Comparison

CheckMates vs Storyteller Trails

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

Head to head
About

CheckMates

Engage in chess matches with friends, family, or random opponents. Features include in-app video chat, turn-based play, and a chat system for communication. Personalize your experience with themes and icons.

Highlights
  • In-app video chat
  • Turn-based games with unlimited time
  • In-game chat system
  • Play against computer AI
  • Chess puzzles
  • Customizable themes and icons
  • Friends list
Features
Read full description

Play chess on your iPad or iPhone with your friends and family while using the in-app VideoChat or invite random players for a game of chess and use the regular chat system to send messages! CheckMates is the new social chess app for iOS. Featuring : - Choose whether you want to use videochat while playing chess. A unique way of playing this game online with friends and family. - Very easy and quick account setup with email verification. Automatic login when you open the app. - Chat with opponents through the in-game chat system. - Play turn-based games with unlimited time, so you don't have to be online at the same time. - Earn golden coins to spend in the shop for new color and music themes. - Play against the computer AI. - Chess puzzles to practice your skills. - Different color & music themes which you can buy with in-game currency. - Easy invite system, where you can search, invite and scroll through all the online users. - Very clean interface and easy to use, with extensive help file and support via email. - Choose from several sets of chess icons to personalize your game. - Play with time! Set the clock to the preferred time and play until one of you runs out of time. - Find your friends even quicker by adding them to your own friends list. - See how many matches you've won and lost. Come and join the community for this unique way of playing chess online.

About

Storyteller Trails

Features
Read full description

Storyteller Trails is a fun, engaging, immersive entertainment experience. Use the app to navigate a self-guided, predefined trail. Follow along with the story, exploring your local environment, finding story clues, and exercising your body and imagination! The experience combines existing forms of entertainment with a digital twist. Each trail is unique, and can include: - Orienteering - An adventure - A treasure hunt - A crime-solving mystery - Retelling of a historical event - Word games and puzzles It's all led by an animated storytelling journey to entertain the entire family. The simpler Storyteller Trails are great for 5 - 12 year olds and those looking for a spark of magic in their life. The more advanced mysteries are suitable for 12 - 100 and beyond! The series of Storyteller Trail clue locations are predefined and have been strategically chosen along the trail. Using the accompanying app, the locations are revealed and the audience is led on a captivating storytelling adventure. At each location a QR code or clue can be found. This unlocks a new chapter in the story, with accompanying clues and in-app animations being revealed. The last clue unveils the final chapter of the story, and the treasure is found/ culprit is revealed/ mystery is solved. Welcome to Storyteller Trails!

Screenshots

CheckMates4 screens
Storyteller Trails4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: CheckMates at 12.0 against Storyteller Trails's 15.0.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
CheckMates versus Storyteller Trails: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCheckMatesStoryteller Trails
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0.0
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB103 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPatrick RugebregtPeter Spence

In-app purchases

None

CheckMates

No in-app purchases

None

Storyteller Trails

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CheckMates free?
CheckMates is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Storyteller Trails free?
Storyteller Trails is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do CheckMates or Storyteller Trails have ads?
Neither CheckMates nor Storyteller Trails shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CheckMates or Storyteller Trails?
CheckMates ships an update every 3 weeks, and Storyteller Trails every 3 weeks. Most recently, CheckMates was updated on October 2, 2026 and Storyteller Trails on October 23, 2026.

Other comparisons