Comparison

Counter Tactics vs Explosive Chess

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Counter Tactics

Engage in asynchronous, turn-based PvP battles where strategic planning and clever use of a unique Battle Stack system are key to victory. Collect tokens, customize your playstyle, and climb seasonal ranked ladders. Practice in tutorials or challenge friends worldwide.

Highlights
  • Asynchronous tactical PvP battles
  • Unique Battle Stack system
  • Turn-based combat
  • Seasonal ranked progression
  • Token collection and combos
  • Single-player training modes
  • Challenge friends
Features
Read full description

Strategize and chill in an asynchronous, tactical PvP battler built for quick sessions and deep mastery. Counter Tactics blends thoughtful turn‑based strategy with competitive Ranked play, seasonal progression, and a unique Battle Stack system that rewards clever planning. Build your Battle Stacks, outsmart opponents in turn-based combat, and rise through new seasons every two months. Whether you’re climbing the Ranked ladder or experimenting with new Token combos, every match is a fresh puzzle to solve. Tactical PvP Battles Face players worldwide in quick, strategic matches where every move matters. Predict your opponent, set up powerful plays, and adapt on the fly. Build Your Battle Stacks Create up to 20 Battle Stacks using the Tokens you collect. Mix roles, abilities, and synergies to craft your own playstyle. Climb the Ranked Ladder Earn Fame, advance through Tiers, and compete for leaderboard placement. Seasons reset every two months, giving everyone a chance to rise. Train with Rusty New to tactics games? Learn the ropes in single‑player Training battles and guided tutorials. Collect Tokens, Avatars, and More Unlock new Tokens, customize your avatar, and earn or purchase cosmetic upgrades. Trade duplicate Tokens for Crystals to expand your collection. Challenge Friends Send Friendly Battle invites through Game Center and test your strategies in casual or live synchronous matches. Always Evolving Each season brings balance updates, new content, and fresh opportunities to climb.

About

Explosive Chess

Features
Read full description

Explosive Chess is a turn-based strategy game that combines chess movement with tactical, timed bomb explosions. Move your pieces like chess — but the only way to destroy anything is with bombs. Every turn you choose: move a piece, or arm a bomb. Bombs detonate on a fuse, blast in patterns determined by the piece that armed them, and friendly fire is real. Your own King can be destroyed by your own bomb. HOW TO PLAY Select a piece and move it — or switch to Arm mode and place a bomb on any square it threatens. Every piece has a unique blast shape. Rooks blast in a cross. Knights blast in an L-pattern that ignores everything in between. Pawns blast diagonally forward. The only way to win is to destroy the enemy King. FEATURES · Single-player vs AI with three difficulty levels — Easy, Medium, and Hard · Pass & Play multiplayer on one device · Three power-ups hidden in destructible rubble: Extra Bomb, Fuse Control, and Shield · Randomized board layouts every game — no two games play the same · No ads. No subscriptions. No in-app purchases. Buy it once, own it forever.

Screenshots

Counter Tactics4 screens
Explosive Chess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Counter Tactics at Free against Explosive Chess's $2.99. Counter Tactics also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). Explosive Chess's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). On ads 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

Counter Tactics is free to download; Explosive Chess costs $2.99 up front. Counter Tactics sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Explosive Chess asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Counter Tactics ships an update every 3 weeks, Explosive Chess every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Counter Tactics versus Explosive Chess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCounter TacticsExplosive Chess
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating5.0 (17 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings17 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size222 MB16 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperSteven SilveyJason Fawley

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Counter Tactics

One-time6
  • Crystal Pack - 50$0.99
  • Crystal Pack - 150$1.99
  • Crystal Pack - 300$2.99
Show 3 more
  • Crystal Pack - 750$4.99
  • Crystal Pack - 2000$9.99
  • Crystal Pack - 50000$99.99
None

Explosive Chess

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Counter Tactics free?
Counter Tactics is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Explosive Chess free?
Explosive Chess costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Counter Tactics or Explosive Chess have ads?
Neither Counter Tactics nor Explosive Chess shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Counter Tactics or Explosive Chess?
Counter Tactics ships an update every 3 weeks, and Explosive Chess every 2 days. Most recently, Counter Tactics was updated on October 5, 2026 and Explosive Chess on October 9, 2026.

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