Comparison

Really Bad Chess vs Chessplode

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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

About

Chessplode

This app offers a unique twist on chess where capturing a piece causes others in the same line and column to explode. It's designed to be fun and accessible, even for those who aren't skilled at traditional chess, offering both single-player and multiplayer modes.

Highlights
  • Exploding pieces on capture
  • Real-time multiplayer battles
  • User-created levels
  • Local multiplayer mode
  • AI opponent practice
  • Customizable color themes
Features
Read full description

Chessplode is modern chess for everyone, it makes chess fun even if you're bad ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, one simply move... can change all game. -- THE MODERN RULE -- Chessplode is pretty much like chess with a really BIG twist... - CAPTURE a piece and everything in the same LINE and COLUMN will EXPLODE... - But if a KING is in that LINE or COLUMN it will be a really *boring* chess capture (no explosions) -- THINK DIFF... *DISTINCT* -- This rule is pretty tricky, in regular chess you need to defend your KING, but in Chessplode it can save your pieces. Remember, you can't capture some pieces because you could get check. Sometimes you will checkmate capturing a piece that explodes. And other you will be afraid of having several pieces in the same line or column...(POP!) -- FRIENDS (Who love chess) REVIEW -- They find Chessplode a great challenge and love how they need to change the old way of thinking even if they are winning... a bad move and they will run out of pieces. -- FRIENDS (Who *meh* chess) REVIEW -- Chess + Explosions... you got my attention. Some of these friends were casual chess players and others didn't really feel the attraction for chess. Both find Chessplode a really fun game. When they were playing regular chess they were not good, now they are the kings of the hill. -- FEATURES -- * FREE TO PLAY * Realtime chess battles multiplayer with people around the world. * In multiplayer you can send an emoji (to express your feelings) with every move you submit. Instant fun! * Play Levels created for other players, you can find really madness here, but you can undo your move... everyone can make a mistake. * Create your own custom Level and submit it to everyone can play it. Challenge the world! * Try local multiplayer battles with friends in the same device. Head to head! * Practice playing versus Ziri. * A lot of different color themes, play day and night with your favourite colors. Thank you for playing "Chessplode"! I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it ;) Support: Are you having problems? http://twitter.com/juaxma http://twitter.com/chessplode hello@juan.ma Privacy Policy: http://juan.ma/chessplode/privacypolicy/ AppPreview Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music/track/jazzy-frenchy © Juan Manuel Altamirano Argudo / juan.ma

Screenshots

Really Bad Chess4 screens
Chessplode4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Chessplode at 4.5 against Really Bad Chess's 3.8. Chessplode also leads on review sentiment (61% vs 46%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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. Really Bad Chess sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Chessplode sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chessplode holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.6K and 573 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Really Bad Chess's written reviews are positive against 61% of Chessplode's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Really Bad Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, Chessplode every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Really Bad Chess versus Chessplode: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReally Bad ChessChessplode
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (1.6K ratings)4.5 (573 ratings) — better
Positive reviews46.3% of reviews61.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.6K — better573
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size125 MB86 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZach GageJuan Manuel Altamirano Argudo

Customer experience

Really Bad Chess

All ratings1,633 ratings
Positive66.6%
Neutral9.0%
Negative24.4%
Written reviews611 reviews
Positive46.3%
Neutral16.4%
Negative37.3%

Chessplode

All ratings573 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral3.8%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive61.2%
Neutral9.0%
Negative29.9%

User reviews

Really Bad Chess

From 1.6K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Chessplode

From 573 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Quick gameplay
  • 👍 Beautiful and fun game
  • 👍 Fantastic and great fun twist on chess
  • 👍 Lovely little game
  • 👍 Chess with a new challenge

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Won't open or get stuck
  • 🐛 Issues with king movement and checkmate detection
  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes
  • 🐛 AI issues with thinking and repeating moves
  • 🐛 Overly difficult, even at easy levels

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

Chessplode

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Won't open or get stuck on certain screens
  • Issues with king movement and checkmate detection
  • Crashes and freezes, especially when AI is thinking
  • AI issues with thinking and repeating moves

Requested features

9 requests
  • Add local multiplayer mode
  • Add classic chess mode
  • Add more basic puzzles
  • Add ability to go back to previous levels
  • Add option to remove explosions
Show 4 more
  • Add Repetition end-condition
  • Add Resign button
  • Add themed boards
  • Add online levels and multiplayer

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Really Bad Chess

One-time2
  • 100 Undos$0.99
  • Full Game Unlock$3.99
5 purchases

Chessplode

One-time5
  • +100 Undos$0.99
  • Generous Tip$0.99
  • Massive Tip$1.99
Show 2 more
  • INFINITE UNDOS$1.99
  • Amazing Tip$2.99

Questions

Is Really Bad Chess free?
Really Bad Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chessplode free?
Chessplode is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Really Bad Chess or Chessplode?
Chessplode is rated higher. Really Bad Chess averages 3.8 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Chessplode averages 4.5 from 573 ratings.
Do Really Bad Chess or Chessplode have ads?
Both Really Bad Chess and Chessplode show ads.
Which is updated more often, Really Bad Chess or Chessplode?
Really Bad Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, and Chessplode every 2 weeks. Most recently, Really Bad Chess was updated on October 12, 2026 and Chessplode on October 7, 2026.

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