Comparison

Really Bad Chess+ vs Chess Universe+

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

Head to head
About

Really Bad Chess+

Experience chess with a chaotic twist! This app replaces standard pieces with random assortments, forcing you to rethink strategy. Perfect for both seasoned players seeking a new challenge and beginners looking to learn the fundamentals in a fun, unpredictable way.

Highlights
  • Random piece assignments
  • AI challenges (Ranked, Daily, Weekly)
  • Freeplay mode
  • Local versus mode
  • Daily chess puzzles
  • New strategic challenges
Features
Read full description

Really Bad Chess is just like chess, but with totally random pieces. Try 8 Knights, 4 Bishops, and 3 pawns — why not? Whether you play chess daily, or quit just after learning the rules, this small twist will open the door to an entire new world of chess. Compete vs. an AI in Ranked, Daily, or Weekly Challenges. Improve your skills using the included Freeplay mode. Compete against your friends locally in versus mode! Warm up every day with our new daily chess puzzle — Knight Hike! ------A WORD FROM THE DEVELOPER Chess is one of those games I always wished I enjoyed, but its commitment to beauty, elegance, and perfect balance always turned me away. Really Bad Chess removes these boring restrictions and flips chess on its head. As much as random pieces change the game in some ways, I was really surprised to notice how much the game remains the same, and how powerful some pieces are — you've never truly struggled against a pawn until you've struggled against a pawn in the back row. For chess pros, Really Bad Chess will give you a new type of challenge — the pieces & the moves are the same, but you'll have to throw out your openings and your understanding of normal patterns of play. For novice chess players (like most of us), Really Bad Chess greatly opens up the game. Instead of starting by studying openings, in your first games you'll get to discover the joy (and challenge!) of learning how to checkmate. -zach

About

Chess Universe+

Engage in online chess matches and enhance your gameplay with a comprehensive learning platform. Access tutorials, challenges, and connect with a global community of players. Personalize your experience with collectible pets and avatar customizations.

Highlights
  • Play against players worldwide
  • Extensive tutorials and lessons
  • Interactive learning challenges
  • Global player community
  • Collectible pets and avatar customization
  • Virtual chessboard with realistic graphics
Features
Read full description

Are you a chess enthusiast looking to improve your skills and play against players worldwide? Look no further than Chess Universe+! Our app is the ultimate destination for chess players of all levels, providing a fun and engaging environment to learn and play chess. With Chess Universe+, you'll have access to a vast library of tutorials, lessons, and interactive challenges designed to help you master the game of chess. From beginners learning the basics to advanced players honing their skills, Chess Universe+ has something for everyone. But that's not all! Chess Universe+ also connects you to a community of chess players worldwide, allowing you to play against opponents from different countries and improve your skills. Whether you're looking for a casual match or a challenging competition, you'll find it all in Chess Universe+. In addition to its comprehensive chess-playing features, Chess Universe+ also includes a fun and unique reward system. By winning games and completing challenges, you can unlock special chests that contain pets and character customization items. With a wide variety of pets to collect, from cute and cuddly to fierce, you can show off your personality and add a flair to your chess experience. And with a wide range of customization options, you can personalize your avatar and make your mark on the chess world. Our virtual chessboard is easy to use and intuitive, with beautiful graphics and realistic sound effects that make every game an immersive experience. And with support for different time controls and ratings, you can find opponents that match your preferred style of play. So what are you waiting for? Join Chess Universe+ today and start your journey to becoming a master chess player! Support Are you having problems? Send us a message through support@chess-universe.net

Screenshots

Really Bad Chess+4 screens
Chess Universe+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Chess Universe+ at 4.7 against Really Bad Chess+'s 3.4. Chess Universe+ also leads on ratings volume (6.6K vs 167) and review sentiment (63% vs 54%). 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chess Universe+ holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Universe+ has 6.6K ratings behind it against 167, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Really Bad Chess+'s written reviews are positive against 63% of Chess Universe+'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Really Bad Chess+ ships an update monthly, Chess Universe+ every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Really Bad Chess+ versus Chess Universe+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReally Bad Chess+Chess Universe+
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (167 ratings)4.7 (6.6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.0% of reviews63.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1676.6K — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size100 MB222 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperZach GageKings of Games, d.o.o.

Customer experience

Really Bad Chess+

All ratings165 ratings
Positive57.6%
Neutral6.7%
Negative35.8%
Written reviews100 reviews
Positive54.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative36.0%

Chess Universe+

All ratings6,288 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral4.0%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews363 reviews
Positive63.4%
Neutral12.7%
Negative24.0%

User reviews

Really Bad Chess+

From 167 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💡 Innovative concept
  • 🤩 Addictive gameplay
  • 👍 Easy to learn
  • 🧠 Improves chess skills
  • ✨ Clean UI

Room to improve

  • 😠 Unfair AI starting positions
  • ⚖️ AI too lucky/strong
  • 🚫 No draws (stalemate/repetition)
  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches
  • 📱 UI scaling issues

Chess Universe+

From 6.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and responsive
  • 👍 Fun and engaging gameplay
  • 🎨 Interesting visual style
  • 🎓 Helpful chess lessons and puzzles
  • 🙌 Great for learning and improving chess skills

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent move evaluation
  • ⏱️ Frustrating time limits
  • 🔒 Lack of offline play options
  • 🎨 Childish or unappealing visual design
  • 💰 Excessive use of in-game currencies and paywalls

Bugs and requests

Really Bad Chess+

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • App zoomed in, parts of board/UI cut off (recent update)
  • Cannot make legal moves
  • Game won't allow moves out of check
  • AI gets stuck in infinite loops
  • Incorrect checkmate detection
Show 4 more
  • Pieces glitching
  • Cannot undo after checkmate
  • App not fitting on iPhone screen
  • Menu options cut off

Requested features

10 requests
  • Add draws by repetition/stalemate
  • Option for mirrored pieces
  • Tutorial for beginners
  • Ability to play online multiplayer
  • Option to see solution for daily challenges
Show 5 more
  • Mac app availability
  • Option to keep board on screen after game
  • Adjustable AI difficulty
  • More board/theme options
  • Animations for piece movement

Chess Universe+

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Games disappearing when app is closed
  • Inability to confirm moves leading to accidental blunders
  • Pieces not moving as expected in certain positions
  • Rewards and currencies not functioning as intended

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for castling and en passant
  • Provide more detailed chess analysis and feedback
  • Allow customization of game modes and time controls
  • Improve online matchmaking and reduce disconnections
  • Unlock all visual customization options for Apple Arcade users

In-app purchases

None

Really Bad Chess+

No in-app purchases

None

Chess Universe+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Really Bad Chess+ free?
Really Bad Chess+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chess Universe+ free?
Chess Universe+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Really Bad Chess+ or Chess Universe+?
Chess Universe+ is rated higher. Really Bad Chess+ averages 3.4 out of 5 from 167 ratings, while Chess Universe+ averages 4.7 from 6.6K ratings.
Do Really Bad Chess+ or Chess Universe+ have ads?
Neither Really Bad Chess+ nor Chess Universe+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Really Bad Chess+ or Chess Universe+?
Really Bad Chess+ ships an update monthly, and Chess Universe+ every 6 weeks. Most recently, Really Bad Chess+ was updated on October 21, 2026 and Chess Universe+ on October 21, 2026.

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