Tempire vs Spy Chess
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tempire
Experience a unique blend of chess and real-time strategy. Compete against friends or AI in fast-paced matches. This game offers an ad-free, free-to-play experience.
- Chess variation
- Real-time action
- Online multiplayer
- AI opponent
- Ad-free gameplay
- Free to play
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Tempire is a variation on chess that brings tense real-time action to the classic turn-based board game. Play online with friends or against challenging AI, all for free and without ads. Tempire was made by Greg March and Matthew Jee, with music by Jacob Rhein.
Spy Chess
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Spy Chess takes the game you know and adds a layer of hidden betrayal: before the match begins, secretly select 3 of your opponent's pieces (never their king) to recruit as your spies. Your opponent has no idea which pieces are compromised. Each spy can be revealed exactly once, the moment you do, it flips to your color and you control it for the rest of the game. Reveal too early and you tip your hand; wait too long and the opportunity might slip away. Every match becomes a psychological battle layered on top of the classic one. Play your way - Challenge the AI across three difficulty levels - Play online against real opponents, or invite a friend directly - Chat with friends and track your history with saved, reviewable games Master the classic rules, then master the art of the double agent. Go Pro to remove ads and unlock unlimited online multiplayer.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tempire at none against Spy Chess's 2. Spy Chess's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 23 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
Both are free to download. Spy Chess sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Tempire asks for nothing beyond the download.
Tempire ships an update every 23 months, Spy Chess every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Tempire | Spy Chess |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 23 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 162 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Matthew Jee | Marcus Nash |
In-app purchases
Tempire
No in-app purchases
Spy Chess
- Spy Chess Pro Monthly$0.991 Month
- Spy Chess Pro Annual$9.991 Year









