Hex Chess vs Chess by Staple Games
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hex Chess
Experience a fresh take on chess with a hexagonal board and familiar pieces. Challenge yourself against AI or friends online. This game introduces new strategies and movement patterns for a modern chess experience.
- Hexagonal board gameplay
- Familiar chess pieces
- New strategies and movement
- CPU practice mode
- Online multiplayer against friends
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Hex Chess is a modern twist on the classic game of chess. Played on a new hexagon-based board while using the same familiar pieces, Hex Chess opens up new strategies and movement patterns. With options to practice against a CPU or play online against friends, Hex Chess offers a fresh challenge to experienced players while being just as approachable as the original game. This is more than a variation... ...a new era of chess begins today!
Chess by Staple Games
Experience classic chess with a beautifully crafted app designed for all Apple devices. Enjoy solo practice against AI, local multiplayer, or online matches. Features include all official rules, accessibility options, and progress tracking.
- AI challenges with 6 difficulty levels
- Pass & Play for local face-to-face games
- Online multiplayer via Game Center
- Local wireless play over Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
- Full implementation of all chess rules
- Cross-device compatibility (iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc.)
- Accessibility features (VoiceOver, high contrast)
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Chess. Nothing more. Nothing less. We built the chess app we always wanted—one that respects the game and respects your time. No subscriptions. No ads interrupting your concentration. No bloated features you'll never use. Just chess, beautifully crafted for every Apple device you own. PLAY YOUR WAY • Solo Practice — Challenge our AI across 6 difficulty levels, from casual beginner to near-unbeatable expert. • Pass & Play — Hand your device to a friend and play face to face. • Online Multiplayer — Connect through Game Center to challenge friends or get matched with players worldwide. • Local Wireless — Play with someone nearby over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. No internet required. REAL CHESS. ALL THE RULES. Every rule, implemented correctly: • Castling (kingside and queenside) • En passant captures • Pawn promotion to any piece • Check, checkmate, and stalemate • Threefold repetition draws • Fifty-move rule ONE APP. EVERY APPLE DEVICE. iPhone. iPad. Mac. Apple TV. Apple Watch. Vision Pro. DESIGNED FOR EVERYONE • Full VoiceOver support with voice-guided gameplay • High contrast and colorblind modes • Large text and zoomed display options • 5 beautiful board themes • Dark mode TRACK YOUR JOURNEY • Climb through 10 ranks from Beginner to Mythic • Track your win streaks and daily play habits • Game Center achievements and leaderboards THE STAPLE GAMES PROMISE We make games the way they should be made. Simple interfaces. Thoughtful design. No dark patterns. Just quality software you can rely on. Download Chess by Staple Games. Play a match. That's it.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Hex Chess at every 3 weeks against Chess by Staple Games's every 5 months. Hex Chess also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Chess by Staple Games's advantage is device support (6 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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.
Hex Chess holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Hex Chess's written reviews are positive against 73% of Chess by Staple Games's.
Hex Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, Chess by Staple Games every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hex Chess | Chess by Staple Games |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (9 ratings) — better | 4.7 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better | 73.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 9 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sawyer Christensen | Staple Games |
Customer experience
Hex Chess
Chess by Staple Games
In-app purchases
Hex Chess
No in-app purchases
Chess by Staple Games
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Hex Chess free?
Is Chess by Staple Games free?
Which has better reviews, Hex Chess or Chess by Staple Games?
Do Hex Chess or Chess by Staple Games have ads?
Which is updated more often, Hex Chess or Chess by Staple Games?
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