# Chess Royale vs Really Bad Chess+

The clearest difference is rating: Chess Royale at 4.5 against Really Bad Chess+'s 3.4. Chess Royale also leads on ratings volume (20K vs 165) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). Really Bad Chess+'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess Royale sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Really Bad Chess+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess Royale holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Royale has 20K ratings behind it against 165, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Chess Royale's written reviews are positive against 54% of Really Bad Chess+'s.

Chess Royale ships an update every 5 weeks, Really Bad Chess+ every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Royale | Really Bad Chess+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (20K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-royale/id1434658250/reviews)** | [3.4 (165 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess-plus/id1551670264/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **20K** | 165 |
| Positive reviews | **59.7% of reviews** | 54.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 473 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SayGames LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1551847165) | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess Royale

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-royale/id1434658250)

Engage in the classic game of chess with millions worldwide. This app offers AI challenges, multiplayer matches, and extensive training tools including puzzles and post-game analysis to improve your strategic skills.

**Highlights:** Play against AI, Multiplayer matches, Chess puzzles, Post-game analysis, Beginner and advanced training, Multiple game modes

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Vip | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Vip | $19.99 | per month |
| Annual Vip | $39.99 | per year |
| Tiny Coins Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tiny Gems Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gold Reserve 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Coins Pack Offer | $3.99 | one-time |
| Disable Ads Forever | $4.99 | one-time |
| Medium Gems Pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| Large Gems Pack | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Enjoyable gameplay
- 🚀 Seamless matchmaking
- 💡 Helpful chess lessons and puzzles
- 🤩 Great for learning and improving chess skills

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤬 Excessive and disruptive advertisements
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🕰️ Long wait times between games due to ads
- 🤖 Suspicion of playing against bots instead of real players

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect puzzle solutions being marked as wrong
- Game losses due to connection issues or app freezes
- Inconsistent trophy/ranking system
- Inability to report cheating or suspicious behavior

**Requested features**

- Ability to play longer timed games
- Option to disable ads for a one-time fee
- More advanced chess analysis and training features
- Improved matchmaking to pair players of similar skill levels


### Really Bad Chess+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess-plus/id1551670264)

Experience chess with a chaotic twist! This app replaces standard pieces with random assortments, forcing you to rethink strategy. Perfect for both seasoned players seeking a new challenge and beginners looking to learn the fundamentals in a fun, unpredictable way.

**Highlights:** Random piece assignments, AI challenges (Ranked, Daily, Weekly), Freeplay mode, Local versus mode, Daily chess puzzles, New strategic challenges

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Innovative concept
- 🤩 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Easy to learn
- 🧠 Improves chess skills
- ✨ Clean UI

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Unfair AI starting positions
- ⚖️ AI too lucky/strong
- 🚫 No draws (stalemate/repetition)
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 📱 UI scaling issues

**Reported bugs**

- App zoomed in, parts of board/UI cut off (recent update)
- Cannot make legal moves
- Game won't allow moves out of check
- AI gets stuck in infinite loops
- Incorrect checkmate detection

**Requested features**

- Add draws by repetition/stalemate
- Option for mirrored pieces
- Tutorial for beginners
- Ability to play online multiplayer
- Option to see solution for daily challenges


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Royale free?

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

### Is Really Bad Chess+ free?

Really Bad Chess+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chess Royale or Really Bad Chess+?

Chess Royale is rated higher. Chess Royale averages 4.5 out of 5 from 20K ratings, while Really Bad Chess+ averages 3.4 from 165 ratings.

### Do Chess Royale or Really Bad Chess+ have ads?

Chess Royale shows ads; Really Bad Chess+ does not.

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

Chess Royale ships an update every 5 weeks, and Really Bad Chess+ every 3 months. Most recently, Chess Royale was updated on September 26, 2026 and Really Bad Chess+ on September 6, 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.*