Really Bad Chess vs Shift IT
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
Shift IT
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SHIFT IT is a colorful block-matching puzzle game where you shift entire rows and columns to line up 3 or more matching pieces. JOURNEY MODE • 50 handcrafted levels with increasing difficulty • Earn up to 3 stars per level • Blockers, limited moves, and rising score targets keep you challenged ENDLESS MODE • Play forever with escalating waves • New colors and blockers appear as you progress • Gravity shifts keep you on your toes • Compete against your own high score DAILY CHALLENGES • A new puzzle every day • Build your daily streak for bonus rewards POWER-UPS • Color Blast — clear all pieces of one color • Swap — switch any two pieces • Hammer — destroy any piece or blocker • Row/Column Sweep — wipe an entire line FEATURES • Beautiful, vibrant visuals with smooth animations • Haptic feedback for satisfying gameplay • Earn Sparks and Gems to unlock power-ups • Achievements to track your progress • Colorblind mode for accessibility • No internet required — play anywhere
Screenshots
Verdict
Really Bad Chess and Shift IT are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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 Shift IT sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | Really Bad Chess | Shift IT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (1.6K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 46.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1.6K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | — |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | 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 | 38 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Zach Gage | Amandeep Bhardwaj |
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
Shift IT
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Really Bad Chess
- 100 Undos$0.99
- Full Game Unlock$3.99
Shift IT
- 10 Gems$0.99
- Starter Pack$1.99
- 30 Gems$2.99
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- Remove Ads$4.99
- 75 Gems$4.99
- 200 Gems$9.99
- 500 Gems$19.99
Questions
Is Really Bad Chess free?
Is Shift IT free?
Do Really Bad Chess or Shift IT have ads?
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