Comparison

Really Bad Chess vs ™ Go

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

™ Go

Experience the ancient strategy game of Go on your mobile device. Play on various board sizes against AI or friends, with features like undo, saving games, and a global leaderboard. Master your skills with diverse AI levels and timed matches.

Highlights
  • Multiple board sizes (9x9, 13x13, 19x19)
  • Play against AI or friends
  • Undo moves
  • Save and load games
  • Global leaderboard
  • Timed matches
  • Diverse AI difficulty levels
Features
Read full description

Discover Go Like Never Before! Welcome to a world where strategy and skill meet in the ancient game of Go, now available at your fingertips. Simple, elegant, and endlessly engaging, our mobile app makes mastering this classic game both accessible and enjoyable. Play Your Way Choose from a variety of board sizes, including the traditional 19x19 grid, as well as smaller 9x9 and 13x13 options, perfect for quick games or honing your skills. Every match, whether against our finely tuned AI or a friend, offers a new opportunity to learn, grow and win. Features You’ll Love: Easy Undos: Take back moves and refine your strategy. Global Leaderboard: See how you stack up against players around the world. Share Games: Easily share your favorite matches with friends. Save/Load: Pick up your game right where you left off, anytime, anywhere. Diverse AI Levels: From beginner to expert, enjoy matches that suit your skill level. Timed Matches: Put your quick thinking to the test. Join the World of Go There’s a whole world of strategy waiting for you. With clean graphics, smooth gameplay, and intuitive features, getting into Go has never been easier or more enjoyable. Dive in, and discover the rich, rewarding game that has captivated minds for centuries. Download the app today. Your journey into the intricate and fascinating world of Go starts now!

Screenshots

Really Bad Chess4 screens
™ Go4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ™ Go at 4.5 against Really Bad Chess's 3.8. ™ Go also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Really Bad Chess's advantage is review sentiment (46% vs 27%) and ratings volume (1.6K vs 458). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

™ Go holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.6K and 458 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of Really Bad Chess's written reviews are positive against 27% of ™ Go's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Really Bad Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, ™ Go weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Really Bad Chess versus ™ Go: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReally Bad Chess™ Go
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (1.6K ratings)4.5 (458 ratings) — better
Positive reviews46.3% of reviews — better27.5% of reviews
Number of ratings1.6K — better458
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size125 MB102 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZach GageVM Mobile Team

Customer experience

Really Bad Chess

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

™ Go

All ratings458 ratings
Positive86.2%
Neutral5.7%
Negative8.1%
Written reviews51 reviews
Positive27.5%
Neutral13.7%
Negative58.8%

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

™ Go

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Really Bad Chess

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

™ Go

One-time1
  • Premium$3.99

Questions

Is Really Bad Chess free?
Really Bad Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ™ Go free?
™ Go is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Really Bad Chess or ™ Go?
™ Go is rated higher. Really Bad Chess averages 3.8 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while ™ Go averages 4.5 from 458 ratings.
Do Really Bad Chess or ™ Go have ads?
Really Bad Chess shows ads; ™ Go does not.
Which is updated more often, Really Bad Chess or ™ Go?
Really Bad Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, and ™ Go weekly. Most recently, Really Bad Chess was updated on September 23, 2026 and ™ Go on September 21, 2026.

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