Comparison

Next Chess Move vs War Engine Chess

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

Head to head
About

Next Chess Move

This application provides a powerful chess move calculator utilizing advanced engines like Stockfish 17.1 directly on your device. It also offers free access to numerous other engines running on remote hardware, with an optional upgrade for enhanced calculation strength and access to powerful servers and GPUs.

Highlights
  • On-device Stockfish 17.1
  • Free remote engine access
  • Large selection of chess engines
  • Optional Pro upgrade
  • Access to powerful cloud hardware
  • GPU acceleration for LcZero
Features
Read full description

NCM is a powerful chess calculator that runs Stockfish 19 directly on your device. The app also includes free access to a growing list of engines running on NCM's remote single core CPU hardware: • Stockfish latest official releases and development builds • Lc0 (all official networks and several contrib networks) • Akimbo • Alexandria • Altair • Arasan • Astra • asmFish • Avalanche • Berserk • Black Marlin • Booot • Caissa • Cinder • Cfish • Clover • Coda • Combusken • CorChess • Counter • Defenchess • Demolito • Devre • Ethereal • Fire • Frozenight • GNU Chess • Halogen • Hobbes • Horsie • Igel • Integral • Koivisto • Laser • Lc0 • Mantissa • Marvin • Minic • Motor • Nalwald • Nemorino • Obsidian • OpenTal • Patricia • Pawn • Pawnocchio • Peacekeeper • PlentyChess • Quanticade • Raphael • Reckless • Rice • RubiChess • Seer • ShashChess • Smallbrain • Starzix • Stash • Stockfish • Stormphrax • Sunfish • Tarnished • Titan • Triumviratus • Tucano • Vajolet2 • Velvet • Viridithas • Wasp • Weiss • Winter • Xiphos • Zahak The optional NCM Pro in-app purchase provides one year access to powerful hardware and features that significantly enhance the strength of calculations: • Ryzen 7950X 16 CPU-core servers • RTX 2080 GPUs for LcZero • 6-man syzygy tablebases on SSD drives

About

War Engine Chess

Features
Read full description

The world's first AI engine for Tamerlane Chess — a strategy game lost to history for 600 years. Now playable on your phone. War Engine Chess brings you two legendary strategy experiences in one app: the rare and historically rich Tamerlane Chess (Timur Satrancı) and the timeless Classic Chess. — TAMERLANE CHESS (TİMUR SATRANCI) — Played by the great conqueror Timur (Tamerlane) in the 14th century, this variant uses a larger board, unique pieces, and deeper strategy than classic chess. It was nearly forgotten by history — until now. War Engine Chess features the world's first dedicated AI engine built specifically for Tamerlane Chess rules. No other app in the world offers this. Study openings, practice endgames, and master a game that even most chess masters have never played. — CLASSIC CHESS — Powered by Stockfish — the world's strongest open-source chess engine — our Classic Chess mode offers a true challenge for beginners and grandmasters alike. Play at your own pace against an AI that adapts to your skill level. — PLAY WITH FRIENDS — Challenge your friends to a real-time online match in either game mode. Send friend requests, manage your friends list, and invite them to a game with a single tap. Real-time gameplay powered by Firebase ensures zero lag and instant moves. — FEATURES — • World's first Tamerlane Chess (Timur Satrancı) AI engine • Classic Chess powered by Stockfish • Real-time online multiplayer • Friend system with requests and invitations • Spectate live games • Beautiful, intuitive board design • Works on all iPhone models Whether you are a chess enthusiast looking for your next obsession, a history lover drawn to ancient strategy, or a competitive player seeking a true challenge — War Engine Chess is built for you. Download now and make your move.

Screenshots

Next Chess Move4 screens
War Engine Chess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: War Engine Chess at Free against Next Chess Move's $2.99. War Engine Chess also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Next Chess Move's advantage is chart position (#61 vs unranked). On ads and device support 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

War Engine Chess is free to download; Next Chess Move costs $2.99 up front. Next Chess Move sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. War Engine Chess asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Next Chess Move versus War Engine Chess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNext Chess MoveWar Engine Chess
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (133 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews76.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings133 — better—
Update frequencyMonthly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#61 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size143 MB136 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNext Chess Move LLCGokcehan Gunhan

Bugs and requests

Next Chess Move

Reported bugs

18 issues
  • Critical bugs that break the game (e.g., same color pieces moving consecutively)
  • App doesn't turn on
  • Update has challenges
  • Cannot play anything
  • LC0 version 0.30 with Networks Family T81 causes 'engine disconnected' error
Show 13 more
  • App is pretty buggy
  • App decides to delete a piece randomly
  • Subscription is gone after payment
  • No option to restore purchase
  • Every move suggested is a blunder
  • Error response most of the time
  • App crushes when copying or pasting PGN
  • Illegal move issues with PGN/FEN
  • Castling not handled correctly in PGN
  • Algorithm inconsistency (doesn't play the same move for the exact same play)
  • Login doesn't work for extra servers
  • UI could be better
  • Cannot find an option to delete saved games

Requested features

34 requests
  • Fix critical bugs
  • Update UI
  • Release a proper update
  • Maintain the app properly
  • Update to current stockfish 17
Show 29 more
  • Add self-play mode with different engines
  • Add Komodo latest version
  • Fix LC0 issues with T81 network family
  • Show a few candidate options
  • Add feature to use screenshot/photo of board
  • Add arrow or directional lines for best move
  • Make it more didactic
  • Add premium features for paid users
  • Add option to play engine vs engine
  • Add some themes
  • Add analysis arrows
  • Copy full PGN when playing engine vs engine
  • Add database for openings for free
  • Add iPad version
  • Allow landscape format on iPad
  • Increase analysis time beyond 30 seconds
  • Add option to switch turns after calculating a move
  • Improve ergonomics
  • Name boards and show names
  • Add instructions on how to use
  • Option to delete saved games
  • Improve UI
  • Handle illegal moves and castling correctly in PGN/FEN
  • Allow castling
  • Add feedback and suggestions
  • Cut and paste FEN
  • Automatic play of calculated move
  • Print positions after moves or games
  • Flip board only for current board

War Engine Chess

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Next Chess Move

One-time1
  • NCM Pro$18.99
None

War Engine Chess

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Next Chess Move free?
Next Chess Move costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is War Engine Chess free?
War Engine Chess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Next Chess Move or War Engine Chess have ads?
Neither Next Chess Move nor War Engine Chess shows ads.

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