# Mr Chess vs Really Bad Chess

The clearest difference is rating: Mr Chess at 4.7 against Really Bad Chess's 3.8. Mr Chess also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). Really Bad Chess's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (1.6K vs 24). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mr Chess sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.49 per year and Really Bad Chess sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mr Chess 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 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Mr Chess's written reviews are positive against 46% of Really Bad Chess's.

Mr Chess ships an update every 6 months, Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mr Chess | Really Bad Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mr-chess/id951539770/reviews)** | [3.8 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 24 | **1.6K** |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 46.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 63 MB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Truncated Tales Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/357427122) | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) |

## What reviewers say

### Mr Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mr-chess/id951539770)

Experience the classic board game with a minimalist interface that gets you straight into the action. Play against AI at various difficulty levels or challenge a friend. Offers a premium subscription for an ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Minimalist interface, 1 or 2 player modes, Adjustable AI difficulty (Easy, Medium, Hard), Switch modes mid-game, Castling move, Premium subscription for ad-free play

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium - Zero Ads | $0.49 | per year |


### 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 Mr Chess free?

Mr Chess 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, Mr Chess or Really Bad Chess?

Mr Chess is rated higher. Mr Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Really Bad Chess averages 3.8 from 1.6K ratings.

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

Really Bad Chess shows ads; Mr Chess does not.

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

Mr Chess ships an update every 6 months, and Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. Most recently, Mr Chess was updated on September 30, 2026 and Really Bad Chess on October 12, 2026.

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