lichess • Free Online Chess
Get on Play StoreThe one free/libre open-source online and offline chess game
Phone
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- monetization387 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The monetization model of this chess app is highly praised, as it is completely free and devoid of any advertisements or in-app purchases. Users appreciate the absence of ads, which allows for an uninterrupted gaming experience, and many express gratitude for the app's commitment to remaining ad-free while providing a wealth of features and resources for chess enthusiasts. Overall, the app is celebrated for its non-profit, open-source approach, relying solely on voluntary donations for support.
“No ads, completely free.”
“The best chess app in the store right now, no ads, no interruptions; you can completely focus on your games and analyze afterwards.”
“Lichess is completely free, nothing is locked away, no ads, no monetization other than voluntary donation.”
“This app has too much ads and it's was too disturbing.”
“Game is so buggy and full of ads.”
“Give an option to remove ads.”
- stability200 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The stability of the app has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent freezes, glitches, and connectivity issues that often occur during critical moments in games. Many players experience problems such as the inability to move pieces, unexpected timeouts, and visual discrepancies, particularly after recent updates. Overall, while the app offers valuable features, its current state is marred by significant instability that detracts from the user experience.
“No glitches, super smooth and a good training ground for beginners and also a challenging spot for experts.”
“Spent 372 hours+ with little to no glitches.”
“Free open source chess, great puzzles, no glitches yet!”
“It used to be fine, but now pretty often near the end of games when time is running down, the app just freezes up and I end up getting flagged.”
“The app freezes mid-game, unable to move pieces for seconds at a time.”
“Crashes all the time, loses connection and freezes on a regular basis.”
- graphics70 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the chess app receive mixed reviews from users. While many praise the clean, smooth, and aesthetically pleasing design, others criticize the graphics for being cluttered, lacking depth, or simply poor. Suggestions for improvement include enhancing the visual appeal and adding more customizable options, indicating that while the graphics are generally good, there is room for enhancement to reach their full potential.
“Graphics, controls, board and pieces, everything is just fabulous.”
“I have tried different chess apps available on the Google Play Store, and this one is currently my favorite app to play chess because of its minimalistic yet awesome graphics and smooth gaming experience without any lag.”
“Very entertaining and the graphics are excellent.”
“Thereon you'll experience high lag, bulky graphics, slow movement etc. I am done with such fraud!”
“Too confusing menu to start with and very poor graphics.”
“Worst app graphics quality really bad, slow.”
- gameplay41 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the app is generally praised for its smoothness, intuitive mechanics, and the ability to analyze games with a powerful chess engine. However, users report significant issues such as freezing, bugs affecting time management, and occasional crashes that disrupt play. While many appreciate the app's features and the opportunity for improvement in their chess skills, the core gameplay experience is marred by these technical problems.
“Chess gameplay is smooth and intuitive enough, and you get to analyze with one of the most powerful chess engines on planet earth.”
“The gameplay is pure, and you can see substantial improvements in your chess game by utilizing this app.”
“It's free, there are zero ads, it offers free and easy to follow study material, the gameplay is fluid, and it's easy to play with strangers or friends online.”
“Really terrible gameplay with this crappy app.”
“So far I've lost at least 15 games because of the gameplay freezing up, leaving me unable to make a move while the time continued ticking in front of me.”
“The app is continuously getting hanged; everything is working except moving any piece during gameplay. I have to close the app during gameplay and then restart it to play.”
- optimization34 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
Overall, the app demonstrates strong performance and smooth operation, particularly praised for its user interface and lack of ads. However, several users report issues with optimization, especially on fullscreen devices and during peak hours, leading to slow loading times and interruptions during games. Recent updates have also caused performance declines for some users, indicating a need for further optimization and stability improvements.
“One of the best chess apps out there, the interface is stylish and simple, the best chess app for tournaments, almost everything there is free even training tips, also runs smoothly on super slow internet.”
“Outstanding performance.”
“It's a joy to play chess like this: smooth performance, lightweight, open-sourced with thousands of players around the world.”
“Not optimized for fullscreen phones.”
“Very poorly optimized.”
“Bad performance... app is always loading, whenever I open the app or play a game... it abruptly stops working in between the game or tournament...”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express significant frustration with the app's touch detection issues, which often lead to unintended moves and losses in critical game situations. These technical problems detract from the overall emotional experience, causing embarrassment and disappointment during gameplay. Despite being regarded as a potentially great chess app, the persistent touch-related bugs undermine players' enjoyment and emotional engagement.
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as both amusing and absurd, with players noting that it can be so funny that it affects their appetite. The inclusion of quirky game modes and humorous symbols, such as the bishop represented as a "+" and the rook as a square, adds to the overall comedic experience, making it entertainingly ridiculous.
“Besides the ordinary game modes, there are also many other funny game modes to play.”
“After updating, the app is now showing the pieces with some funny symbols; for instance, the bishop appears as a + and the rook as a square.”
“This is hilarious.”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is noted for its inclusion of daily and side quests, which adds depth to the gameplay experience. However, there seems to be a disconnect or dissatisfaction with the narrative elements, particularly in relation to chess, suggesting that the storytelling may not resonate well with all players.
“The story is incredibly engaging and keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
“The character development throughout the narrative is truly impressive.”
“Each quest adds depth to the overall storyline, making the experience even more immersive.”
“The app is great, but the story is a whole different issue.”
“The daily quests and side quests feel repetitive and uninspired.”
“The narrative lacks depth and fails to engage the player.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally appreciated for its absence of ads and unnecessary tracks, allowing for a straightforward experience. While some users haven't engaged with the game's music directly, they express optimism about its quality. Overall, the feedback suggests a positive reception towards the game's audio environment.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users express concerns about the presence of moderation to prevent insults and maintain a positive atmosphere, indicating a potential issue with toxicity within the community.
“Is there really a moderator to check if players are insulting other players or creating a toxic atmosphere on this site?”
