# Mine Tower vs Really Bad Chess

The clearest difference is rating: Mine Tower at 4.3 against Really Bad Chess's 3.8. Mine Tower also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Really Bad Chess's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 10 months) and ratings volume (1.6K vs 3). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Really Bad Chess sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Mine Tower asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mine Tower holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Really Bad Chess has 1.6K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 35% of Mine Tower's written reviews are positive against 46% of Really Bad Chess's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Mine Tower ships an update every 10 months, Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 14, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mine Tower | Really Bad Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mine-tower/id592300916/reviews)** | [3.8 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **1.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 35.3% of reviews | **46.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [DAN-BALL](https://appshunter.io/developer/348592290) | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) |

## What reviewers say

### Mine Tower

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mine-tower/id592300916)

A vertical scrolling puzzle game where players uncover cells without detonating mines. Use number clues to reveal safe paths and reach the bottom line to win.

**Highlights:** Vertical scrolling gameplay, Minesweeper puzzle mechanics, Tap to flag cells, Double-tap to open cells, Number clues for mine locations, Reach the bottom line to win

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Really Bad Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Undos | $0.99 | one-time |
| Full Game Unlock | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Pieces unable to move as per chess rules
- Game freezes and crashes
- Incorrect checkmate detection

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mine Tower free?

Mine Tower is free to download, 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, Mine Tower or Really Bad Chess?

Mine Tower is rated higher. Mine Tower averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Really Bad Chess averages 3.8 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Mine Tower or Really Bad Chess have ads?

Both Mine Tower and Really Bad Chess show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mine Tower or Really Bad Chess?

Mine Tower ships an update every 10 months, and Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. Most recently, Mine Tower was updated on August 14, 2026 and Really Bad Chess on September 23, 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.*