# Really Bad Chess vs Card Thief

The clearest difference is rating: Card Thief at 4.7 against Really Bad Chess's 3.8. Card Thief also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 46%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Really Bad Chess's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Really Bad Chess sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Card Thief sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Card Thief holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.6K and 1K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Really Bad Chess's written reviews are positive against 70% of Card Thief's.

Really Bad Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, Card Thief every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Really Bad Chess | Card Thief |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921/reviews) | **[4.7 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/card-thief/id1186226470/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.6K** | 1K |
| Positive reviews | 46.3% of reviews | **69.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 125 MB | 161 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| 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


### Card Thief

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/card-thief/id1186226470)

A solitaire-style stealth game where you play as a master thief. Sneak through darkness, steal treasure, and escape without getting caught. It offers deep strategy and roguelike replayability in short, engaging sessions.

**Highlights:** Solitaire-style stealth gameplay, 4 unique heists, Unlockable equipment cards, Hireable thieves with special rules, Mini deck-building mechanics, Daily Heist mode with leaderboards, Roguelike replayability, Offline play

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Card Thief | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great game
- 👍 Fun and unique stealth mechanics
- 👍 Very fun for offline gaming
- 👍 New favorite card game
- 👍 Creative and addictive game

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❓ What is the goal?
- 🐛 Issueee
- 🐛 Buggy
- 🐛 Crashes on load
- 🐛 Cannot select path

**Reported bugs**

- Crystals which you can get when playing are useless
- Notch covers game information on iPhone X+
- Ads error prevents chest opening
- Hideout heists have unrealistically high scores
- Can't open hideout, game crashes

**Requested features**

- More enemies or traps to deal with
- More equipment to try out
- 4x4 layout rather than 3x3
- Endless mode
- Multiplayer compatibility


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Really Bad Chess free?

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

### Is Card Thief free?

Card Thief is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Really Bad Chess or Card Thief?

Card Thief is rated higher. Really Bad Chess averages 3.8 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Card Thief averages 4.7 from 1K ratings.

### Do Really Bad Chess or Card Thief have ads?

Both Really Bad Chess and Card Thief show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Really Bad Chess or Card Thief?

Really Bad Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, and Card Thief every 4 months. Most recently, Really Bad Chess was updated on November 11, 2026 and Card Thief on November 12, 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.*