Merchant is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Really Bad Chess or Miracle Merchant?

Miracle Merchant is rated higher. Really Bad Chess averages 3.8 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Miracle Merchant averages 4.4 from 1.7K ratings.

### Do Really Bad Chess or Miracle Merchant have ads?

Both Really Bad Chess and Miracle Merchant show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Really Bad Chess or Miracle Merchant?

Really Bad Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, and Miracle Merchant monthly. Most recently, Really Bad Chess was updated on October 23, 2026 and Miracle Merchant on October 26, 2026.

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