Comparison

Devil Shard vs Ninja Chess

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

Head to head
About

Devil Shard

Embark on a retro-style match-3 RPG adventure to stop a war and face a great evil. Plan strategic combos, unlock powerful allies, and collect diverse equipment. Conquer numerous enemies and stages to uncover the truth and achieve a true ending.

Highlights
  • Match-3 puzzle with RPG elements
  • Strategic tile swapping for combos
  • Unlock and summon 9 incarnations
  • Collect and upgrade 32 equipment
  • Battle 37 different enemies
  • Complete 8 story stages and a hidden stage
Features
Read full description

Pocketgamer.uk 8/10 - "A brilliant and seamless combination of match-three, RPG, and turn-based combat that belies the simplicity of its excellent design" ----------------------------------------------------------- Devil Shard is a retro style match-3 RPG. You play as a hero who needs to stop a war caused by the emperor. During the journey you will discover more than the truth and face a great evil. Features - Combines RPG elements with match-3 rules puzzle game - Easily plan your combos by swapping adjacent tiles even if they don't create a match 3 - Unlock and summon 9 powerful incarnations to fight for you - 37 different enemies hoping to end your journey - 32 equipment with different abilities to collect and upgrade - 9 incarnations with unique abilities to unlock, upgrade and fight for you - 8 stages to complete with stories to experience - Unlock a hidden stage after finishing the story - 36 achievements to conquer - The hidden stage features: high scores, new loots, new bosses, a true ending, and 2 powerful incarnations ----------------------------------------------------------- Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TowerofFortune Gameplay Movie http://youtu.be/ccXuEksHkC8

About

Ninja Chess

Experience a unique blend of RPG mechanics and chess strategy in a pixel art world. Guide ninja characters, engage in turn-based combat, and embark on a story-driven adventure with deep character progression.

Highlights
  • RPG meets Chess mechanics
  • Story-driven RPG adventure
  • Turn-based tactical combat
  • Retro pixel art graphics
  • Character progression and customization
  • PvE challenges and quests
Features
Read full description

Ninja Chess: Unique Pixel RPG is the ultimate fusion of role-playing game (RPG) mechanics and chess strategy. This unique and exciting game brings together tactical, turn-based combat with deep RPG features, all set in a beautifully crafted pixel art world. Whether you’re a fan of chess or looking for a fresh and engaging RPG adventure, this game will test your strategic skills and immerse you in a thrilling story-driven journey. Key Features: RPG Meets Chess: Discover a brand-new blend of turn-based strategy and role-playing elements as you guide your powerful ninja characters across a tactical chessboard. Use your strategic mind to win battles and unlock exciting new abilities! Epic Adventure: Dive into a captivating story-driven RPG experience. Explore a rich world filled with ninja heroes, dangerous enemies, and mysterious secrets. Complete quests, level up your characters, and overcome powerful foes. Turn-Based Combat: The game features classic turn-based combat, where you’ll need to think one step ahead. Control your ninja pieces on the chessboard, outwit enemies, and unleash unique skills for each character. Pixel Art RPG: Immerse yourself in retro-inspired pixel graphics with stunning visuals that pay homage to classic RPGs while offering a fresh experience. The charming pixel art enhances the adventure and brings the fantasy world to life. Character Progression & Customization: Build your team of ninja warriors, each with their own special abilities and attributes. Level up your characters, unlock new powers, and customize your pieces for maximum impact in battle. Strategic Depth: Plan your moves carefully on the chessboard, as each action can change the outcome of a battle. Upgrade your characters, improve your strategy, and become a master tactician. PvE Challenges: Embark on a series of challenging quests in single-player mode. From facing boss battles to completing story missions, there’s always something to conquer. Replayable & Engaging: With a deep progression system and multiple ways to customize your characters, Ninja Chess: Unique Pixel RPG offers endless replayability and hours of strategic fun. Are you ready to put your strategic skills to the test? Whether you're a chess expert or an RPG enthusiast, Ninja Chess: Unique Pixel RPG offers a unique and engaging experience you won’t find anywhere else. Download now and start your epic adventure today!

Screenshots

Devil Shard4 screens
Ninja Chess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Ninja Chess at Free against Devil Shard's $1.99. Ninja Chess also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 7 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 84%). Devil Shard's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (45 vs 2). On rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Ninja Chess is free to download; Devil Shard costs $1.99 up front. Devil Shard sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Ninja Chess sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Devil Shard against 4.5 for Ninja Chess. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Devil Shard has 45 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of Devil Shard's written reviews are positive against 100% of Ninja Chess's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Devil Shard ships an update every 7 months, Ninja Chess weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Devil Shard versus Ninja Chess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDevil ShardNinja Chess
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (45 ratings)4.5 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings45 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB1.2 GB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperGame StewHuy Bach

Customer experience

Devil Shard

All ratings45 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral6.7%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews203 reviews
Positive83.7%
Neutral7.9%
Negative8.4%

Ninja Chess

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Devil Shard

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Item selection scroll problem on iPhone 6s Plus (items display in middle of screen)
  • Unable to equip, melt, or forge items on certain devices
  • In-app purchase functionality broken
  • Character equipment not persisting correctly
  • No undo option for melted items
Show 1 more
  • Difficulty balancing issues causing unfair difficulty spikes

Requested features

9 requests
  • Swipeable match-3 controls (standard for genre)
  • More customization options for character progression
  • Persistent progress or checkpoints upon death
  • Better equipment distribution and tile spawning
  • Reduced grinding requirements
Show 4 more
  • More narrative depth and story elements
  • Undo function for accidental item melting
  • Improved menu systems and UI clarity
  • Additional game modes or difficulty settings

Ninja Chess

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Devil Shard

One-time6
  • 1000G$0.99
  • 2500G$1.99
  • 7500G$4.99
Show 3 more
  • 17500G$9.99
  • 40000G$19.99
  • 75000G$29.99
6 purchases

Ninja Chess

One-time6
  • 1 Star Gold Bag$0.99
  • 2 Star Gold Bag$4.99
  • 3 Star Gold Bag$9.99
Show 3 more
  • 4 Star Gold Bag$19.99
  • 5 Star Gold Bag$49.99
  • 6 Star Gold Bag$99.99

Questions

Is Devil Shard free?
Devil Shard costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Ninja Chess free?
Ninja Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Devil Shard or Ninja Chess?
Ninja Chess is rated higher. Devil Shard averages 4.4 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while Ninja Chess averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Devil Shard or Ninja Chess have ads?
Ninja Chess shows ads; Devil Shard does not.
Which is updated more often, Devil Shard or Ninja Chess?
Devil Shard ships an update every 7 months, and Ninja Chess weekly. Most recently, Devil Shard was updated on October 13, 2026 and Ninja Chess on October 6, 2026.

Other comparisons