Comparison

Chess Premium HD vs Really Bad Chess

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

Head to head
About

Chess Premium HD

Experience visually stunning chess gameplay with strategic challenges. Play against friends or a sophisticated AI, with features like configurable difficulty, undo, and automatic saving. Enjoy a premium chess experience on your device.

Highlights
  • High-quality graphics and sound effects
  • 1 and 2 player modes
  • Challenging AI opponent
  • Configurable difficulty levels
  • Undo function
  • Automatic game saving
Features
Read full description

Are you tired of playing chess games that look like they were designed for a Commodore 64 instead of an iPad? We've got the antidote for you. Chess Premium HD is the best looking chess game for the iPad. Chess Premium HD supports both 1 player and 2 player gameplay, so you can play against friends or test your skills against a challenging computer opponent. Chess Premium HD includes a host of exciting features, including: * Great graphics and exciting sound effects * Configurable player names and score tracking * Outstanding AI engine with configurable difficulty level * Undo function if you accidentally hit the wrong square * Automatically saves your game when you exit the application If you're looking for a killer chess application for your iPad, check out Chess Premium HD today!

About

Really Bad Chess

This app reimagines chess with completely randomized pieces, offering a fresh strategic challenge. It's perfect for both seasoned players seeking a new puzzle and beginners looking to learn the fundamentals in a fun, accessible way.

Highlights
  • Randomized chess piece sets
  • AI opponent challenges
  • Ranked, Daily, and Weekly modes
  • Freeplay practice mode
  • Local multiplayer (with IAP)
  • Alternate color palettes (with IAP)
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? As heard on NPR's Weekend Edition 5 out of 5 Stars "An essential puzzle experience for anyone even remotely interested in strategy games" - TouchArcade 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. ------WHATS IN THE “BOX”? The free version of Really Bad Chess lets you compete vs. an AI in Ranked, Daily, or Weekly Challenges. Improve your skills using the included Freeplay mode. A single in-app purchase unlocks Versus Mode so you can compete against your friends locally! It also removes ads, displays captured pieces, and adds soothing alternate color-palettes to choose from. ------REALLY BAD PRESS "Makes chess fun even if you’re really bad" - The Verge "Feels more modern than chess has ever felt" - Applenapps "Really Bad Chess takes a really bad idea and somehow manages to make it a lot of fun." - Pocket Gamer "Really good fun" - MacLife ------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. I hope you have as much fun with Really Bad Chess as much as I did making it. -zach

Screenshots

Really Bad Chess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Really Bad Chess at Free against Chess Premium HD's $1.99. Really Bad Chess also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 12 months) and device support (3 vs 1). Chess Premium HD's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ratings volume and ads 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

Really Bad Chess is free to download; Chess Premium HD costs $1.99 up front. Really Bad Chess sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Chess Premium HD asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chess Premium HD holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 662 and 1.6K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Chess Premium HD's written reviews are positive against 46% of Really Bad Chess's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chess Premium HD ships an update every 12 months, Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Chess Premium HD versus Really Bad Chess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChess Premium HDReally Bad Chess
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (662 ratings) — better3.8 (1.6K ratings)
Positive reviews80.6% of reviews — better46.3% of reviews
Number of ratings6621.6K — better
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS10.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size81 MB125 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOptime Software LLCZach Gage

Customer experience

Chess Premium HD

All ratings662 ratings
Positive90.6%
Neutral3.6%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews407 reviews
Positive80.6%
Neutral9.8%
Negative9.6%

Really Bad Chess

All ratings1,633 ratings
Positive66.6%
Neutral9.0%
Negative24.4%
Written reviews611 reviews
Positive46.3%
Neutral16.4%
Negative37.3%

User reviews

Chess Premium HD

From 662 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and easy to use
  • 🚀 Smooth gameplay
  • 💡 Adjustable difficulty levels
  • 🎨 Good graphics and design
  • ⏱️ Fast computer opponent

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
  • 🔀 No landscape mode
  • 🔍 Missing captured pieces display
  • ⚠️ Inconsistent move recognition
  • ⏳ Slow computer response time

Really Bad Chess

From 1.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Addictive and fun gameplay
  • 🤔 Unique and innovative concept
  • 👍 Challenging and engaging
  • ⭐ Great way to learn chess

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and crashes
  • 🕰️ Slow AI response times
  • 💰 Paywalls for essential features
  • 📺 Intrusive and excessive ads
  • 🔁 Repetitive AI moves leading to stalemates

Bugs and requests

Chess Premium HD

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Pieces disappearing from the board
  • Incorrect checkmate detection
  • Inability to castle
  • Game freezes and crashes
  • Moves not registering properly

Requested features

5 requests
  • Online multiplayer mode
  • Ability to save and replay games
  • More customization options for boards and pieces
  • Hints and tips for beginners
  • Detailed win/loss tracking

Really Bad Chess

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Pieces unable to move as per chess rules
  • Game freezes and crashes
  • Incorrect checkmate detection

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add draw conditions and stalemate rules
  • Implement online/multiplayer mode
  • Provide more difficulty settings
  • Allow custom piece arrangements
  • Sync progress across devices

In-app purchases

None

Chess Premium HD

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Really Bad Chess

One-time2
  • 100 Undos$0.99
  • Full Game Unlock$3.99

Questions

Is Chess Premium HD free?
Chess Premium HD costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Really Bad Chess free?
Really Bad Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Chess Premium HD or Really Bad Chess?
Chess Premium HD is rated higher. Chess Premium HD averages 4.6 out of 5 from 662 ratings, while Really Bad Chess averages 3.8 from 1.6K ratings.
Do Chess Premium HD or Really Bad Chess have ads?
Both Chess Premium HD and Really Bad Chess show ads.
Which is updated more often, Chess Premium HD or Really Bad Chess?
Chess Premium HD ships an update every 12 months, and Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. Most recently, Chess Premium HD was updated on October 16, 2026 and Really Bad Chess on October 12, 2026.

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