Comparison

Really Bad Chess vs GPixel

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

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.

Highlights
  • Turn-based pixel grid racing
  • World Tour mode
  • Online leaderboards
  • Time and moves countdown modes
  • Boosters (Turbo, Brakes)
  • Weather conditions
  • Multiplayer options
Features
Read full description

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

Really Bad Chess4 screens
GPixel4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Really Bad Chess versus GPixel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReally Bad ChessGPixel
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (1.6K ratings)4.6 (491 ratings) — better
Positive reviews46.3% of reviews79.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.6K — better491
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size125 MB235 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZach GageJacopo Guanziroli

Customer experience

Really Bad Chess

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

GPixel

All ratings491 ratings
Positive89.8%
Neutral3.7%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews86 reviews
Positive79.1%
Neutral8.1%
Negative12.8%

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

GPixel

From 491 App Store ratings

What 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

2 purchases

Really Bad Chess

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

GPixel

One-time7
  • Add Boosters$0.99
  • Turbo Booster Pack$1.99
  • Brakes Booster Pack$1.99
Show 4 more
  • 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?
Really Bad Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is GPixel free?
GPixel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Really Bad Chess or GPixel?
GPixel is rated higher. Really Bad Chess averages 3.8 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while GPixel averages 4.6 from 491 ratings.
Do Really Bad Chess or GPixel have ads?
Both Really Bad Chess and GPixel show ads.
Which is updated more often, Really Bad Chess or GPixel?
Really Bad Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, and GPixel every 3 weeks. Most recently, Really Bad Chess was updated on October 20, 2026 and GPixel on October 21, 2026.

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