Comparison

ChessCraft vs Tri

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

Head to head
About

ChessCraft

Explore a chess sandbox where you can customize boards, rules, and pieces. Create unique chess variants, play against an AI, or challenge friends online. Discover and share your custom chess creations with a global community.

Highlights
  • Customizable chess boards and pieces
  • AI computer opponent
  • Online multiplayer with friends
  • Adventure mode with built-in boards
  • Chess variant database
  • Create new pieces and tile rules
Features
Read full description

Never play the same game of chess again! ChessCraft is a chess sandbox with an AI computer opponent. Customize chess boards, rules, and pieces. Share your creations online. Play your friends online, or play the computer, or choose from one of 75 built-in chess boards in adventure mode. ChessCraft is also the world's largest chess variant database. https://www.chesscraft.ca Many chess AI mobile games already exist, but only ChessCraft allows the player to create such wacky boards and pieces and immediately play a decent computer opponent. Create new pieces with any combination of the 8 bishop or rook slides, plus a 7x7 grid of knight-like hops. Pieces can also enhance or restrict nearby pieces. Create new boards with any enabled or disabled tile up to 16x16. Place promotion rules for any piece, anywhere. Place tile rules like witch windows (teleporters), sanctuaries, and more. The computer AI opponent then uses concepts from computer science and graph theory to understand your creations and play against you. When you share a board, your friends can play the AI too. Sharing creates a new web page just for you, like this: https://www.chesscraft.ca/design?id=shape-variant1 Visit the website and send me an email if you have any feedback or questions. If you like the game, please rate it!

About

Tri

Experience chess in a new dimension with this strategy game played across three levels and four attack decks. Master three-dimensional tactics to outmaneuver your opponent. A tutorial guides you through the unique gameplay.

Highlights
  • Three-dimensional gameplay
  • Multiple levels and attack decks
  • Fully movable 3D chessboard
  • Four material options
  • Local, computer, and online play
  • Built-in guide and strategy tips
  • Unlockable achievements
Features
Read full description

Think regular chess is a bit... straightforward? Then try Tri-D Chess — the most popular strategy challenge this side of the Delta Quadrant! Played across three levels and using four Attack Decks, it lets you apply true three-dimensional tactics to checkmate your opponent. Tri-D Chess features the same 64 squares, the same pieces, and the same basic rules as traditional chess… with a few small twists. But don’t worry — the tutorial will quickly teach you everything you need to know to master the game. • Fully movable 3D chessboard • Four material options: wood, glass, metal, and marble • Optional move history and captured-pieces display • Built-in guide with rules and strategy tips • Three game modes: local play (two players on one device), play vs. computer, or online play via Game Center • Unlock up to 6 achievements • Customize the game to your liking Tri-D Chess is free forever. If you enjoy it, you can optionally support the developer. Qapla’!

Screenshots

ChessCraft4 screens
Tri4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Tri at Free against ChessCraft's $5.99. Tri also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months). ChessCraft's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#80 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

Tri is free to download; ChessCraft costs $5.99 up front. Tri sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. ChessCraft asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Tri holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of ChessCraft's written reviews are positive against 100% of Tri's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ChessCraft ships an update every 9 months, Tri every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
ChessCraft versus Tri: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessCraftTri
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (9 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#80 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.5
Further details — not scored
Size166 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStuart SpenceROBIN SCHONWALD

Customer experience

ChessCraft

All ratings8 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative0.0%

Tri

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

ChessCraft

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Tri

One-time2
  • Espresso$1.99
  • Raktajino$3.99

Questions

Is ChessCraft free?
ChessCraft costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tri free?
Tri is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ChessCraft or Tri?
Tri is rated higher. ChessCraft averages 4.3 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Tri averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do ChessCraft or Tri have ads?
Neither ChessCraft nor Tri shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ChessCraft or Tri?
ChessCraft ships an update every 9 months, and Tri every 3 weeks. Most recently, ChessCraft was updated on October 24, 2026 and Tri on October 22, 2026.

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