Chess

Review by eFreeware

Chess is a free board game for Android from the developer Chess Prince, and it has been on the Play Store since June 2015. It is a digital version of the classic strategy game, with ten difficulty levels, a puzzle mode and a set of assists that let you undo moves or ask for a hint. The install count sits above 100 million, and the average rating is 4.6 from more than two million ratings.

What makes it worth a look is the range of ways it lets you play the same game. You can take on the computer at a level that matches your ability, work through puzzles, or hand the phone to a friend for a two-player match.

It is free to download, supported by ads, and it offers in-app purchases. The download itself is small, which matters if you keep a tight lid on storage. If you have wanted a chess app that does not assume you already know the game, this one is built with that player in mind.

Assists that make the game approachable

The feature that stands out most to me is the game assistant. When you are unsure what to do, the app can suggest a move, and you can also undo a move you regret. Those two tools change the character of a game considerably: a beginner can try something, see it go wrong and take it back rather than losing the thread entirely.

The undo button is tied to a scoring system. Levels completed without using it earn stars, so the app gives you a reason to rely on your own reading of the board once you are ready. That is a neat way to reward improvement without removing the safety net for players who still need it.

Hints work alongside the assistant, so there are two separate kinds of help available. Neither is forced on you. You can play a clean game and ignore both, or lean on them while you are still learning how the pieces interact.

Ten levels, puzzles and a save function

Difficulty is split across ten levels, and the app is structured around unlocking them as you progress. That gives a long-term shape to solo play rather than dropping you into a single fixed opponent. Puzzles sit alongside the level progression as a separate way to practice, which is useful when you want a short problem to solve instead of a full game.

There is a save function, so a game in progress does not have to be finished in one sitting. Sound effects accompany play, and the whole package is described as small in size, which keeps the install light.

The app also includes reference material on how the pieces move and on the situations that decide a game. The pawn, king, queen, rook, knight and bishop each get their movement explained, and check, checkmate and stalemate are covered, along with castling and en passant. For someone who has never been taught the rules properly, having that inside the same app as the board is genuinely useful.

Two-player games and the alternate mode

Alongside games against the computer, the app includes a two-player mode. Two people can share the device and play each other directly, which makes it usable as a straightforward board substitute when you are sitting with someone who also wants a game.

There is also an alternate mode listed among the features. It sits beside the standard play options as another way to use the board, alongside the usual match against the computer.

The two-player option is the one I would point to first if you are looking for something to fill a quiet half hour with another person. It is included in the app.

Board views, themes and the look of the game

The board can be shown in two ways: a vertical 2D view and a horizontal 3D view. The 3D option is the more decorative of the two, while the flat view keeps the whole board visible in a familiar layout. Which one you prefer will probably come down to how you hold the phone and how much you care about presentation.

Seven themes are available, so the colors and styling of the board are not fixed. The developer describes the graphics as realistic, and the overall presentation is clearly meant to be a step above a bare grid of squares.

None of this changes how the game plays, but it does affect how willing you are to keep opening it. A board you find pleasant to look at is easier to return to than one you tolerate.

GP, daily gifts and premium features

A later addition to the app is a currency called GP. You earn it by winning games and by visiting daily, and it can be used to unlock premium features. Wins described as clean, meaning those played without hints or undos, pay out more GP, which ties the reward system back to the same idea as the stars.

There is also a daily gift: checking in each day gives you a bonus pack of GP. That gives the app a light routine element, a reason to open it even on days when you do not have time for a full game.

The app is free with ads and offers in-app purchases, so the GP system sits alongside those. If you would rather not engage with it at all, the core game is still there underneath; if you like having something to accumulate, it adds a second layer to ordinary play.

A good fit for learners and casual players

This is an app I would point a beginner toward first. The combination of rule explanations, a move assistant, hints and an undo button means you can start playing before you have memorized how every piece behaves, and the ten difficulty levels give you somewhere to go as you improve.

It also suits players who want chess in short bursts. Puzzles are there for a few minutes of thinking, the save function handles interrupted games, and the small download means it is not a commitment in storage terms.

If you already play at a strong level and want a serious training tool, the assists and the star system are aimed at a different player. What this app is built for is enjoyment at any level, and the structure reflects that priority rather than deep competitive analysis.

A free chess app that grows with you

Chess Prince's Chess is a well-established free option, with more than 100 million installs and a 4.6 average rating behind it.

Ads are present, in-app purchases are offered, and the GP currency adds a layer of its own on top of the chess. None of that stops you from playing, but it is part of the package.

If you want a chess app that teaches as it goes and lets you dial the challenge up or down, this is an easy one to install. If you are after pure competitive play, the design here is pointed elsewhere.

What's new in version 2.9.4

• GAME CURRENCY: Introducing GP! Earn points for victories and daily visits. • FREE PREMIUM: Now you can unlock Premium features using your earned GP. • SKILL BONUS: Get more GP for "clean" wins without using hints or undos. • DAILY GIFTS: Check in every day to claim your bonus GP pack!