Comparison

Weird Chess vs Chess Variants Studio

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

Head to head
About

Weird Chess

Features
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Check out Weird Chess! Like using tapatillo instead of ketchup, but for chess. Choose from 12+ variants across two board sizes โ€” and more on the way. Each variant with its own rules, strategy, and personality. 8ร—8 Variants Standard Chess โ€” classic rules, plus an attacking pigeon that randomly moves your or your opponent's pieces. Atomic Chess โ€” where pieces trying to capture each other create mutually assured destruction. Chess960 โ€” 960 different randomised starting positions for all pieces. 3-Check โ€” one checkmate not enough? With this variant, you need 3 checks to win. King of the Hill โ€” race your king to the centre and declare yourself lord of all you see. Horde Chess โ€” face the barbarian horde - or be it! 36 white pawns vs a standard black army Fog of War โ€” you can only see the squares your pieces attack. 10ร—10 Variants Grand Chess โ€” the pomp and circumstance of war, with a Marshal and a Cardinal in the royal courtly mix. Omega Chess โ€” go to war with an additional champion and a wizard. One does not simply walk! Decimal Chess โ€” a falcon and a hunter make your game a little stranger. Hyderabad Chess โ€” one of the earliest historic forms of actual ancient chess. Jetan Chess โ€” a form of chess created for the science fantasy classic Chessman of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Every move is narrated by an AI commentator with a unique personality โ€” from the composed Classical analyst to the chaos-loving Random Pigeon. Find your way and shake up your chess habits with some different kinds of play.

About

Chess Variants Studio

Features
Read full description

Play any of nine variants of chess with 8 levels, 1200-2100, against the custom Pulsar engine. Review games with variant engine analysis. Styles supported are Chess960, Crazyhouse, Atomic, Losers, Giveaway, Three Checks, Advanced Pawns, Reversed Pawns and Random Pieces. The rules are included in-app. No signup. Ad Free. Works Offline. The playing program is one i've designed and tested at different levels on internet chess servers in order to come up with the ratings on the board. Ratings range from 1200 to 2100 or 2200 depending on variant. Try the app for free. There's 10 free plays of pure variants like atomic, crazyhouse and loser's and 10 free plays of chessic variants like chess960 and 30 free views of played games with analysis. A single one-time purchase unlocks unlimited play and variant engine analysis. Played games are logged and can also be viewed/analyzed. When reviewing the player's games, users can override the moves and start making their own moves. Back up to main line to undo. If the user goes looks at the Moves while reviewing, the game can be copied to the clipboard. The app comes with two skin themes, a reddish wood and a teal. Also here are multiple board and piece choices to choose from in settings.

Screenshots

Weird Chess4 screens
Chess Variants Studio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Weird Chess at none against Chess Variants Studio's 1. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Chess Variants Studio sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Weird Chess asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Weird Chess ships an update fortnightly, Chess Variants Studio every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 5 level
Weird Chess versus Chess Variants Studio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWeird ChessChess Variants Studio
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 9 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” better
Requires iOS16.015.6 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size21 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJames BeachMichael Adams

In-app purchases

None

Weird Chess

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Chess Variants Studio

One-time1
  • Unlimited Plays and Views$3.99

Questions

Is Weird Chess free?
Weird Chess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chess Variants Studio free?
Chess Variants Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Weird Chess or Chess Variants Studio have ads?
Neither Weird Chess nor Chess Variants Studio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Weird Chess or Chess Variants Studio?
Weird Chess ships an update fortnightly, and Chess Variants Studio every 9 days. Most recently, Weird Chess was updated on September 19, 2026 and Chess Variants Studio on September 9, 2026.

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