# Mini Chess 5x5 vs Chess Crusade

The clearest difference is rating: Chess Crusade at 4.4 against Mini Chess 5x5's 3.5. Chess Crusade also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 12 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mini Chess 5x5 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Chess Crusade sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Chess Crusade holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 79 and 88 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Mini Chess 5x5's written reviews are positive against 50% of Chess Crusade's.

Mini Chess 5x5 ships an update every 12 months, Chess Crusade every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mini Chess 5x5 | Chess Crusade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mini-chess-5x5/id1457707362/reviews) | **[4.4 (88 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-crusade/id6446124494/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 79 | **88** |
| Positive reviews | 43.3% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Golmium](https://appshunter.io/developer/887238485) | [Toast - Apps and Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/393055476) |

## What reviewers say

### Mini Chess 5x5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mini-chess-5x5/id1457707362)

Experience a unique chess variant on a 5x5 board. Play against AI with adjustable difficulty or use it as a physical board for two players. Enjoy a streamlined chess experience with simplified rules.

**Highlights:** 5x5 chess board variant, Play against computer AI, Multiple AI difficulty levels, Two-player mode, Simplified chess rules

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mini Chess 5x5 full version | $0.99 | one-time |


### Chess Crusade

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-crusade/id6446124494)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gem Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Multi-Game Pass | $0.99 | one-time |
| Username Change | $2.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 3 | $14.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 4 | $49.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 5 | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mini Chess 5x5 free?

Mini Chess 5x5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Chess Crusade free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mini Chess 5x5 or Chess Crusade?

Chess Crusade is rated higher. Mini Chess 5x5 averages 3.5 out of 5 from 79 ratings, while Chess Crusade averages 4.4 from 88 ratings.

### Do Mini Chess 5x5 or Chess Crusade have ads?

Neither Mini Chess 5x5 nor Chess Crusade shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mini Chess 5x5 or Chess Crusade?

Mini Chess 5x5 ships an update every 12 months, and Chess Crusade every 2 weeks. Most recently, Mini Chess 5x5 was updated on September 18, 2026 and Chess Crusade on September 22, 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.*