# Really Bad Chess vs Minimalist Chess

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Minimalist Chess at 100% against Really Bad Chess's 46%. Minimalist Chess also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Really Bad Chess's advantage is price (Free vs $1.99) and ratings volume (1.6K vs 2). On device support there is nothing between them.

Really Bad Chess is free to download; Minimalist Chess costs $1.99 up front. Really Bad Chess sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Minimalist Chess asks for nothing beyond the download.

Minimalist Chess holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Really Bad Chess has 1.6K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Really Bad Chess's written reviews are positive against 100% of Minimalist Chess's.

Really Bad Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, Minimalist Chess every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Really Bad Chess | Minimalist Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [3.8 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-chess/id6772305043/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.6K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 46.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 125 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) | [Darren Holland](https://appshunter.io/developer/6772305045) |

## What reviewers say

### Really Bad Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Undos | $0.99 | one-time |
| Full Game Unlock | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive and fun gameplay
- 🤔 Unique and innovative concept
- 👍 Challenging and engaging
- ⭐ Great way to learn chess

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🕰️ Slow AI response times
- 💰 Paywalls for essential features
- 📺 Intrusive and excessive ads
- 🔁 Repetitive AI moves leading to stalemates

**Reported bugs**

- Pieces unable to move as per chess rules
- Game freezes and crashes
- Incorrect checkmate detection

**Requested features**

- Add draw conditions and stalemate rules
- Implement online/multiplayer mode
- Provide more difficulty settings
- Allow custom piece arrangements
- Sync progress across devices


### Minimalist Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-chess/id6772305043)

Enjoy a pure chess experience with no distractions. Play against an engine, watch it play itself, or analyze positions. The app saves your progress automatically and offers a clean interface for reviewing games.

**Highlights:** Play against AI engine, Watch engine vs engine, Analyze positions, Automatic game saving, Offline play, Ad-free experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Really Bad Chess free?

Really Bad Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Minimalist Chess free?

Minimalist Chess costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Really Bad Chess or Minimalist Chess?

Minimalist Chess is rated higher. Really Bad Chess averages 3.8 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Minimalist Chess averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Really Bad Chess or Minimalist Chess have ads?

Really Bad Chess shows ads; Minimalist Chess does not.

### Which is updated more often, Really Bad Chess or Minimalist Chess?

Really Bad Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, and Minimalist Chess every 2 days. Most recently, Really Bad Chess was updated on November 1, 2026 and Minimalist Chess on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*