Comparison

BoardGamePad vs Cold War Chess

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

Head to head
About

BoardGamePad

Features
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Smart scorepad that understands the rulebook — every round, every rule, every expansion, and all the fiddly bits in between. Take Dominion. BoardGamePad asks which ten Kingdom cards were on the table, because that is what decides the scoring. Gardens in the Kingdom? Your final deck size divides by ten, rounds down, and multiplies by the Gardens you bought. Playing Prosperity? Colonies are on the sheet at 10 apiece. Fairgrounds? Then it needs to know how many differently named cards you finished with. Splendor, the same way: Nobles are worth 3 each — unless you played the Cities module, in which case they are worth nothing at all, and the sheet drops them. Smart scorepad that tells you where the game was won - to learn and to improve: which round decides a game, how much of a winning score comes from it, where you beat the table average and where you quietly don't. Per round, per game, per player, per player count, per modes and optional rules. 700+ games and 1550+ expansions, each one read off its own rulebook — from Uno and Catan to Spirit Island and Ark Nova. - The scoring your rulebook actually prints: majorities, tie-breaks, lookup tables, thresholds — computed, not left to you - Select the expansions and optional rules you played, and the sheet rebuilds itself around them - Live scoring and a built-in timer for the games that are scored as you play - Co-op games end the way the rulebook says they end: named victories and defeats, not a Won/Lost toggle - Every play remembered — per game, per player, per round, synced by iCloud - See which round decides a game, and whether it is the one you keep losing - Smart Insights written on your device, not on somebody's server - New games and expansions added every release Score the game exactly as you played it — expansions, variants and optional rules included. A subscription supports ongoing development and new game additions. By downloading this app, you agree to Apple's Standard Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Cold War Chess

Experience chess with a twist in a fog of war setting. Strategize by building your army, concealing your intentions, and uncovering your opponent's hidden forces. Engage in 63 missions inspired by the Cold War era across six unique factions.

Highlights
  • Fog of war gameplay
  • Army building and customization
  • Six distinct factions
  • 63 strategic missions
  • Story campaign inspired by Cold War
  • Hidden enemy back rows
Features
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The board is set. But half of it is hidden. Cold War Chess takes the strategy of chess and throws it into the fog of war. The enemy's back two rows are concealed until your pieces are close enough to see them. You don't know what's coming. Neither does your opponent. Before the first move, you build your army. Spend your resources, place your pieces where you choose, keep your intentions secret. Misdirection is a weapon. Sometimes fewer pieces are more powerful. This isn't checkmate chess. Reduce the enemy to a lone king and the war is over. Any piece — including your own king — can walk into danger without knowing it. The Cold War plays by different rules. PICK YOUR SIDE USA. USSR. The Alliance. Iron Curtain. Third Way. Dead Hand. Six factions, each with distinct resource budgets and initiative traits. Your faction shapes how you fight before a single piece moves. 63 STRATEGIC MISSIONS Berlin. Cuba. The Pacific. Southeast Asia. Central Asia. Play through fictional flashpoints across a full story campaign inspired by the Cold War era. FOG OF WAR Scout your enemy. Find, fix, and finish their king. The fog lifts only when you're close enough to act. BUILD YOUR ARMY No fixed positions. Spend your budget. Set your trap. Surprise them before the opening move. Start free. Berlin is on us. Unlock the full Cold War when you're ready. Cold War Chess is inspired by historical events. Characters, factions, and dramatized scenarios are fictional. The game does not represent the views of any government, organization, or individual.

Screenshots

BoardGamePad4 screens
Cold War Chess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Cold War Chess at weekly against BoardGamePad's every 3 weeks. Cold War Chess also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. BoardGamePad sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Cold War Chess sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BoardGamePad ships an update every 3 weeks, Cold War Chess weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
BoardGamePad versus Cold War Chess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBoardGamePadCold War Chess
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—5 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size248 MB193 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperJaroslav CechoMICHAEL LAWRENCE STANLEY

In-app purchases

2 purchases

BoardGamePad

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly1 Month trial$0.991 Month
  • Yearly$9.991 Year
1 purchases

Cold War Chess

One-time1
  • Full Deployment$4.99

Questions

Is BoardGamePad free?
BoardGamePad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cold War Chess free?
Cold War Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BoardGamePad or Cold War Chess have ads?
Neither BoardGamePad nor Cold War Chess shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BoardGamePad or Cold War Chess?
BoardGamePad ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cold War Chess weekly. Most recently, BoardGamePad was updated on October 15, 2026 and Cold War Chess on October 21, 2026.

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