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.
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.
- High-quality graphics and sound effects
- 1 and 2 player modes
- Challenging AI opponent
- Configurable difficulty levels
- Undo function
- Automatic game saving
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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!
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.
- Randomized chess piece sets
- AI opponent challenges
- Ranked, Daily, and Weekly modes
- Freeplay practice mode
- Local multiplayer (with IAP)
- Alternate color palettes (with IAP)
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Chess Premium HD | Really Bad Chess |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (662 ratings) — better | 3.8 (1.6K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.6% of reviews — better | 46.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 662 | 1.6K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Ad-supported — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 81 MB | 125 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Optime Software LLC | Zach Gage |
Customer experience
Chess Premium HD
Really Bad Chess
User reviews
Chess Premium HD
From 662 App Store ratingsWhat 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 ratingsWhat 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
Chess Premium HD
No in-app purchases
Really Bad Chess
- 100 Undos$0.99
- Full Game Unlock$3.99
Questions
Is Chess Premium HD free?
Is Really Bad Chess free?
Which has better reviews, Chess Premium HD or Really Bad Chess?
Do Chess Premium HD or Really Bad Chess have ads?
Which is updated more often, Chess Premium HD or Really Bad Chess?
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