Really Bad Chess vs GPT 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)
Read full descriptionHide 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
GPT Chess
Engage in chess matches against advanced AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini. Choose between standard rules or a chaotic no-rule mode where AI instructions dictate gameplay. The app features conversational AI during play and offers multiple AI strength levels.
- Play against ChatGPT and Gemini AI
- Standard chess rules mode
- No-rule chess mode with AI instructions
- Multiple AI strength levels
- Conversational AI during gameplay
- Minimalist design
Read full descriptionHide full description
Play Chess with ChatGPT (OpenAI, GPT 3.5 or GPT 4) or GeminiPro (Google). There are two modes: (A) The standard mode, both you and the AI would follow the standard chess rule, so no illegal move! You can choose between: 1. The native ChatGPT4 API (weakest chess player); 2. Prompt improved GPT4 API (e.g. better chess player); 3. Enhanced backend chess calculation API call with GPT4 (i.e. strongest chess player). (B) The No-Rule chess mode. In this mode, we strictly follow the instruction provided by ChatGPT AI to make the move. Enjoy a chaotic and hilarious chess game. Don't be surprise if AI makes illegal moves, captures its own piece, generates random pieces, and suicides. :) You can choose different LLM AI: 1. GPT 3.5 (OpenAI); 2. GPT 4 (OpenAI); 3. Gemini Pro from Google. A minimalist design, just start to play, that simple. Also, the ChatGPT will talk to you during the play! Come and see if you can beat the ChatGPT in chess! Link to standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy: http://lwdevstudio.github.io/privacy-info.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: GPT Chess at none against Really Bad Chess's shown. GPT Chess also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). Really Bad Chess's advantage is ratings volume (1.6K vs 16) and review sentiment (46% vs 33%). 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
Both are free to download. Really Bad Chess sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and GPT Chess sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
GPT Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Really Bad Chess has 1.6K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of Really Bad Chess's written reviews are positive against 33% of GPT Chess's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Really Bad Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, GPT Chess every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Really Bad Chess | GPT Chess |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (1.6K ratings) | 4.1 (16 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 46.3% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.6K — better | 16 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 125 MB | 88 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Zach Gage | FusionX Tech LLC |
Customer experience
Really Bad Chess
GPT 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
GPT 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
GPT Chess
- Unlimited APIs3 Days trial$1.991 Month
Questions
Is Really Bad Chess free?
Is GPT Chess free?
Which has better reviews, Really Bad Chess or GPT Chess?
Do Really Bad Chess or GPT Chess have ads?
Which is updated more often, Really Bad Chess or GPT Chess?
Other comparisons















