Really Bad Chess vs GPixel
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
GPixel
Experience a unique turn-based racing game where strategy meets casual fun. Plan your moves on a pixel grid to outsmart opponents and climb global leaderboards. Enjoy various game modes, weather conditions, and car customization.
- Turn-based pixel grid racing
- World Tour mode
- Online leaderboards
- Time and moves countdown modes
- Boosters (Turbo, Brakes)
- Weather conditions
- Multiplayer options
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Get ready for a unique racing experience with GPixel, the casual yet strategic turn-based racing game for iOS! Plan your moves in advance and outsmart your opponents in grid-based races that simulate real motorsport dynamics on a squared paper-style track. Compete in the revamped World Tour and climb the motorsport leaderboard to become the best driver worldwide! GPixel offers a wide variety of game modes to keep the challenge fresh: – World Tour: unlock all seasons and circuits, improve your scores, and beat your rivals – Online Leaderboards: race to the top! – Time Countdown: finish before time runs out – Moves Countdown: think ahead with limited moves – Night Race: win in total darkness – Dynamic Weather: Snow, Ice, Heatwave, Heavy Rain, Fog, Clouds, and more – Quick Race: compete against the AI or your friends locally with up to 4 players Master 40 unique circuits, unlock over 30 car liveries, dozens of color combos, and power up your car with Boosters like Turbo, Brakes, and more. Avoid hazards like oil puddles and random obstacles, adapt to extreme weather, and prove your skills on every terrain. Download GPixel now and experience the thrill of strategic racing on your iOS device!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: GPixel at 4.6 against Really Bad Chess's 3.8. GPixel also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 46%). Really Bad Chess's advantage is ratings volume (1.6K vs 491). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 and GPixel sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
GPixel holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.6K and 491 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Really Bad Chess's written reviews are positive against 79% of GPixel's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Really Bad Chess | GPixel |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (1.6K ratings) | 4.6 (491 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 46.3% of reviews | 79.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.6K — better | 491 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 125 MB | 235 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Zach Gage | Jacopo Guanziroli |
Customer experience
Really Bad Chess
GPixel
User reviews
Really Bad Chess
From 1.6K App Store ratingsWhat 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
GPixel
From 491 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Unique and innovative gameplay
- 👍 Simple and intuitive controls
- 💡 Interesting blend of racing and strategy
- 🎨 Customizable car designs
Room to improve
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches with timed races
- 💰 Intrusive ads even after purchase
- 🕰️ Frustrating time limits on some levels
- 🔒 Inability to restore purchases across devices
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
GPixel
Reported bugs
3 issues- Timed races not functioning properly
- Inability to progress past certain levels
- Purchased content not carrying over to new devices
Requested features
4 requests- Offline play mode
- Asynchronous multiplayer
- Option to disable timed races
- Improved leaderboard functionality
In-app purchases
Really Bad Chess
- 100 Undos$0.99
- Full Game Unlock$3.99
GPixel
- Add Boosters$0.99
- Turbo Booster Pack$1.99
- Brakes Booster Pack$1.99
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- Speedway Booster Pack$2.99
- Remove pop-up ads forever!$2.99
- Pole Position Booster Pack$5.99
- Starter Pack$6.99
Questions
Is Really Bad Chess free?
Is GPixel free?
Which has better reviews, Really Bad Chess or GPixel?
Do Really Bad Chess or GPixel have ads?
Which is updated more often, Really Bad Chess or GPixel?
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