Really Bad Chess

Contains adsIn-app purchases
4.1
42.9K reviews
1M+
Downloads
Content rating
Everyone
Enjoy this game for free, plus hundreds more free of ads and in-app purchases, with a Google Play Pass subscription. Learn more
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About this game

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


------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
Updated on
Dec 12, 2023

Data safety

Safety starts with understanding how developers collect and share your data. Data privacy and security practices may vary based on your use, region, and age. The developer provided this information and may update it over time.
This app may share these data types with third parties
Device or other IDs
No data collected
Learn more about how developers declare collection
Data is encrypted in transit
You can request that data be deleted

Ratings and reviews

4.1
41.4K reviews
Ryan Wood
March 13, 2024
The game is frozen in ranked. I've surrendered 30 times, been beaten in my current match, and even uninstalled and reinstalled, but it reloads back at the same spot in my match. I also have to mention the ads that you have to close four separate times to finally continue on to see the frozen match. Used to be my favorite game, but it's not worth trying to play anymore
8 people found this review helpful
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Pata Plan
March 17, 2024
App still doesn't keep accurate count of winning streaks, and games end in an awkward frozen state. One star because broken for a long time. Playing ridiculously overpowered handicaps against a barely competent AI is surprisingly fun!! But the game could use a few updates. I want to be able to save a position and replay it, or start a game with an arbitrary setup of my own choosing.
9 people found this review helpful
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Ricky Spires
March 20, 2024
This game is interesting. Playing chess with random pieces does change the strategy. Problem I'd, when I play ranked mode it is now stuck on the same game at the same move. I have surrendered the game, won the game, restarted the app, reinstalled the app, and restarted my phone. Nothing is working to get this back to being playable. OK, uninstalling
9 people found this review helpful
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What's new

Bug fixes and performance improvements.