Last updated on December 11th, 2025 at 08:00 am
Chess puzzles! – Board Game Review
Chess puzzles! is a Board/Casual game from Erik Brandsma, first launched in 16th July 2019.
It’s rated 4+ and currently has 1,248+ ratings on the App Store.
What Makes Chess puzzles! Stand Out
Do you love chess & puzzle challenges?
Well, you’ll love Chess Puzzles! This fun variation of the chess game includes mind-teasing challenges categorized in levels that are sure to test your chess skills and problem-solving thinking.
Can you pass all levels?
Great for anyone! From beginner to seasoned chess player!
WHY YOU’LL LOVE CHESS PUZZLES!
- Tutorial levels included (great for beginners)
- Simple tap & dragging controls
- Mate in 1, mate in 2 challenges and some alternate challenges
- Cool variation of the classic board game
Now, it’s chess puzzle time!
Download the app for free!
This Board game offers engaging gameplay and regular updates for mobile players.
Player Feedback
As a newer release, Chess puzzles! is building its player community. Early feedback suggests .
Recent Updates & Development
Latest Update: 8th May 2023
Recent improvements include:
Added hints!
Download & Availability
Chess puzzles! is available through the official App Store for iOS devices.
Get Chess puzzles! on App Store
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:
There are puzzles in this app that are definitely different the the average chess puzzle app in the store. At least the ones Ive played so far. Im probably being a bit subtle here. Its a good thing. We wish there was a reset puzzle option. Im one for the problem youre currently playing and one for the category section. Itd make replaying a puzzle more efficient.
Magnus once said puzzles makes games easier and easier.
This app is making us get better elo on chess.com we were 300 now Im 1200.
Learning comes easy if you pay attention! Excellent.
It was great until a full screen as pops up playing loud while we're trying to be quiet. If you can't work out at least a restriction on the noise we won't use the app.
We were hoping for an app dedicated to puzzles. Granted it has puzzles, but it feels more like an introduction to the game rather than an app dedicated to chess problems. We dont need sections teaching us how to play and we dont need to be rewarded every time we complete one. You have to back out of the problem you just completed to a screen with the problems for that specific section, and scroll to the next one. There should be next button (or something) so we can quietly and efficiently move on to the next puzzle. We feel like Im beating a dead horse, but we want puzzles we find the positive feedback loop rewarding us for completing a mate in 1 entirely unnecessary.
When we downloaded this, we didnt expect much. But when we opened it, we were shocked! We were greeted with no ads, challenging puzzles, and even some jokes in it! This far exceeded our expectations, and we're glad to have it.
Wonderful lessons more knowledge to learn.
Mate in 3 – Queen pack – AAAAAAAY-OH The game doesnt go forward after we exhaust all possible moves on all pieces. We were looking for a solution but now think it was a bug? Hope to hear back from dev on this one.
We just wish the app would let us make the wrong move in the "Mate in #" puzzles, or at least make it an option in the settings. When we're forced to make the correct moves, it's less of a challenge. Love the app otherwise.
We thought it was legit, until they introduced puzzles where we had like 30 queens, or 30 knights, against a single king. Gentlemen/ladies, Im here for real chess practice, not for some kiddy domination simulator. We want to get better at the game, not self-indulge.
We love the puzzles and the quirky quotes. Nothing tedious or omnipresent. Its a lot of fun, even in the middle of the night, when we just cant sleep.
Theres lots of good puzzles and it isnt screaming at you to buy something every other second, keep up the good work.
Phenomenal free puzzles with a good range of difficulties.
Mate in 1, scenario 3 (you have one move only). We cant find the right move.
Thanks for this awesome work. Takes our focus completely out of the fog were all living in.
Its very challenging but extremely helpful.
Overall it was good for pattern recognition. But Im sad that we ran out of puzzles after our second day having it :/ Also, we noticed that in some puzzles, not only does the CPU not play the best move, but the puzzle requires the CPU to blunder to solve it. Most examples consist of taking a piece with the king, or moving out of check when the piece that put them in check could have been taken by another piece.
This Chess app has been really good for practicing scenarios and learning how the pieces move without the distraction of playing a full game. We do wish it explained why certain moves were wrong or less ideal. The developer seems very responsive to improvement ideas so we will keep watching and playing. Thank you.
This is a great little game to pass the time, especially if youre trying to get better at chess. However it only gets 4 stars from us, half a star because its hard to see the dot that shows where you can move behind pieces, and another half a star because the level titled Write a review if youd like :) is the same puzzle as red hot minute For real though, very fun little set of chess puzzles.
Great way to pass the time with out feeling like your wasting it. Really fun, challenging and mentally stimulating. Barebones of what you need they dont over crowd the app with themes so you can get strait to the point. With out an in app purchases you might find your self running out of puzzles but this is a perfect time to go back to the beginning and run through them again as most wont be fresh in your mind so they can still be challenging but more importantly this will help keep you sharp. So far our only issue with the app is puzzle pack Hard mode :) puzzle Last minute protection seem to be bugged you goal is to mate in 3 an we see the make in 3 but the app wont let you move you knight to the appropriate position on your second move. An before you ask yes Im sure theres not another way to play it because not only was we unable to see another possibility but just to be sure we tried making every available move on the board 3x just to insure we didnt miss one an the app just kept telling us they were all wrong.
Difficult puzzles but some are the same puzzles.
In the Queen Pack Dont stop us now challenge has no answer other than that its fun just a couple bugs here and there.
We love doing chess puzzles but it just gets to the point where Im looking to branch out and try to improve our chess vision and all is see are repetitive queen sacrifices which lead to mates even when other moves are possible. This shows up on almost every mate in 2 and 3. We know this is free but it definitely needs some updating and the puzzles need to cause you to think more than giving away a queen.
Has scenarios that will never show up like capturing a lone queen it is not good.
It is pretty fun by some of th puzzles are to hard.
User feedback from Apple App Store
App Details
- Version: 2.4
- Size: 14.93 MB
- iOS: 13.0 or later
- Languages: NL, EN
- Content Advisory:
- Developer: Erik Brandsma
Last updated: 8th May 2023 | Genre: Board, Casual | Developer: Erik Brandsma