4x4 Chess vs Starchess
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
4x4 Chess
Experience a fast-paced, simplified version of chess on a 4x4 board. Games conclude in about a minute, making it perfect for quick play sessions. This accessible variant is designed for both beginners and experienced players seeking a new challenge.
- 4x4 chessboard
- Random piece arrangement
- Quick 1-minute games
- Beginner-friendly gameplay
- Accessible chess variant
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You play chess by using pieces which are arranged randomly on a chessboard of 4x4 squares. Since one game ends in about 1 minute, you can easily play in your free time. Even the beginner can enjoy playing because this chess is easier than normal chess.
Starchess
Experience chess with a unique twist on a three-dimensional board. Pieces gain new movement capabilities, allowing for strategic plays in up, down, and diagonal directions. Enjoy a fresh challenge to your chess skills.
- Three-dimensional chess board
- Traditional chess rules
- Expanded piece movement (up, down, diagonal)
- Unique strategic gameplay
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Starchess has all of the same rules as traditional chess but now on a three-dimensional board. Pieces can move up, down and diagonally.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Starchess at none against 4x4 Chess's shown. Starchess also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported). 4x4 Chess's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for 4x4 Chess against 5.0 for Starchess. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
4x4 Chess ships an update every 7 months, Starchess every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 4x4 Chess | Starchess |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Daisuke Shinzato | Nathan Lane |
Customer experience
4x4 Chess
Starchess
In-app purchases
4x4 Chess
No in-app purchases
Starchess
No in-app purchases
