Rate top gamesReally Bad Chess
About
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
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
System requirements for Android
4.1 and up
System requirements for iOS
iPhone 4, iPad 2 Wifi, iPad 2 3G, iPhone 4S, iPad Third Gen, iPad Third Gen 4G, iPhone 5, iPod Touch Fifth Gen, iPad Fourth Gen, iPad Fourth Gen 4G, iPad Mini, iPad Mini 4G, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPad Air, iPad Air Cellular, iPad Mini Retina, iPad Mini Retina Cellular, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2, iPad Air 2 Cellular, iPad Mini 3, iPad Mini 3 Cellular, iPod Touch Sixth Gen, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPad Mini 4, iPad Mini 4 Cellular, iPad Pro, iPad Pro Cellular, iPad Pro 9.7, iPad Pro 9.7 Cellular, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPad 6 1 1, iPad 6 1 2, iPad 7 1, iPad 7 2, iPad 7 3, iPad 7 4, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad 7 5, iPad 7 6, iPhone X S, iPhone X S Max, iPhone X R, iPad 8 1 2, iPad 8 3 4, iPad 8 5 6, iPad 8 7 8, iPad Mini 5, iPad Mini 5 Cellular, iPad Air 3, iPad Air 3 Cellular, iPod Touch Seventh Gen
Last Modified: Jan 6, 2023
Where to buy
App Store
Google Play
Really Bad Chess reviews and comments
Translated by
Microsoft from Swedish
Microsoft from Swedish
I got a pro streak to weekly when I won a game of 50 moves, anyone have had this happen to them? (To get a pro streak you have to win in less than 45 moves)
Translated by
Microsoft from Italian
Microsoft from Italian
Original re-imagining of the game of chess. It'S great for beginners like me and for more experienced players. Good pastime. Absolutely recommended.
Translated by
Microsoft from Spain
Microsoft from Spain
The idea is good, but the application moves are Lentísimos! It Takes forever every time you have to run a move. This makes you end up making a play. Developer! More speed!
Translated by
Microsoft from Deutsch
Microsoft from Deutsch
Also worth a Look for right Schacher-the Optics, however, are at the Level of the 80s and the Advertising is annoying immensely-clearly, you can probably buy out ... But that's not worth the fun Of The Game
Translated by
Microsoft from Italian
Microsoft from Italian
Fun for those who, like me, is beginner, allows you to get out of the box and think without conditionings: excellent training.
The app is well structured, simple and intuitive, minimal graphics (which I appreciate very much) and works smoothly Well done!
Translated by
Microsoft from Spain
Microsoft from Spain
The game is very slow, if you like chess it becomes very rare because even keeping the movements of the pieces, the rules of the game vary greatly. If You can not play I do not recommend it because although it might be entertaining, better learn to play chess for real.
Translated by
Microsoft from French
Microsoft from French
But low performance. For example remains stuck on a perpetual motion: the Lady of the IA comes in "A" and puts me in check, I shift my turn and the AI moves her Lady in "B" to defeat me. I move my Tower again to protect my King (only possibility) and the AI goes back to "A". I move the Tower, it puts it back in "B", and so on...
Translated by
Microsoft from Spain
Microsoft from Spain
The game is cool, it's original and it works as it says.
The opponent really always has the same level, which could be considered intermediate and the difficulty only varies depending on the pieces that touch you.
The times you take the opponent to "think" the next move are not too long, although sometimes when you plant Cara makes very foolish mistakes in some plays.
An important aspect that could be improved is to include that the games can end up in tables, since it is a natural result in chess and on several occasions it has happened to me to arrive at a situation in which none can win (King against King , for example) and the game continues indefinitely, forcing to surrender and lose points in the rank.