Comparison

Mini Chess 5x5 vs Dotsplosion

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

Head to head
About

Mini Chess 5x5

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
Read full description

A chess variant on 5×5 board, the simplified version of the classic chess. You can play against the computer (several levels of difficulty) or use the app as a chess board when playing with a partner. Exceptions from the standard chess rules: the pawn double-move and castling are not allowed.

About

Dotsplosion

Engage in a classic chain reaction strategy game with modern neon visuals. Battle 50 unique bot rivals offline or test your skills in real-time 1v1 online ranked matches. Enjoy quick games, power-ups, and local pass-and-play multiplayer.

Highlights
  • Chain reaction gameplay
  • 50 unique bot rivals
  • Real-time online PvP
  • Local pass-and-play multiplayer
  • Power-ups and daily rewards
  • Interactive tutorial
Features
Read full description

One dot changes everything. Beat all 50 bot rivals - each with its own face, personality and ELO - then take your skills online in real-time 1v1 ranked battles. Dotsplosion is the classic chain reaction strategy game, rebuilt: place dots, hit critical mass, and watch explosions convert your opponent's pieces in massive chain combos. BEAT ALL 50 BOT RIVALS Forget boring Easy/Medium/Hard. Dotsplosion gives you 50 unique bot characters across 5 tiers - from Poki, who clicks around randomly, to grandmaster-level rivals with deep tactics. Every bot has its own face, personality and play style: corner hunters, defensive walls, aggressive rushers, chain-combo masters. Beat them one by one and climb from ELO 100 to 2100. It plays like a boss ladder - and it works fully offline. REAL-TIME ONLINE PVP Battle players around the world in 1v1 online multiplayer matches. Quick matchmaking, private rooms with invite codes, turn timers (15s blitz, 30s, 45s) and rematch votes. Every ranked match moves your ELO rating - win to climb from Amateur to Master on the global leaderboard. PLAY WITH FRIENDS Pass-and-play local multiplayer on one device. The perfect 2 player game for settling who's really the smartest - no internet needed. HOW IT WORKS - Tap a cell to place a dot - each cell holds up to 3 - At critical mass the cell explodes in four directions - Explosions convert enemy dots to your color - Converted cells can explode too: chain reaction! - Take over the whole board to win Corners are safer, edges are strong, and one clever move can flip a losing board into total victory. That comeback moment is what makes chain reaction games so addictive. POWER-UPS AND DAILY SPIN Turn the tide with tactical power-ups and spin the daily wheel for free rewards. LEARN BY PLAYING A 30-second interactive tutorial with Sage, your teacher bot, gets you making chain explosions on your very first game. No walls of text. WHY PLAYERS LOVE IT - Classic atoms / critical mass gameplay, modern neon look - Turn-based strategy that rewards brains, not reflexes - Offline single player campaign vs 50 bots - Online PvP with ELO ranking and leaderboards - Local 2 player mode with friends - Quick 2-3 minute matches - perfect brain game break - Free to play, no account required to start PLAY IN YOUR LANGUAGE Dotsplosion speaks English, 한국어, 日本語, Deutsch, Español and Português (Brasil). It follows your device by default — or pick the one you want in Settings → Language. Whether you loved the classic chain reaction board game, enjoy turn-based tactics like Reversi and Go, or just want a smart 1v1 duel game you can play anywhere - Dotsplosion is your next obsession. Place a dot. Start the reaction. Take the board.

Screenshots

Mini Chess 5x54 screens
Dotsplosion4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Mini Chess 5x5 at none against Dotsplosion's shown. Mini Chess 5x5 also leads on rating (3.5 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (79 vs 1). Dotsplosion's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 12 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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. Mini Chess 5x5 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Dotsplosion sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mini Chess 5x5 holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mini Chess 5x5 has 79 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mini Chess 5x5 ships an update every 12 months, Dotsplosion daily. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Mini Chess 5x5 versus Dotsplosion: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMini Chess 5x5Dotsplosion
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (79 ratings) — better3.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews43.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings79 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsDaily — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB92 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperGolmiumSuleyman Ozdemirci

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Mini Chess 5x5

One-time1
  • Mini Chess 5x5 full version$0.99
1 purchases

Dotsplosion

One-time1
  • Remove ads$2.99

Questions

Is Mini Chess 5x5 free?
Mini Chess 5x5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Dotsplosion free?
Dotsplosion is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Mini Chess 5x5 or Dotsplosion?
Mini Chess 5x5 is rated higher. Mini Chess 5x5 averages 3.5 out of 5 from 79 ratings, while Dotsplosion averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Mini Chess 5x5 or Dotsplosion have ads?
Dotsplosion shows ads; Mini Chess 5x5 does not.
Which is updated more often, Mini Chess 5x5 or Dotsplosion?
Mini Chess 5x5 ships an update every 12 months, and Dotsplosion daily. Most recently, Mini Chess 5x5 was updated on November 6, 2026 and Dotsplosion on October 31, 2026.

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