Comparison

CoreShift vs Chess Codex

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

Head to head
About

CoreShift

Features
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CoreShift is a sleek, minimalist strategy game based on Neutron โ€” a classic abstract board game of pure skill, positioning, and tactics. Easy to learn. Deep to master. Every move can open a path, create a trap, or turn the match completely. No randomness. No hidden information. Pure strategy. THE GAME Play on a 5ร—5 grid. Each player controls five pieces, while a single amber token โ€” the Neutron โ€” begins at the center. On every turn, you must: 1. Slide the Neutron as far as it can move. 2. Slide one of your own pieces (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal). Pieces move until blocked by the edge or another piece โ€” they cannot jump. How to win: * Move the Neutron onto your own baseline. * Trap your opponent so they have no legal Neutron move. QUICK OR CLASSIC * Quick mode: Fast, aggressive openings with immediate tension. * Classic mode: Traditional rules where the first player skips the opening Neutron move for a more balanced start. THREE AI DIFFICULTY LEVELS * Easy: Learn the fundamentals. * Medium: Strong tactical play. * Hard: Advanced Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) AI that adapts to every position. ONLINE MULTIPLAYER โ€” BETA Play real-time matches worldwide through Game Center. Our Elo rating system (starting at 1200) ensures you always face a fair challenge. * Climb the Ranks: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. * Social: Add friends after matches, send instant rematches, and react with quick chat. * No Waiting: If no live opponent is available, Skynet โ€” our built-in AI โ€” keeps the match moving. TOURNAMENT MODE Five rounds. One run. No breaks. Easy โ†’ Medium โ†’ Medium โ†’ Hard โ†’ Hard Win all five to complete the challenge and track your progress on Game Center. STATISTICS & ACHIEVEMENTS Track win rates, streaks, fastest victories, and total play time. Unlock badges and Game Center achievements tied to real milestones. DESIGNED FOR iOS * Flat, minimal design with Dark and Light mode. * Smooth animations and haptic feedback on every move. * Atmospheric audio and satisfying "game feel." CoreShift is free to play. Tournament rounds 3โ€“5 and Hard AI require a one-time Pro upgrade ($3.99).

About

Chess Codex

Features
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Chess Codex is a calm, beautiful place to get sharper at chess. 20000+ hand graded puzzles take you from your very first checkmate to tactics that will test a club player. Every puzzle is a real position with one best move to find. Spot the fork, land the pin, set up the mate. Play offline, anywhere. No account, no sign up, no clutter. Chess Codex is part of Penrose Park Puzzles, a family of premium puzzle games.

Screenshots

CoreShift4 screens
Chess Codex4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chess Codex at none against CoreShift's 1. Chess Codex also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). CoreShift's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price 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. CoreShift sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Chess Codex asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CoreShift ships an update every 3 weeks, Chess Codex every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences ยท 2 level
CoreShift versus Chess Codex: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCoreShiftChess Codex
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 days โ€” better
AdsNo โ€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo โ€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 โ€” better15.1
Further details โ€” not scored
Size32 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJozsef FarkasVince Lubbers

In-app purchases

1 purchases

CoreShift

One-time1
  • CoreShift Pro$3.99
None

Chess Codex

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CoreShift free?
CoreShift is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chess Codex free?
Chess Codex is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do CoreShift or Chess Codex have ads?
Chess Codex shows ads; CoreShift does not.
Which is updated more often, CoreShift or Chess Codex?
CoreShift ships an update every 3 weeks, and Chess Codex every 3 days. Most recently, CoreShift was updated on September 25, 2026 and Chess Codex on September 11, 2026.

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