# Chess Ultimate vs Marble Run

The clearest difference is rating: Chess Ultimate at 4.0 against Marble Run's 3.2. Chess Ultimate also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess Ultimate sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Marble Run sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Chess Ultimate holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 127 and 100 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Chess Ultimate's written reviews are positive against 35% of Marble Run's.

Chess Ultimate ships an update every 4 days, Marble Run every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Ultimate | Marble Run |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (127 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-ultimate/id1560046518/reviews)** | [3.2 (100 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marble-run-race-builder/id1600859129/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **127** | 100 |
| Positive reviews | **62.7% of reviews** | 35.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 695 MB | 295 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Jesse Lugassy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1560046520) | [Darya Vladislavovna](https://appshunter.io/developer/1067566962) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess Ultimate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-ultimate/id1560046518)

Engage in a strategic battle where classic chess meets a roster of unique characters. Build a team to defend your King and outwit your opponent in this fresh take on a timeless game. It's easy to learn but offers deep mastery.

**Highlights:** Unique character roster, Team building, King defense strategy, Opponent downfall plotting, Fresh take on chess

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1,000 Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| 2,000 Gems | $3.49 | one-time |
| 3,000 Gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| Battle Pass | $7.99 | one-time |
| 5,000 Gems | $7.99 | one-time |
| 10,000 Gems | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Fun twist on classic chess
- 👍 Great concept and potential
- 🤩 Amazing graphics and art
- 🚀 Very fun to play
- 👍 No ads and offline play

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
- 😞 Login/sign-in issues
- ⏳ Long matchmaking times
- ⚖️ Unbalanced gameplay
- 📉 Some pieces are lackluster

**Reported bugs**

- App flashing and becoming unplayable after closing without shutting down
- Game refuses to connect to the internet
- No matches available
- Does not indicate when king is in check
- Login issues with Apple accounts

**Requested features**

- Fischer Random mode
- Spells or building mechanics
- Health bars and better motion for turtle piece
- Improved copy cat spawning mechanic
- Stronger giant piece


### Marble Run

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marble-run-race-builder/id1600859129)

Design and build intricate marble run tracks using a variety of elements. Race your marbles and watch them navigate the physics-based courses. Collect unique marble balls and explore creations from other players.

**Highlights:** Marble Run Builder, Endless Workshop, Thrilling Marble Races, Collectible Marbles, Realistic Physics

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Marble run PRO | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Ultimate free?

Chess Ultimate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Marble Run free?

Marble Run is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Chess Ultimate or Marble Run?

Chess Ultimate is rated higher. Chess Ultimate averages 4.0 out of 5 from 127 ratings, while Marble Run averages 3.2 from 100 ratings.

### Do Chess Ultimate or Marble Run have ads?

Marble Run shows ads; Chess Ultimate does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess Ultimate or Marble Run?

Chess Ultimate ships an update every 4 days, and Marble Run every 4 months. Most recently, Chess Ultimate was updated on October 27, 2026 and Marble Run on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*