Comparison

Shadow vs Reality Check Chess

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

Head to head
About

Shadow

A retro-style puzzle game featuring thousands of unique geometric puzzles. Drag, rotate, and flip pieces to complete abstract designs or recognizable objects. Offers a relaxing yet challenging experience for all ages with optional hints.

Highlights
  • Thousands of unique 2D puzzles
  • Retro-style geometric art
  • Drag, rotate, and flip pieces
  • Abstract and recognizable designs
  • Hints available for challenging puzzles
  • Suitable for all ages
Features
Read full description

A fun and challenging retro-style puzzle game. Relax and enjoy thousands of unique 2D puzzles ranging in size from one to eight pieces. Each distinct puzzle is a work of art constructed from a unique set of eight trapezoidal and triangular geometric shaped pieces. The smaller two and three piece puzzles are great for entertaining the kids with a healthy activity, while the larger seven and eight piece puzzles offer the serious geek a challenge like no other. Most designs are abstract while many depict recognizable objects like people, animals, letters and symbols. Simply drag pieces from the bottom, then rotate and flip them into the perfect positions. Shadow is no ordinary block or jigsaw puzzle game. With so many puzzles to choose from, and the FREEDOM TO MOVE throughout the game, there are options for everyone. Smaller puzzles can be easy while larger puzzles may seem impossible - - but hints are available. In addition to playing Shadow for the fun of it, research has shown puzzles are beneficial for adults and children alike. Increased memory, enhanced problem solving skills, improvement in visual-spatial reasoning, better mood and heightened IQ can all result from spending time completing puzzles. With Shadow you never have to suffer through an advertisement or unwanted notification. It's a completely free app and our revenue is derived strictly from the sale of puzzle packs and hints. Enjoy!

About

Reality Check Chess

This app focuses on improving your chess game by presenting you with random, realistic game positions from top-level play. It helps you assess your overall playing strength beyond just tactical puzzles, offering various modes to challenge your consistency and strategic thinking.

Highlights
  • Random, realistic game positions
  • Focus on overall playing strength
  • Variety of playing modes
  • Improves consistency and strategy
  • Accurate evaluation of playing strength
Features
Read full description

REALITY CHECK CHESS - Train on real positions. Get an honest measure of your game. Tactical puzzles are fun but do they actually make you stronger? Most of your real games aren't lost to missed brilliancies. They're lost to ordinary blunders in ordinary positions. Reality Check trains you where it counts: authentic positions from top-level games, where you must find the best move — whether it's a tactic, a quiet positional improvement, or just a solid practical choice. No contrived setups. Just an honest read on how strong you really are. WHY REALITY CHECK • Train on real positions from master games - not artificial puzzles • Get a precise evaluation of your true playing strength • Build consistency in the positions you actually face • Sharpen the "normal" moves that decide most games GAME MODES • Endgame Academy - NEW! Master essential checkmates & endgame technique through guided, adaptive drills with star ratings • Masters - test yourself in positions from elite games • Tactical Racer - race the clock to find the best moves • Daily Challenges - a fresh test every day • Blunder Check - stop giving games away • Simulator & Study - analyze, learn, and play freely • Puzzles - classic tactics when you want them BUILT FOR REAL IMPROVEMENT A redesigned premium interface with smooth board animations, progress tracking, and a powerful engine for instant analysis. Get your reality checked - and become a genuinely better chess player. Premium is an auto-renewable subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.freeprivacypolicy.com/live/d53d968e-a742-4176-abbf-0a7ca662041d

Screenshots

Shadow4 screens
Reality Check Chess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Reality Check Chess at every 6 days against Shadow's every 6 weeks. Shadow's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (70 vs 7). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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. Shadow sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Reality Check Chess sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Shadow holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shadow has 70 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shadow ships an update every 6 weeks, Reality Check Chess every 6 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Shadow versus Reality Check Chess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShadowReality Check Chess
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (70 ratings) — better4.4 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings70 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB194 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperInternational Petroleum Museum & Exposition, Inc.Marko Milosevic

Customer experience

Shadow

All ratings69 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral4.3%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Reality Check Chess

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Shadow

One-time11
  • 20 Hints Pack$0.99
  • 100 Pack - 3$1.99
  • 100 Pack - 5$1.99
Show 8 more
  • 100 Pack - 1$1.99
  • 100 Pack - 2$1.99
  • 100 Pack - 4$1.99
  • 100 Pack - 6$1.99
  • 750 Pack - 3$9.99
  • 750 Pack - 1$9.99
  • 750 Pack - 5$9.99
  • 750 Pack - 2$9.99
2 purchases

Reality Check Chess

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Month7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Premium Year7 Days trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Shadow free?
Shadow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Reality Check Chess free?
Reality Check Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Shadow or Reality Check Chess?
Shadow is rated higher. Shadow averages 4.8 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while Reality Check Chess averages 4.4 from 7 ratings.
Do Shadow or Reality Check Chess have ads?
Neither Shadow nor Reality Check Chess shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shadow or Reality Check Chess?
Shadow ships an update every 6 weeks, and Reality Check Chess every 6 days. Most recently, Shadow was updated on October 24, 2026 and Reality Check Chess on October 24, 2026.

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