Play Magnus - Play Chess
August 27, 2024
More About Play Magnus - Play Chess
Discover their stories while you challenge them at different ages. Expect some tongue-in-cheek banter during the games. Unlock achievements and earn rewards for playing.
Expect more Grandmasters to be introduced regularly, providing you with a fresh yet diverse chess experience.
A CHESS COACH IN YOUR POCKET
You can learn chess too, as we provide you with helpful hints in-game, take back pieces when errors are made, and use the Magnometer tool to guide you on the right and wrong decisions in the game.
To become the best, you must train with the best. Nothing feels better than having World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen sit next to you and assist with your chess improvement. After walking you through the basics, Magnus starts sharing strategic tips and tactical tricks. Whether you aspire to become a Grandmaster or merely want to win your next game, his advice will prove invaluable to you. Also, expect to flex your mental muscles, as active learning is the key to success!
CONNECT WITH FRIENDS
Get detailed statistics on your performance. See how well your friends do and share your memorable games with them. Unlock achievements. Track your rating.
WANT MORE CHESS TRAINING?
Try our other award-winning app, Magnus Trainer, to get even more chess coaching from Magnus Carlsen himself. It’s a superb way to master chess with the reigning World Champion!
Or, if you are an ardent fan of solving mind-boggling chess puzzles, make sure to check out Tactics Frenzy – another app developed by a team of world-class chess experts led by Magnus Carlsen.
Latest Version
5.1.61
August 27, 2024
Chess.com
Board
Android
2,539,515
Free
pl.mw.playmagnus
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User Reviews
A Google user
5 years ago
After you beat the younger levels it turns into less of "playing magnus" and more into "playing a bot that can realize any plan you make 20 moves ahead". It doesent feel like im playing a human magnus. more like a computer. Even Magnus makes a mistake here and there though it may just be a little one.
A Google user
4 years ago
I really wish there was a feature where I could complete a game but then go back to a certain position, play a different move, and then continue from that new move. I am extremely new to chess and I always feel like there is terrible move I make during the game where I cannot recover. It would be great to go back to that move and play a different one and continue from there
A Google user
5 years ago
Forget evreything below: - after responding to a bug survey (google doc) from magnus developer. I am now experiencing cheating bug. Meaning everytime I am about to checkmate, I either get the app closed and start a new game or rewinded a couple steps back and changing the previous moves. That app is no longer worth my time. UNINSTALLING SOON. At age 9, "Magnus is thinking" for a long time. I have been sitting there for over 1 HOUR. He still didn't make a move. Just forfeit man! Updated- most of the games are played in the dark! Meaning that you'd be unable to see the squares. Very annoying, you'd have to buy new board! The free 3000 brain power was never added after signing up to worldquant thing.
A Google user
5 years ago
Honestly, so far this game has been the best training tool for me and really helped me achieve a higher level in chess. But i think the game woild be even better if a multiplayer mode was added, cause i use two different chess apps, one for myself and one to play with my friends. Also online playing would be enjoyable aswell.
Caroline Wijenberg
2 years ago
I think that the difficulty increase is very rapid & although you can pay for brain power it is really not that useful, as there are too many move options. In the beginner stages it's very easy to win but as soon as it reaches intermediate it is much more difficult than any other chess app & I constantly use crazy moves to try to outsmart the computer. The difference between say the 20 yo level & 10yo is negligible the moves are just faster
Aamir nawab
3 years ago
play magnus is one of the best chess app where you can learn chess from beginner level to expert level .The app not only improves your game but also teaches you how to play end games. The only thing wrong about the app is that you can't offer a draw if you are playing against age less than 11years. If it had allowed age 9 &10 to accept draw offers then it would have been a lot better app. ...
A Google user
6 years ago
The app is too slow; it takes a long time to start the app, you have to go through several steps in order to play a game each step taking too long. The lack of a undo feature is really killing this app; one bad move and you might as well start over; even resigning takes several seconds. It takes approx 18 seconds to get a game going from a fresh start on a Sony Z2, and that's if you don't make any changes. The app hardly uses any CPU, the phone doesn't heat up while the app is running. Moving the pieces can also be frustrating resulting in errors as the app lags. It's also easy to trick the app into making weird nonsensical moves, especially if you make strange opening moves on low difficulty settings. The Magnus quotes and Magnus history inside the app is cute but get's old after having being forced to look at them a thousand times. Wish the app was more "hard core chess".
Fernando Hidalgo
3 years ago
Application is ok but don't pay for it. Subscription is useless. Premium content sometimes work, sometimes it doesn't. Support team is useless, honestly, they won't even bother to see an attached screenshot. My subscription wasn't working and while trying to fix it they charged me for two subscriptions. Content is ok but nothing that is not available for free anywhere else on the internet.
Arkadiusz Jan Dylewski
3 years ago
Positives! + Outstanding and beautiful user interface with refined pictures of players. + Convincing AI which plays like a human. + Warm stories about different players. + Wonderful design of the board and the pieces. Negatives! - Please either remove the point system or add a "normal" mode where I can decide the color of the pieces for me and my opponent and time for the game. - Remove points system from the app or add the magnetometer and other options to a "normal" mode. Which DOES NOT require any points! - Make all the different pieces and boards available. - Please make an option to just pay for the app ONCE! I hate subscriptions and I do want to play the app offline. So do not remove the possibility to play for example with Judit, just because I am not connected to the internet. - The app would be even better if there was an option, which explains the AI's plan with the voice of the player I am actually facing. - Add chess puzzles to this app instead of creating another app!
A Google user
4 years ago
This is the best app. It is best at every level. The engine doesn't make silly errors, all errors seem human like. It's best if you purchase the months. From age 9 onwards the opening of Magnus seems to get better and better so you need to brush up your openings. Also I like that it doesn't allow take back(unless u spend more $$) as if you are playing a real solid game. You need to save pgn and analyze later. It would be best if they include a post game analysis with full strength Magnus.
Darren Lysenko
3 years ago
A great app, as long as you keep paying! Paid £50 for a year's subscription, but cancelled the renewal a month later. The app immediately reverted back to the locked version, despite still having paid for the rest of the year. I complained and it was unlocked for me again for a couple of weeks, but has now reverted back to the ad-ridden (and very limited) free version. Don't have time to keep making complaints, so had to write off my money. Disappointing, as this would be a great chess app.
A Google user
5 years ago
The app is wonderful, just want you to know that the standard pieces would've looked better. The overall UI is beautiful, the sounds are one of the best in the chess games I've played. The most beautiful thing is that even if you don't pay for the extra levels, there are no ads and you aren't forcing us to buy those brain points. Thank you for making an app like this, the best got to have the best app without any doubt. By the way, I won once against 9 y/o Magnus only once, super hard.
A Google user
5 years ago
Good. But the last update added ads and asks for buying ad free version. I wish I had not updated. [EDIT] You said that ads would help growing, but the app has updated only once after ads went in with no substantial changes, furthermore now the app crashes whenever it tries to load an ad and I'm offline which happens every time I play because I do so in the subways. Thanks for ruining the fun, I'm moving to another chess game app.
Prisca Nkolo
7 months ago
I actually like the app, the level of difficulty of the players is really challengibg. I like that. However apart playing the others features are not working. I am actually on yearly subscription but the magnometer does not work. I feel i am paying the subscription but not getting all the benefits. How am I supposed to improve? I tried to reach out the help center but no reply so far.Waiting
GenericAssUsername
1 year ago
I used to enjoy this app, but now it wants me to pay for things that I already had access to. That problem still persisted, but also now Magnus is 32 while the top age in the app is still 30. They also stopped releasing new opponents a long time ago. Magnus at the higher levels and the top level Judit Polgar have way too much book. They know basically every line of every opening. Higher levels play like a 3000+ rated engine consistently and find inexplicable deep computer moves often.
A Google user
5 years ago
I am now downloading it for the second time. I really enjoyed it the first time around but I was just too busy to try and learn better strategies. Now I have both apps and I felt like taking another whack at it. I love the level progression you can clearly see the changes in skill as he gets older and plays more avidly.
Nunya Bizness
7 months ago
I LOVE this app! But the subscription features have to be unlocked from their end at the beginning of every month; the tech support is nonexistent these days, they don't answer emails and tech support tickets, so I'm about to uninstall it and cancel my subscription.
Alma S
4 years ago
The app is good. There does seem to be a big jump in skill from 7 to 8 then from 11 to 12. Must be the gap between beginner, intermediate, and advanced I was trying to purchase the beginner package just so I can get the ad-free and advantage meter. But I cant get to the purchase page so I cant actually buy it. A bit annoying. It just keeps loading and nothing happens.
David Spatz
3 years ago
Great app with one big flaw... I took the offer of a free trial, and liked playing Magnus at various ages so much I let the first month expire and I had it on autopay. The very instant the trial period ran out, after they took the subscription fee, the app reverted to the free version complete with ads. I could do absolutely nothing about it and so I just unsubscribed, losing the money due to the no refund policy. Now I would like to pay for the features, but just can't. Frustrating.
A Google user
5 years ago
Well, I was rather disappointed with the app. While the free version has some limited functionality, the tactics puzzles are often times flawed. To be sure, I have analyzed some of the positions with an engine and puzzles have been known to be wrong. For example, on level 41 alone, I had 2 puzzle errors in a row. If the developers somehow manage to see this, I can send you photos. Please check your puzzles with an engine (there are sometimes more than one correct answer).
