Playing chess is great for a child’s brain development. It gives the brain a rigorous, exhilarating workout that’s great for both children and adults. For kids, it develops logic and critical thinking. It helps the child develop concentration and memory skills. It also teaches planning and foresight.
Here are Chess apps designed for kids. These apps are perfect even for beginners. It teaches all the basics in playing chess as well as puzzles and games to get them to a next level.
1. Chess for Kids
ChessKid is one of the most popular chess app for kids. Developed by Chess.com, ChessKid is great for beginners and intermediate players. The app is free and allows the child to play unlimited games. A Gold Membership is available to unlock other features like puzzles, video lessons and more. ChessKids is ad-free and kid-safe.
Top features
- Challenge the ChessBots – perfect for all skill levels!
- Improve your game with hundreds of hilarious kid-friendly videos!
- Start as a pawn, but work your way up to king level lessons!
- Sharpen your skills with 1000s of tricky puzzles!
- Play multiple games simultaneously against your friends!
Available in iOS and Android
2. ChessKid Adventure
ChessKid Adventure adds fantasy for the classic chess game. In ChessKid Adventure, kids can play chess against fun fantasy bosses, puzzle duels and play against other kids. It’s the classical game of chess, but wrapped in a magical world that kids will love. The app is FREE while a Gold Membership unlocks more features and puzzles. The Gold Membership is shared with the Chess for Kids apps. That means, you only need one Gold Membership account for both apps.
Top features
- Customizable your character’s physical features and outfits
- Play vs 40+ different fantasy bosses of all skill levels
- Solve more than 100,000+ puzzles
- Learn from 6 educational Quests with hundreds of challenges (and more coming soon!)
- Enjoy different chessboard and piece themes
Available in iOS and Android
3. Kahoot! Learn Chess by DragonBox
Kahoot! Learn Chess by DragonBox is beginner-friendly. The child will be introduced to each chess piece, solve chess situations with more and more pieces, and learn to apply chess strategies.
Top Features
- Learn how different pieces move and capture.
- Learn the notion of checkmate and simple checkmating patterns.
- Learn to complete simple tactical and strategic tasks.
- Intro to basic checkmating techniques against a lone king.
- Complete games versus a basic chess engine.
Available in iOS and Android
4. Chess Universe
Chess Universe is a free app and ideal for beginners. You can play offline against an AI and learn chess while solving chess puzzles. What’s unique with Chess Universe is the design and game play. Earn rewards and gems to unlock cool characters and chess boards. You can even get a pet for your achievements. When connected online, Chess Universe provides hints, analysis and match history. Enjoy unlimited chess games online and offline. A subscription is available to access premium features.
Top Features
- Chess with friends and online players. Rank up towards the Chess Universe Leaderboard.
- Chess Academy. Learn chess tactics, combinations, and tricks. Improve your chess skills by solving chess puzzles in our chess towers.
- Daily chess quests. Progress daily. Complete achievements and participate in chess tournaments.
- Play against AI – online or offline.
- Use different game modes: Chess blitz, bullet, rapid chess.
5. Chess and Mate
Chess and Mate is the chess app for the whole family. Enter Prince Caspar’s castle and meet the individual chess pieces. Depending on how much prior knowledge you bring into the chess game, you can have every piece introduced to you at your own pace. This chess game comes to life with animations.
Top Features
- Train yourself on chess rules in an unlimited amount of practice games
- Perfect for both beginners and pros thanks to many exercises and explanations
- Animated with care and fantasy filled game ambience
- Learn professional tricks and game tactics
6. Play Magnus
Play Magnus lets you play against world champions and grandmasters, including World Chess Champion, Magnus Carlsen. Discover their stories while you challenge them at different ages. Unlock achievements and earn rewards for playing.
Top Features
- Play chess against Grandmaster like Magnus Carlsen, Wesley So, and Judit Polgar. Challenge them at different ages.
- Gives players a way to keep advancing skill level to beat Magnus at advancing ages from childhood through adulthood
- Helpful hints in-game, take back pieces when errors are made.
- Use the Magnometer tool to guide you on the right and wrong decisions in the game.
- Allows access to Magnus’ own video lessons, straight from the expert himself
If you are looking to play chess away from the screens, here are some chess boards you can purchase online.
