Comparison

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.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Hexagonal board gameplay
  • Familiar chess pieces
  • New strategies and movement
  • CPU practice mode
  • Online multiplayer against friends
Features
Read full description

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!

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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)
Features
Read full description

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

Hex Chess4 screens
Chess by Staple Games3 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Hex Chess versus Chess by Staple Games: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHex ChessChess by Staple Games
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (9 ratings) — better4.7 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better73.3% of reviews
Number of ratings9 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS17.017
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSawyer ChristensenStaple Games

Customer experience

Hex Chess

All ratings9 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Chess by Staple Games

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive73.3%
Neutral13.3%
Negative13.3%

In-app purchases

None

Hex Chess

No in-app purchases

None

Chess by Staple Games

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hex Chess free?
Hex Chess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chess by Staple Games free?
Chess by Staple Games is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hex Chess or Chess by Staple Games?
Hex Chess is rated higher. Hex Chess averages 5.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Chess by Staple Games averages 4.7 from 6 ratings.
Do Hex Chess or Chess by Staple Games have ads?
Neither Hex Chess nor Chess by Staple Games shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hex Chess or Chess by Staple Games?
Hex Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, and Chess by Staple Games every 5 months. Most recently, Hex Chess was updated on November 12, 2026 and Chess by Staple Games on November 9, 2026.

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