CoreShift vs Chess Codex
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
CoreShift
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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 5ร5 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 3โ5 and Hard AI require a one-time Pro upgrade ($3.99).
Chess Codex
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. CoreShift sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Chess Codex asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
| Parameter | CoreShift | Chess Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 days โ better |
| Ads | No โ better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No โ better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod โ better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 โ better | 15.1 |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jozsef Farkas | Vince Lubbers |
In-app purchases
CoreShift
- CoreShift Pro$3.99
Chess Codex
No in-app purchases









