Comparison

Chess vs King's Ascension

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

Head to head
About

Chess

Master the game of chess with this comprehensive app. Learn step-by-step, play against adaptive AI across 100 difficulty levels, and sharpen your skills with thousands of puzzles. Enjoy offline play and track your progress with an ELO rating.

Highlights
  • 100 difficulty levels
  • Interactive learning coach
  • Thousands of chess puzzles
  • Adaptive AI opponent
  • ELO rating tracker
  • Multiple game modes
  • Offline play
Features
Read full description

Play Chess – Learn, Train & Challenge with the Ultimate Chess App Take your chess to the next level with the ultimate chess app for iPhone and iPad. Whether you’re a beginner learning chess, an intermediate player looking to improve, or an advanced competitor training like a grandmaster, our app has everything you need. Powered by an award-winning chess engine, it feels like you’re playing against a real opponent – not just a computer. With 100 skill levels, automatic ELO rating tracking, and personalized difficulty that adapts to your style, you’ll always find the perfect challenge. No accounts. No fuss. Just download and start playing chess instantly. Key Features World Chess Champion Software 2026 Award Winner using Ginkgo 150 difficulty levels – from beginner to grandmaster strength Adaptive chess engine – plays like a human and adjusts to your skill ELO rating calculator – track your progress and growth Powerful AI – ranked 4th in the World Microcomputer Chess Championship Learn chess with a built-in coach – highlights best moves and alternatives Solve 1000s of chess puzzles – improve tactics, strategy, and endgame skills Huge book of chess openings Database of famous chess games – study, replay, and analyze the masters Multiple modes – Classic, Blitz, Training, Two-Player, and Analysis Mode Custom boards and sets – from traditional chess book style to modern themes Full chess rules supported – castling, en passant, pawn promotion, and more Minimal ads, no login required – play chess instantly without interruptions Whether you enjoy casual games, serious training, or fast-paced blitz chess, this app has you covered. Always challenging, sometimes aggressive, and never boring – just like real chess should be. Perfect for: Beginners who want to learn chess step by step Casual players who enjoy fun, relaxing games Competitive players who want to train like a grandmaster Puzzle lovers who want to sharpen their tactics End User License Agreement ("Agreement") (EULA) https://www.mastersoft.biz/eula.htm Privacy policy https://www.mastersoft.biz/privacy.htm

About

King's Ascension

Features
Read full description

Ascend to the throne in chess like never before! King's Ascension reinvents the classic game with a thrilling new twist: earn points by capturing enemy pieces and use them to upgrade your army mid-game. Outsmart your opponents not just with strategy, but with evolving power on the board.

Screenshots

Chess4 screens
King's Ascension2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: King's Ascension at none against Chess's 3. King's Ascension also leads on ads (none vs shown). Chess's advantage is device support (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price 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. Chess sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. King's Ascension asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Chess versus King's Ascension: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessKing's Ascension
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.6K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews90.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.6K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size276 MB6 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperMastersoftEden Prairie High School

Bugs and requests

Chess

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Pawn disappearing issue when castling
  • Ratings not updating properly after games
  • Crashes on certain iOS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • More detailed explanations for suggested moves
  • Option to play against other users online
  • Ability to set up custom board positions
  • Slower computer move speeds for beginners

King's Ascension

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Chess

Subscriptions1
  • Chess Pro for 1 month.$2.991 Month
One-time2
  • Buy Chess Pro.$2.99
  • Upgrade to Ginkgo. 10% Off.$9.95
None

King's Ascension

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chess free?
Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is King's Ascension free?
King's Ascension is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Chess or King's Ascension have ads?
Chess shows ads; King's Ascension does not.

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