# Gradient Games vs Chess by Staple Games

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Gradient Games at 100% against Chess by Staple Games's 73%. Chess by Staple Games's advantage is device support (6 vs 4) and iOS requirement (17 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Gradient Games ships an update every 4 months, Chess by Staple Games every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gradient Games | Chess by Staple Games |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-by-staple-games/id6756031740/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **6** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 73.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Samuel McBroom](https://appshunter.io/developer/1549562792) | [Staple Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454538415) |

## What reviewers say

### Gradient Games

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gradient-games/id1609975604)

Enjoy a collection of simple, vibrant board games playable on a single device. Challenge friends to local multiplayer matches with included titles like chess, reversi, and checkers. Customize your game experience with theme creation and sharing.

**Highlights:** Simple, colorful board game collection, Create and share custom themes, Local multiplayer on the same device, Includes chess, reversi, and checkers, Challenge friends

**In-app purchases:** none


### Chess by Staple Games

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-by-staple-games/id6756031740)

Experience classic chess with a beautifully crafted app designed for all Apple devices. Enjoy solo practice against AI, local multiplayer, or online matches. Features include all official rules, accessibility options, and progress tracking.

**Highlights:** AI challenges with 6 difficulty levels, Pass & Play for local face-to-face games, Online multiplayer via Game Center, Local wireless play over Bluetooth/Wi-Fi, Full implementation of all chess rules, Cross-device compatibility (iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc.), Accessibility features (VoiceOver, high contrast)

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Gradient Games free?

Gradient Games is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Chess by Staple Games free?

Chess by Staple Games is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Gradient Games or Chess by Staple Games have ads?

Neither Gradient Games nor Chess by Staple Games shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Gradient Games or Chess by Staple Games?

Gradient Games ships an update every 4 months, and Chess by Staple Games every 5 months. Most recently, Gradient Games was updated on October 19, 2026 and Chess by Staple Games on October 28, 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.*