Last updated on January 17th, 2026 at 01:33 am
Chess – Strategy Game Review
Chess is a Strategy/Board/Entertainment game from Vintolo Ltd, first launched in 13th June 2009.
It’s rated 4+ and currently has 37,300+ ratings on the App Store.
What Makes Chess Stand Out
Chess is #1 popular game in the world. According to FIDE, about 600 million people play chess and it is the most widespread game on the planet.
"The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions…"
(Benjamin Franklin, scientist)
Game features:
- HD graphics for iPhone 5 and the new iPad retina display
- 5 levels of difficulty
- hint option to find out the best next move
- play either white or black
- play against the computer or a friend
- 2D and 3D themes for chess pieces
- unlimited ability to undo moves
- AI quick response time
- time control (5, 15, 30 or 60 minutes)
- animated moves
- highlight legal moves
- easy to use interface design
- ability to go back to any previous position in the game
- auto-save when exit or phone ring
- view captured pieces
- full game history with chess notation
- change the appearance of the board
- ability to listen music in background
Play one of the oldest and most enjoyable games in the world!
This Strategy game offers engaging gameplay and regular updates for mobile players.
Player Feedback
As a newer release, Chess is building its player community. Early feedback suggests .
Recent Updates & Development
Latest Update: 8th February 2025
Recent improvements include:
Improved hint indication.
Download & Availability
Chess is available through the official App Store for iOS devices.
Requirements: Requires iPhone 5s / iPad Air / iPad Air (Cellular) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina, Cellular) / iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus / iPad Air 2 / iPad Air 2 (Cellular) / iPad Mini 3 or later.
Compatible with iPhone and iPad devices.
Player Experience Highlights
Community Insight:
Challenging game we love chess so much better than basketball, which is our favorite too.
Make us better a chess and it is fun trust us.
So im a pro at chess but every time it says its stalemate, its very very clear that it is a checkmate.
The puzzles are great and it is good for two player, but they should consider adding more puzzles and make the computer stronger as it feels extremely easy even on max difficulty.
We stay on this. Went from level easy to hard and keep grinding to be better.
Its mi favorite indoor game. With it trying to improve how our brain functions. Took a while to learn how to play again after coma.
Kudos to the team who developed this app. Amazing work.
This is a great app for casual chess fun. Its great to be able to take moves back after blundering.
We spend a lot of time keeping ourselves busy in the last phase of our life. Thank you.
Fun but only promotes to Queen.
Chess is a game we love because its so fun and entertaining This is why we Love Chess so much.
We luv this app becuz it give u hints when u r stuck. But can u make hints free 4 the puzzle thingies plz becuz we alwayz get stuck.
Great way to practice and get more experience.
Quick and easy to play, and levels can definitely challenge you! Only suggestion Id make is let the player undo Stalemate or being Checkmated so you can figure out ways to improve and not get Stalemated or Checkmated.
What a great app to play chess and chess puzzles.
We always wanted to learn this game and the chess puzzle feature; win in one move, makes learning the board much easier for us.
Overall, enjoyable. There are several problems. 1: Play can repeat endlessly without a forced draw. In real life chess rules, repeating a position 3 times results in automatic draw. 2: When promoting a pawn, automatically we get a queen. In real life chess rules, a pawn can be promoted to any piece except pawn or king. 3: In the end game, play disintegrates. Nonsensical moves, poor play all around. 4: No variations in play, especially openings. We.
Ive played solitaire chess on this program for years. Its great for a few quick games, for practicing openings, mid and end game strategies. We recently got our grandson started playing with this app. We highly recommend it for beginners to even upper level players. Do it.
Doesnt explain how to castle or May not be possible.
So when we download chess it does not give use videos to make use learn more. Thank you.
This app has the simple black and white 2D layout that is simply the best for a flat screen. However, the bot is keen on repeating moves in situations where the pieces are in a lose-lose position. Generally speaking, if one repeats 20 times the game should be called a draw. We often play for draws, as they have a way of offering a balanced result in terms of overall skill.
This game is all our favorite things put together, puzzles chess and multiplayer. We love this because it has all the aspects of chess and more! Only downside is you can do this and more on Chess.com.
We are wondering why: 1. A pawn can only become a queen? It should be able to become a rook, knight or a bishop too 2. Why cant see the puzzles that we have already done. They are locked.
Its good for quick games but has some issues like theres no draw programming so the computer will get stuck making the same moves over and over forever. Also it would be nice if there was a random color selection. Also when you lose the screen quickly closes so you cant go back and analyze the last move.
Its a great game. We think the AI is a little too hard, especially on easy Ive havent had it for a long time. We just started a few days ago but otherwise its a great game. We love everything about it except for how far the AI is.
Good for a quick game. Will challenge people below 1400.
We really love the simplicity of the interface. We also thought the game struck the right balance between 3D pieces with a. Flat board. We also liked the calm wood and fairly monochrome color scheme. Our only complaint is that once there is a stalemate or checkmate, the game doesnt visually show the pieces finish the game. It would help us as a beginner to see the pieces move and complete the game. Sort of how solitaire finishes organizing the cards at 2.5x speed once you win inevitably.
Great app. However, for us, we do not find it quite challenging enough.
In the puzzles part of the app where you solve in two moves etc., the pieces are already in position. Due to the pieces being illegally positioned, its impossible to achieve. And the game just keeps you unable to solve that level unless you buy hints. But playing as a beginner, we guess its ok. But we think advanced players will be pretty annoyed. We wished the puzzles were achievable and not fraudulent. : )).
The computer can take a pawn with s pawn when it is right next to is not at an angle.
Good luck in chess boards no-frills other than that. Challenges are really good. Opponents moves are really good. Easy to navigate.
Love it ! And Recommend it To Everyone.
Just solved no. 1000- wish there were more.
This is great game and its user friendly. A beautiful way to enjoy quiet moments during a trip, vacation, long journey or just when you want to play chess.
Excellent Platform to the big brain wash. Good Game.
We have enjoyed this one for years now. Love the speed and challenging hard level which still beats us sometimes. Puzzles are super difficult at the 100+ level.
Fast graphics and steady gameplay all day. The facts are true, the best chess game to come through. Newly updated app has zero glitches.
Exactly what we wanted. We can play often without watching ads constantly.
May we have more puzzles please.
Ive loved playing chess our whole life. Its been hard to find people to play with. This app allows us to keep our skills sharp and exercise our brain. As long as there are apps like this, we will have a sharper mind in the long run. Playing chess is better for your brain than scrolling through TikTok or YouTube shorts. Download it, have fun, stay young.
This is our calgone moment..we get get away from life issues with this chess game it brings us back into focus.
Im getting back into chess. We heard about it in middle school that was over 20 years ago and now getting back into it and we are in love with it.
Have had this app literally for YEARS. No annoying ads, no in-game purchases, the difficulty levels are accurate and offer exceptional intellectual challenges. Pieces are always easy to see, and gameplay is flawless!! If we could give this app a better rating than five stars we would.
Very cool and user friendly. Three levels of difficulty to choose from depending on your experience. We love playing this version, and we think you will too. Thank you.
This game is great, we have been playing it for a year now and it is amazing because it has no ads and has a good esthetic. This game also has a puzzle mode where you can practice chess.
This app is sufficient and enjoyable. Its the perfect way to spend your time on a rainy day inside.
Chess is GREAT even 4 a BRAIN INJURED PERSON WHO CAN STILL PLAY . James Matthew Shearer THANKS FOR CREATING THE GAME…THAT MY GRANDFATHER TAUGHT ME HOW TO PLAY. JAMES THEODORE SHEARER.
Our daughter likes it but its a lot more complicated than that because its so easy.
Enjoy any chess game The moves are predictable unless you make random moves to vary the pattern and enjoy a the challenge.
This is the perfect chess teacher, because it will allow you to make only legal moves. For those of us who are beginners or less than great players, it makes a beatable opponent. For Grand Masters, it is too easy to beat, and has a weak end game, but unlike the formidable Chess app in Mac O/S, it moves instantly, and you can complete a game in a few minutes. For us weak players, it is the perfect opponent.
User feedback from Apple App Store
App Details
- Version: 5.9
- Size: 64.91 MB
- iOS: 12.4 or later
- Languages: EN
- Content Advisory:
- Developer: Vintolo Ltd
Last updated: 8th February 2025 | Genre: Strategy, Board | Developer: Vintolo Ltd