Comparison

Bond Breaker vs Really Bad Chess

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

Head to head
About

Bond Breaker

Engage with atomic physics in this puzzle game where you start as a proton and build up to atoms and molecules. Utilize scientific tools like lasers and microscopes to manipulate matter and learn real-world physics concepts.

Highlights
  • Atomic and molecular simulation
  • Real-world physics principles
  • Interactive scientific tools
  • Educational gameplay
  • Bond formation and breaking mechanics
Features
Read full description

Pit yourself against atomic physics in Bond Breaker, a new puzzle game based on real nano-scale science. You start this game in the smallest way possible - as a single proton, without even a single atom to call your own. But with a little luck, and a lot of physical chemistry, you'll grow into an atoms, smash together into molecules, or break apart again using lasers, tunneling microscopes, and heat. Created by TestTubeGames and scientists at the CaSTL research center at UC Irvine, this is truly the most accurate physics engine to date. After all, what other game is correct down to the atomic level? When you make and break molecular bonds, you’ll encounter real forces and real physics. This isn’t just simple stuff, either! You'll learn about... The forces that bind molecules together How lasers can excite atoms Why water sticks together into drops What happens when you heat something up And much, much more. Simply put, this is the most fun you can have without buying your own Scanning Tunneling Microscope!

About

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.

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
Read 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

Bond Breaker4 screens
Really Bad Chess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Bond Breaker at 89% against Really Bad Chess's 46%. Bond Breaker also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Really Bad Chess's advantage is ratings volume (1.6K vs 14). On price, update cadence 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

Both are free to download. Really Bad Chess sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Bond Breaker asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Bond Breaker holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Really Bad Chess has 1.6K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Bond Breaker's written reviews are positive against 46% of Really Bad Chess's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bond Breaker ships an update every 2 weeks, Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Bond Breaker versus Really Bad Chess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBond BreakerReally Bad Chess
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (14 ratings) — better3.8 (1.6K ratings)
Positive reviews89.5% of reviews — better46.3% of reviews
Number of ratings141.6K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS6.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size81 MB125 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTestTubeGamesZach Gage

Customer experience

Bond Breaker

All ratings14 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral7.1%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive89.5%
Neutral5.3%
Negative5.3%

Really Bad Chess

All ratings1,633 ratings
Positive66.6%
Neutral9.0%
Negative24.4%
Written reviews611 reviews
Positive46.3%
Neutral16.4%
Negative37.3%

Bugs and requests

Bond Breaker

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

None

Bond Breaker

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Really Bad Chess

One-time2
  • 100 Undos$0.99
  • Full Game Unlock$3.99

Questions

Is Bond Breaker free?
Bond Breaker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Really Bad Chess free?
Really Bad Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bond Breaker or Really Bad Chess?
Bond Breaker is rated higher. Bond Breaker averages 4.6 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Really Bad Chess averages 3.8 from 1.6K ratings.
Do Bond Breaker or Really Bad Chess have ads?
Really Bad Chess shows ads; Bond Breaker does not.
Which is updated more often, Bond Breaker or Really Bad Chess?
Bond Breaker ships an update every 2 weeks, and Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. Most recently, Bond Breaker was updated on September 6, 2026 and Really Bad Chess on September 23, 2026.

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