Really Bad Chess

Noodlecake

Contains adsIn-app purchases

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

Ratings and reviews

ok initally rated this 5 stars but theres a "feature" where you watch an ad for 5 undos and the ad....doesn't end? like its a full 30s then it just stays and you *have* to click through to the play store...navigate back to the app...then wait 5 seconds...then! it might play another ad! if you don't do all that then you have to start again or it doesn't register. and the ads are like fully trash, "download this app for free cash!" type nonsense. its no bueno

A lot of good fun and provides a wonderful alternative to the classic game. It teaches you a lot about how to use the pieces, more so than I expected. The o ly issue i found is that if your King is in check, you either have to move your King or put something in the way of the offending piece. The app doesn't let you take the opponent's piece with, say, a Knight. This can be ratger annoying.

I do enjoy this game but there are too many bugs. After purchasing the premium package to get rid of ads I'm somewhat disappointed. During a match it freezes up and the AI doesn't make a move. I need to exit to menu and go back to see what move was made. It saves part way through games randomly and won't reset even after surrendering, when I try to start a new game I get dropped back in 25+ moves in.

What’s new

Additional bug fixes