Comparison

CHESS MATES ™ vs RuneChess

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

Head to head
About

CHESS MATES ™

Experience a unique multiplayer chess game with support for 2, 3, or 4 players. Customize your game with various board styles, piece sets, and themed rooms. Offers multiple game modes and AI challenges for endless strategic fun.

Highlights
  • 2-4 player multiplayer chess
  • Traditional chess and checkers gameplay
  • Customizable board styles and piece sets
  • Variety of themed game rooms
  • Multiple game modes
  • Challenging AI opponents
  • Import custom Chess Club themes
Features
Read full description

Introducing Chess · Mates game that offers an unparalleled gaming experience for players of all levels - Chess · Mates app with its extensive features and wide range of customization options, this game is designed to cater to every chess enthusiast's preferences and interests. Multiplayer chess experience! Play with your friends or challenge opponents from around the world in this beautifully designed video game. With support for 2, 3, or 4 players, Chess · Mates app brings a new level of strategy and competition to the classic with a unique board game. In addition to traditional chess and gameplay, Chess · Mates app features a variety of game modes and customization options. Choose from different board styles and piece sets, or try your hand at alternative chess variants. There's always a new challenge waiting for you in Chess · Mates video game. The Chess · Mates app doesn't stop at visual customization; it also caters to different gameplay preferences. With support for up to 4 players and 4 different game modes, you can enjoy thrilling multiplayer matches with friends or engage in strategic battles against challenging AI opponents. For smaller groups, the game seamlessly adjusts to 3 players and 3 game modes, allowing for intense and engaging matchups. And, of course, the classic 2-player mode is available for those who enjoy the traditional chess experience. No matter how you choose to play, the Chess · Mates app has an immersive and thrilling chess experience that will keep you entertained for hours on end. Whether you're a beginner looking to improve your skills, a casual player seeking an enjoyable pastime, or a seasoned chess master looking for new challenges, this game has something for everyone. Download now and start playing! Immerse yourself in a world of endless possibilities, where the beauty of chess meets stunning visuals and versatile gameplay. The Chess · Mates video game is here to redefine the way you play this timeless game. Chess Club Themes: Importing your own Chess Club theme into Chess Mates is a fantastic way to personalize your gaming experience. Whether you want to recreate the atmosphere of your club's physical location or showcase your club's logo and colors that reflect the style and personality of your chess club. Discover a collection of 20 captivating game rooms that will ignite your imagination. Engage in epic battles in the Dojo, experience thrilling showdowns in the Colosseum, journey to the outer reaches of space with Mars, or delve into the depths of a Dungeon. With options like the Playground, Sandbox, Long Beach, Camping, Desert, Frontier, Egyptian, and many more, the possibilities for adventure are boundless. Unleash your strategic prowess with 20 mesmerizing chess sets. Take command of Emperors, channel the wisdom of Pharaohs, reign like Kings, or let Dinosaurs roam the board. Engage in extraterrestrial battles with Aliens, partake in medieval clashes, embrace the futuristic with Robots and Spaceships, or even invite Squirrels and Tanks to join the fray. The choices are abundant, with even more sets to explore! But the excitement doesn't end with chess alone. Prepare for thrilling checkers battles with 20 exciting checker sets. Take to the skies in helicopters, race with blazing speed in cars and airplanes, unleash the power of spider bots, experience high-speed chases with pod racers, or commandeer pirate ships. Cross tracks with trucks and trains, zip around on scooters, pilot powerful tanks, or rev up the engine with a Hot Rods. Add a whole new level of excitement to your checkers matches! Embark on this extraordinary chess journey today! Download Chess · Mates and let the adventure begin. Prepare to experience chess like never before, where timeless gameplay meets stunning visuals and exciting twists. Are you ready to rise to the challenge and become the Chess · Mates Champion? Terms of Use, https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

RuneChess

Features
Read full description

A chess puzzle with no opponent — only precision. Rune-coins lie on the board. Each one needs an exact number of attacks: no more, no fewer. Your task is to place the pieces you are given so that every rune gets its due. HOW IT WORKS Pieces strike by ordinary chess rules, and a line of attack stops at the first piece it meets. The rook holds the ranks and files, the bishop the diagonals, the knight leaps over anything in the way, the queen combines rook and bishop. The solution falls out of those rules: one attack too many spoils it exactly as surely as one too few. 165 LEVELS Five of them teach you the board and the pieces. After that come Moonlit Garden and Starlit Observatory, where several kinds of piece have to work together and the hints run out. STARS AND RANKS Up to three stars a level: three for an exact solution with no hints. Stars are never spent for nothing. They raise your rank in the achievements and unlock looks — your own table, your own pieces, your own coins. DAILY CHALLENGE A new puzzle every day, separate from the campaign. NOTHING YOU DID NOT ASK FOR The game works without an internet connection. There is no registration, no name or email is asked for, and nothing is sold for real money. The coins on the board are part of the puzzle, not a currency: there is no wagering and no gambling in RuneChess. Advertising is voluntary only: you may watch a video for an extra hint, or to skip a level you are stuck on. Nothing else is hidden behind one.

Screenshots

CHESS MATES ™4 screens
RuneChess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RuneChess at Free against CHESS MATES ™'s $0.99. RuneChess also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). CHESS MATES ™'s advantage is ads (none vs shown). On 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

RuneChess is free to download; CHESS MATES ™ costs $0.99 up front. CHESS MATES ™ sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per year. RuneChess asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CHESS MATES ™ ships an update every 5 weeks, RuneChess every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
CHESS MATES ™ versus RuneChess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCHESS MATES ™RuneChess
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating2.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews16.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRobert DuBoisMIKHAIL SHMYREV

In-app purchases

2 purchases

CHESS MATES ™

Subscriptions1
  • Chess Mates NoAds Subscription$0.991 Year
One-time1
  • Chess Mates No Ads Purchase$1.99
None

RuneChess

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CHESS MATES ™ free?
CHESS MATES ™ costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is RuneChess free?
RuneChess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do CHESS MATES ™ or RuneChess have ads?
RuneChess shows ads; CHESS MATES ™ does not.
Which is updated more often, CHESS MATES ™ or RuneChess?
CHESS MATES ™ ships an update every 5 weeks, and RuneChess every 2 weeks. Most recently, CHESS MATES ™ was updated on November 3, 2026 and RuneChess on November 6, 2026.

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