Chess Light vs Really Bad Chess
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Chess Light
A puzzle game inspired by chess, suitable for all skill levels. Solve over 180 unique puzzles by strategically placing pieces to illuminate every square on the board. Features adjustable difficulty and a helpful hint system.
- 180+ puzzles
- 6 difficulty levels
- Hint system
- Place pieces to light up squares
- Suitable for all skill levels
Read full descriptionHide full description
Chess Light is a puzzle game inspired by chess for everyone: from Beginner to Grandmaster. + 180 puzzles + 6 difficulty levels + Hint system Place the pieces on the board and light up all the squares!
Really Bad Chess
This app reimagines chess with completely randomized pieces, offering a fresh strategic challenge. It's perfect for both seasoned players seeking a new puzzle and beginners looking to learn the fundamentals in a fun, accessible way.
- Randomized chess piece sets
- AI opponent challenges
- Ranked, Daily, and Weekly modes
- Freeplay practice mode
- Local multiplayer (with IAP)
- Alternate color palettes (with IAP)
Read full descriptionHide full description
Really Bad Chess is just like chess, but with totally random pieces. Try 8 Knights, 4 Bishops, and 3 pawns — why not? As heard on NPR's Weekend Edition 5 out of 5 Stars "An essential puzzle experience for anyone even remotely interested in strategy games" - TouchArcade Whether you play chess daily, or quit just after learning the rules, this small twist will open the door to an entire new world of chess. ------WHATS IN THE “BOX”? The free version of Really Bad Chess lets you compete vs. an AI in Ranked, Daily, or Weekly Challenges. Improve your skills using the included Freeplay mode. A single in-app purchase unlocks Versus Mode so you can compete against your friends locally! It also removes ads, displays captured pieces, and adds soothing alternate color-palettes to choose from. ------REALLY BAD PRESS "Makes chess fun even if you’re really bad" - The Verge "Feels more modern than chess has ever felt" - Applenapps "Really Bad Chess takes a really bad idea and somehow manages to make it a lot of fun." - Pocket Gamer "Really good fun" - MacLife ------A WORD FROM THE DEVELOPER Chess is one of those games I always wished I enjoyed, but its commitment to beauty, elegance, and perfect balance always turned me away. Really Bad Chess removes these boring restrictions and flips chess on its head. As much as random pieces change the game in some ways, I was really surprised to notice how much the game remains the same, and how powerful some pieces are — you've never truly struggled against a pawn until you've struggled against a pawn in the back row. For chess pros, Really Bad Chess will give you a new type of challenge — the pieces & the moves are the same, but you'll have to throw out your openings and your understanding of normal patterns of play. For novice chess players (like most of us), Really Bad Chess greatly opens up the game. Instead of starting by studying openings, in your first games you'll get to discover the joy (and challenge!) of learning how to checkmate. I hope you have as much fun with Really Bad Chess as much as I did making it. -zach
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Chess Light at 4.7 against Really Bad Chess's 3.8. Chess Light also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (79% vs 46%). Really Bad Chess's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 18 months) and ratings volume (1.6K vs 6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Chess Light sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Really Bad Chess sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Chess Light holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Really Bad Chess has 1.6K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Chess Light's written reviews are positive against 46% of Really Bad Chess's.
Chess Light ships an update every 18 months, Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chess Light | Really Bad Chess |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (6 ratings) — better | 3.8 (1.6K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 78.6% of reviews — better | 46.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 1.6K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 125 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pyrosphere, Lda | Zach Gage |
Customer experience
Chess Light
Really Bad Chess
Bugs and requests
Chess Light
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Really Bad Chess
Reported bugs
3 issues- Pieces unable to move as per chess rules
- Game freezes and crashes
- Incorrect checkmate detection
Requested features
5 requests- Add draw conditions and stalemate rules
- Implement online/multiplayer mode
- Provide more difficulty settings
- Allow custom piece arrangements
- Sync progress across devices
In-app purchases
Chess Light
- 20 Hints$0.99
Really Bad Chess
- 100 Undos$0.99
- Full Game Unlock$3.99
Questions
Is Chess Light free?
Is Really Bad Chess free?
Which has better reviews, Chess Light or Really Bad Chess?
Do Chess Light or Really Bad Chess have ads?
Which is updated more often, Chess Light or Really Bad Chess?
Other comparisons
