Really Bad Chess vs 4x4 Chess
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Really Bad Chess
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.
- Randomized chess piece sets
- AI opponent challenges
- Ranked, Daily, and Weekly modes
- Freeplay practice mode
- Local multiplayer (with IAP)
- Alternate color palettes (with IAP)
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Really Bad Chess is just like chess, but with totally random pieces. Try 8 Knights, 4 Bishops, and 3 pawns — why not? As heard on NPR's Weekend Edition 5 out of 5 Stars "An essential puzzle experience for anyone even remotely interested in strategy games" - TouchArcade Whether you play chess daily, or quit just after learning the rules, this small twist will open the door to an entire new world of chess. ------WHATS IN THE “BOX”? The free version of Really Bad Chess lets you compete vs. an AI in Ranked, Daily, or Weekly Challenges. Improve your skills using the included Freeplay mode. A single in-app purchase unlocks Versus Mode so you can compete against your friends locally! It also removes ads, displays captured pieces, and adds soothing alternate color-palettes to choose from. ------REALLY BAD PRESS "Makes chess fun even if you’re really bad" - The Verge "Feels more modern than chess has ever felt" - Applenapps "Really Bad Chess takes a really bad idea and somehow manages to make it a lot of fun." - Pocket Gamer "Really good fun" - MacLife ------A WORD FROM THE DEVELOPER Chess is one of those games I always wished I enjoyed, but its commitment to beauty, elegance, and perfect balance always turned me away. Really Bad Chess removes these boring restrictions and flips chess on its head. As much as random pieces change the game in some ways, I was really surprised to notice how much the game remains the same, and how powerful some pieces are — you've never truly struggled against a pawn until you've struggled against a pawn in the back row. For chess pros, Really Bad Chess will give you a new type of challenge — the pieces & the moves are the same, but you'll have to throw out your openings and your understanding of normal patterns of play. For novice chess players (like most of us), Really Bad Chess greatly opens up the game. Instead of starting by studying openings, in your first games you'll get to discover the joy (and challenge!) of learning how to checkmate. I hope you have as much fun with Really Bad Chess as much as I did making it. -zach
4x4 Chess
Experience a fast-paced, simplified version of chess on a 4x4 board. Games conclude in about a minute, making it perfect for quick play sessions. This accessible variant is designed for both beginners and experienced players seeking a new challenge.
- 4x4 chessboard
- Random piece arrangement
- Quick 1-minute games
- Beginner-friendly gameplay
- Accessible chess variant
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You play chess by using pieces which are arranged randomly on a chessboard of 4x4 squares. Since one game ends in about 1 minute, you can easily play in your free time. Even the beginner can enjoy playing because this chess is easier than normal chess.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: 4x4 Chess at 100% against Really Bad Chess's 46%. 4x4 Chess also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Really Bad Chess's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 7 months) and ratings volume (1.6K vs 3). On price, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Really Bad Chess sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. 4x4 Chess asks for nothing beyond the download.
4x4 Chess holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Really Bad Chess has 1.6K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Really Bad Chess's written reviews are positive against 100% of 4x4 Chess's.
Really Bad Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, 4x4 Chess every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Really Bad Chess | 4x4 Chess |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (1.6K ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 46.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.6K — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 125 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Zach Gage | Daisuke Shinzato |
Customer experience
Really Bad Chess
4x4 Chess
Bugs and requests
Really Bad Chess
Reported bugs
3 issues- Pieces unable to move as per chess rules
- Game freezes and crashes
- Incorrect checkmate detection
Requested features
5 requests- Add draw conditions and stalemate rules
- Implement online/multiplayer mode
- Provide more difficulty settings
- Allow custom piece arrangements
- Sync progress across devices
4x4 Chess
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Really Bad Chess
- 100 Undos$0.99
- Full Game Unlock$3.99
4x4 Chess
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Really Bad Chess free?
Is 4x4 Chess free?
Which has better reviews, Really Bad Chess or 4x4 Chess?
Do Really Bad Chess or 4x4 Chess have ads?
Which is updated more often, Really Bad Chess or 4x4 Chess?
Other comparisons
