SHOTIMER vs ToriShogi
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SHOTIMER
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SHOTIMER is a game clock app that announces your remaining time by voice. Use it for chess, shogi, Go — any two-player board game. "3 minutes left." "50 seconds… 1, 2, 3…" Leave the countdown to the character voices and keep your eyes on the board. It couldn't be simpler: make your move, then tap your side. Place your phone or tablet next to the board and you're ready for a serious match. ■ Voices for the countdown - Zundamon - Shikoku Metan - Hiroyuki - Buzzer / ECG - Mute and random options available ■ Six time controls - Sudden Death - Byoyomi - Main Time + Byoyomi - Fischer (the increment system used in official chess events) - NHK Cup Style (byoyomi with extra thinking time) - Canadian (used in Go: play a set number of moves within a set time) Main time and seconds are fully adjustable — from official tournament rules to casual blitz. ■ Features that support your game - "Per side" mode: set time and voice separately for each player - "Enlarge active side": the running player's area grows, making it easier to tap - Landscape display support — comfortable on iPad and tablets - Choose which player presses the button to start the game ■ 12 themes from traditional Japanese colors Sumi ink, iron navy, navy, hanada blue, blue-green, bamboo green, ochre, persimmon, crimson, peony, wisteria and dark brown — match your mood. ■ Available in 8 languages Japanese, English, Chinese (Simplified / Traditional), Spanish, French, Portuguese and Arabic At the club, with friends, or at home with family — SHOTIMER keeps time for your games.
ToriShogi
This app offers a digital version of Tori Shogi, a Japanese chess variant played on a 7x7 board with bird-themed pieces. It features an interactive tutorial, multiple game modes against AI or another player, and saves game records for replay. The app is free, ad-free, and playable offline.
- Interactive piece guide
- Learn-as-you-play tutorial
- Two-player mode
- AI opponent with multiple levels
- Automatic game saving and replay
- Offline play
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■ What is Tori Shogi? Tori Shogi ("bird shogi") is a Japanese chess variant born in the Edo period, traditionally attributed to Ōhashi Sōei, the ninth hereditary shogi Meijin. It is played on a compact 7×7 board with 16 pieces per side — and every piece is named after a bird. Guard your Phoenix, attack with a flock of Swallows, and promote your Falcon into the mighty Eagle. Unusually for an old shogi variant, captured pieces return to your hand and can be dropped back into play, just like in modern shogi. A small board with surprisingly deep tactics. New to the game? The app is built to teach you as you play. Choose Japanese or English at first launch — you can switch any time. ■ Learn as you play - Illustrated guide to all nine pieces: names, movements and promotions - Press and hold any piece during a game to see how it moves - The Swallow rules (the "three Swallows" and drop-mate prohibitions) and the mirrored left/right Quails, all explained ■ Game modes - Two Players: take turns on one iPhone or iPad - vs Computer: Beginner, Easy and Normal levels — a perfect sparring partner while you learn ■ Complete rules, faithfully implemented - Mandatory promotion: Falcon → Eagle, Swallow → Goose - Piece drops, the "three Swallows" rule, the swallow-drop-mate prohibition - Check and checkmate detection, repetition draws ■ Game records - Finished games are saved automatically; save mid-game any time - Replay your games move by move ■ Perfect for… - Shogi and chess players curious about variants - Quick but thoughtful games on a small board - Fans of Japanese tradition, birds and beautiful woodcraft - Playing with kids as a gateway into shogi Everything runs on your device — play offline, on a plane, anywhere. No ads, no in-app purchases, completely free. Enjoy the elegant bird chess of Edo Japan.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: ToriShogi at every 3 days against SHOTIMER's every 2 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SHOTIMER ships an update every 2 months, ToriShogi every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SHOTIMER | ToriShogi |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 40 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yuki Maitani | Tomohiko Kanai |
In-app purchases
SHOTIMER
No in-app purchases
ToriShogi
No in-app purchases








