# Chess Light vs Really Bad Chess

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Light | Really Bad Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-light/id801115018/reviews)** | [3.8 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **1.6K** |
| Positive reviews | **78.6% of reviews** | 46.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pyrosphere, Lda](https://appshunter.io/developer/386458929) | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess Light

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-light/id801115018)

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.

**Highlights:** 180+ puzzles, 6 difficulty levels, Hint system, Place pieces to light up squares, Suitable for all skill levels

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 20 Hints | $0.99 | one-time |


### Really Bad Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921)

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.

**Highlights:** Randomized chess piece sets, AI opponent challenges, Ranked, Daily, and Weekly modes, Freeplay practice mode, Local multiplayer (with IAP), Alternate color palettes (with IAP)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Undos | $0.99 | one-time |
| Full Game Unlock | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive and fun gameplay
- 🤔 Unique and innovative concept
- 👍 Challenging and engaging
- ⭐ Great way to learn chess

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🕰️ Slow AI response times
- 💰 Paywalls for essential features
- 📺 Intrusive and excessive ads
- 🔁 Repetitive AI moves leading to stalemates

**Reported bugs**

- Pieces unable to move as per chess rules
- Game freezes and crashes
- Incorrect checkmate detection

**Requested features**

- Add draw conditions and stalemate rules
- Implement online/multiplayer mode
- Provide more difficulty settings
- Allow custom piece arrangements
- Sync progress across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Light free?

Chess Light is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Really Bad Chess free?

Really Bad Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Chess Light or Really Bad Chess?

Chess Light is rated higher. Chess Light averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Really Bad Chess averages 3.8 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Chess Light or Really Bad Chess have ads?

Really Bad Chess shows ads; Chess Light does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess Light or Really Bad Chess?

Chess Light ships an update every 18 months, and Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. Most recently, Chess Light was updated on September 26, 2026 and Really Bad Chess on October 12, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*