Comparison

Dark Chess Pro vs Koch

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

Head to head
About

Dark Chess Pro

Features
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Offline Banqi with 5 AI levels from Easy to Grandmaster. New Wuxia Story Mode: 23 lessons, 13 opponents, visual-novel dialogue. Review every match move by move. No coins, no gambling. —— HOW IT WORKS —— Chinese Dark Chess (Banqi) is a classic Chinese board game on a 4Ɨ8 grid: • 32 pieces start face-down — flip one to reveal it • Pieces follow a rank hierarchy: General > Advisor > Elephant > Chariot > Horse > Cannon > Soldier • Higher rank captures lower, but Soldiers can capture the General • The Cannon jumps over pieces to capture — the wildcard • Win when your opponent has no pieces or no legal moves —— NEW TO BANQI? —— ā—† Learn in One Game • Interactive tutorial — learn to flip, move, and capture • Start with the easiest AI while you learn • Post-game review marks your best moves and mistakes —— EXPERIENCED PLAYER? —— ā—† Five AI Levels That Push You • Easy → Novice → Knight → Master → Grandmaster • Stronger AI makes sharper decisions in complex positions • Precise endgame verdicts show win, draw, or loss at a glance • Move-by-move review finds what you missed ā—† Story Mode — The Veiled Path • From apprentice to grandmaster — a wuxia journey through the art of Dark Chess • 23 lessons, 13 matches, 3 endings • 13 unique opponents with visual-novel style dialogue ā—† Six Variant Rules • Chariot Charge — captures distant pieces along an open rank or file regardless of rank • Diagonal Knight — moves diagonally and captures regardless of rank • Cannon Jump toggle — standard or no-jump mode • Blind Capture — attack face-down pieces and see what happens • Chain Capture — keep capturing if your piece can strike again • Equal Exchange — same-rank pieces destroy each other • Mix and match all six for free to create fresh challenges ā—† 52 Achievements • Gameplay milestones: first win, win streaks, difficulty breakthroughs • Story achievements: chapter completions, hidden endings ā—† Polished Experience • Satisfying flip animations with haptic feedback • Sound effects and clear status cues • Detailed rules include perpetual-chase restrictions • Adaptive phone and tablet layouts • Offline, no account — just open and play ā—† Free / One-Time Pro Unlock • Free with ads • Pro: remove ads and unlock the full story, stronger AI, unlimited hints and undo, precise endgame guidance, and unrestricted review Dark Chess is also known as Banqi or Half Chess — a beloved Chinese board game where strategy, hidden information, and sharp tactics make every game unique.

About

Koch

Features
Read full description

Koch-Chess is a feature-rich chess app built for players of all levels. Play Your Way Challenge the built-in engine at 5 difficulty levels (D8 to D20), play online against friends, or sit back and watch engine vs engine battles unfold. Learn & Improve Explore 9 chess openings with guided lessons, including the Sicilian Defense, Italian Game, King's Indian, and more. Train & Practice Sharpen your skills with dedicated practice and training modes designed to build pattern recognition and tactical awareness. Clean, Fast Interface A distraction-free board with smooth controls, multiple themes, and a layout designed for mobile play. Features Solo play vs AI engine (5 depth levels) Online multiplayer with invite links Engine vs Engine watch mode 9 opening lessons with move guides Practice and training modes Multiple board themes Geo and Animal themed piece sets

Screenshots

Dark Chess Pro4 screens
Koch3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Koch at none against Dark Chess Pro's 2. Koch also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Dark Chess Pro sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Koch asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
Dark Chess Pro versus Koch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDark Chess ProKoch
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 days—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size258 MB43 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperReputation Software CO., LTD.itch koch

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Dark Chess Pro

One-time1
  • Pro Unlock2 variants$4.99
None

Koch

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dark Chess Pro free?
Dark Chess Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Koch free?
Koch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Dark Chess Pro or Koch have ads?
Dark Chess Pro shows ads; Koch does not.

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