Comparison

Fairy Chess vs Chess Crusade

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

Head to head
About

Fairy Chess

Experience a fresh take on chess with unique rules, new pieces, and a dynamic chessboard. Create custom starting positions and challenge the computer or a "boss" character. Progress through levels by winning games to unlock more pieces for your initial setup.

Highlights
  • New chess rules and pieces
  • Custom initial board positions
  • Play against computer or boss
  • Unlock new pieces by leveling up
  • Progressive difficulty
Features
Read full description

Fairy Chess is a new version of chess with new rules, new pieces and even a new chessboard. You can create your own initial position and play against the computer or the boss. To unlock more pieces you have to beat the boss and reach new boss levels. If you reach a new level by winning enough games you will be able to add more pieces to your initial position.

About

Chess Crusade

This game blends traditional chess with deck-building mechanics, introducing powerful fairy pieces and strategic upgrades. Build your battle deck, refine your strategy, and conquer colorful worlds in both casual and ranked matches.

Highlights
  • Fairy chess pieces
  • Deck-building mechanics
  • Strategic piece upgrades
  • Ranked PvP and PvE modes
  • Customizable worlds and avatars
  • Spectate and learn from top players
Features
Read full description

MEET CHESS CRUSADE It’s the game that’s easier than chess and harder than chess at the same time. It’s chess for the curious, and it’s a new challenge for the deck-builders. Wield powerful new character pieces like Nightrider, Archbishop, and Angel to attack or protect the king in stunningly colorful worlds. Checkmate is just the beginning. Even when one game ends, your strategy continues. Refine your deck, experiment with your opening line-up, plot your next character upgrade, redeem your rewards, and win your way to the nearly unstoppable Angel. The more you play, the more powerful you become. GAMEPLAY Gameplay starts with a few pieces; choose wisely or you won’t have long to live. With each turn you survive, earn more Material and spawn a strategic new piece from your battle complement. But watch out, the game can change in a single turn—who will your opponent spawn? If they’re saving their gold, you could get slapped with the Angel, and she’s anything but angelic. DECK-BUILDING Between games, build up your deck. Your deck has four card slots for Chess Crusade pieces—upgrade pawns to Rangers, sanctify your Archbishop, or run the brutal Rook Rush play. WARRIORS AND ROYALTY Chess Crusade springs from traditional chess—you’ll find the bishop, rook, knight, pawns and queen protecting the king. But in Chess Crusade, everyone in the kingdom has counterparts who are biggerbetterfaster. Ranger—Every pawn wishes he were a Ranger: the awesome hat, the damsels, and the freedom to move back and forth. Priest—The Priest sidles in the shadows, following in the bishop’s footsteps for a lower ante. Tower—He’s a rook in training. What he lacks in reach, he makes up for with his willing spirit. Princess—She’s delicate and beautiful, but she’ll send you straight to the gallows if you attack the throne. Nightrider—He’s in the king’s special forces, brave like a knight with sneak-attack range. Crusader—The Crusader is a battle machine. He’s all knight and all rook, balancing long-range straightlines with a hooked-L surprise. Archbishop—The Archbishop is holier and more corrupt, with a staggering 20-position reach. Angel—She’s terrifying. PACE Play ranked PvP games or casual PvE games at your speed; be a Sloth and sleep on your next play for 23 hours of the day, take the calculated approach in 15-minute rounds, or ratchet up the heat in turns once every minute. FRIENDS Crusade with friends or challenge foes from the global leaderboard. You can even spectate live games friends are playing or learn from the top players in the kingdom. WORLDS Earn beautiful new themes to frame your battles. From the lovely Queen’s Meadow to the fiery Lava Flows, you’re far away in an epic landscape plotting a sacrifice or the ultimate endgame. GEMS Customize your world with avatars, card pieces, and taunts (“Bean slouch!”) from the shoppe. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “It’s making me crazy. I cannot stop playing.” —JordyB “I’ve been playing chess for eight years and was skeptical a fun, new version could ever be created. I was wrong. It’s approachable, visually great, and addicting. I’ve played hundreds of games in just a few days.” - 04tuna “This game absolutely ruined me for regular chess. I can’t imagine playing now without Nightrider, Crusader, or Ranger.” - Rank13 “This game will resonate with people who already love chess but are open to new experiences.” - Whom’st

Screenshots

Fairy Chess4 screens
Chess Crusade4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Fairy Chess at 100% against Chess Crusade's 50%. Fairy Chess also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7). Chess Crusade's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 3.6) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Chess Crusade sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Fairy Chess asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chess Crusade holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Crusade has 89 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Fairy Chess's written reviews are positive against 50% of Chess Crusade's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Fairy Chess ships an update every 3 months, Chess Crusade every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Fairy Chess versus Chess Crusade: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFairy ChessChess Crusade
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (5 ratings)4.4 (89 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings589 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.1 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB80 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSimon ZehnderToast - Apps and Software LLC

Customer experience

Fairy Chess

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Chess Crusade

All ratings88 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral8.0%
Negative10.2%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral21.4%
Negative28.6%

In-app purchases

None

Fairy Chess

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Chess Crusade

One-time7
  • Gem Pack 1$0.99
  • Multi-Game Pass$0.99
  • Username Change$2.99
Show 4 more
  • Gem Pack 2$4.99
  • Gem Pack 3$14.99
  • Gem Pack 4$49.99
  • Gem Pack 5$99.99

Questions

Is Fairy Chess free?
Fairy Chess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chess Crusade free?
Chess Crusade is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Fairy Chess or Chess Crusade?
Chess Crusade is rated higher. Fairy Chess averages 3.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Chess Crusade averages 4.4 from 89 ratings.
Do Fairy Chess or Chess Crusade have ads?
Neither Fairy Chess nor Chess Crusade shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Fairy Chess or Chess Crusade?
Fairy Chess ships an update every 3 months, and Chess Crusade every 2 weeks. Most recently, Fairy Chess was updated on October 24, 2026 and Chess Crusade on October 27, 2026.

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