Really Bad Chess is just like chess, but with totally random pieces.
4.07·42,913 reviews·1,000,000+ downloads
About Really Bad Chess
Really Bad Chess is a board app developed by Noodlecake.
Download Statistics
Really Bad Chess has been downloaded 3.1 million times. In the last 30 days, the app was downloaded 3.3 thousand times.
User Ratings
Really Bad Chess is rated 4.07 out of 5 stars. The rating is based on 43 thousand ratings.
App Information
Really Bad Chess is FREE to download. The APK download size is 88.06 MB. The latest version available is 1.4.18. The last update was on November 6, 2025.
Technical Requirements
Really Bad Chess requires Android 7.0+ or higher. The app has a content rating of Everyone. The app has been available on Google Play May 2017.
Description
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
Recent changes: Bug fixes and performance improvements.
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Incredibly fun mental flexibility challenge if you play chess regularly or a great way to learn a new game. Love some noodle cake!
★★★★☆Wrath Zealot· May 2, 2026
Love this! Its hilarious but sometimes the randomness is totally unfair. Maybe im just not that good at chess though... lol
★★★★☆Adam TS· Oct 6, 2025
Great fun except it doesn't let me win! When I win a game it just freezes and I jave to surrender to get to the main menu.
★★★★☆Scotty Sutherland· Jul 13, 2025
Only reason I didn't do 5 star is bc of how there are ads every game. And to get 5 undos/take backs, cost another ad. fun game to occasionally play as a variant
★★★★★Louis Martin (Burning Flames)· Apr 13, 2025
Extremely fun game. But I accidentally discovered a bug... and I abused it xD until it got fixed? After I updated the game, now my rank is at 141. And the enemy bot has 6 queens and all pieces (no pawns at all) at the start and I have 3 knights, 3 bishops and all pawns... Please send help...
★☆☆☆☆Anabelle· Jan 26, 2026
Recently redownloaded this, but it's really buggy Very often, I can't see the opponent's moves or make another move of my own until I quit to the menu and then reopen the match.
★☆☆☆☆Sean Thornberg· Apr 23, 2025
Used to be good but now it is buggy. It won't let you finish the game when you checkmate. The only aspect the new developers want to fix is its ability to play ads.
★★☆☆☆Benjamin Dober· Jun 23, 2025
Great mix up to regular, 3 and 4 and 5 star if you fix the 1v1 chess pieces that are taken sit on board and get in the way of play really badly.... Ez fix. And there's no undo move button. Even 1 would be expected 2 would be great... 3 would ram it home as decent game but not too excessive, For both players. Pretty good pretty bad (pun intended but nailed it otherwise still
★★☆☆☆astro.· Apr 20, 2026
Used to be really great but recent updates have been so confusing. They made the game logo an ugly blue. They removed the victory/defeat screen after a game for whatever reason so now the game just "freezes" weirdly after a game ends. They made the AI way too strong and smart when it's ahead and way too dumb when it's behind. Also, completely disabled the option to get undos unless you pay for them now - before you could watch ads for 5. No idea why they decided to go back and destroy this game
Google Play Rankings for Really Bad Chess
This app is not ranked
Technologies used by Really Bad Chess
Really Bad Chess is requesting 11 permissions and is using 38 libraries.
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