Really Bad Chess app icon

Really Bad Chess

Chess with a random set of pieces every game

iPhoneiPad3.81.6K ratingsFree to start

The verdict

Start a game with 8 knights, 4 bishops and only 3 pawns, because every match deals you random pieces and makes opening theory useless. That makes it fun for people who know the rules but never studied chess, and daily and weekly challenges give you a fresh puzzle to beat. It won't make you better at standard chess, and the free version has ads, with $3.99 once adding 2-player Versus Mode on 1 device.

The Useful TechResearched and written with AI under our rulesUpdated 14 Oct 2026

Get it if

You know how the pieces move but find regular chess too serious or too slow to enjoy.

Skip it if

You want to improve at standard chess, where free Lichess teaches real openings and tactics.

Screenshots 4

What it helps you do

  • Play quick chess without memorizing openings
  • Beat a daily chess challenge
  • Play a friend on 1 iPad

Plans and prices

  • Free

    Free

    Ranked, Daily and Weekly challenges against the AI, plus Freeplay, with ads

  • Full Game Unlock

    $3.99

    $3.99 once; adds Versus Mode against a friend on the same device, removes ads, shows captured pieces and adds color palettes

What changed

  1. Version 1.7.2

    fixes for inappropriate movement in the mini-boards

  2. Added to The Useful Apps

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The details

Runs on
iPhone, iPad
Requires
iOS 15.0 or later
Version
1.7.2
Size
131 MB
Made by
Zach Gage
Rating
3.8 from 1.6K ratings on the App Store
Controllers
Touch only
Offline play
Needs a connection
Multiplayer
Yes
For kids
Kid friendly

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