Shogi: The Grand Court
Shogi with a written review after every game, and 80 days to reach Kyoto
50 opponents stand between you and the court. Each win uses up 1–3 days, depending on how you win. When you are online, a free review explains after each game which move decided it. Games against the AI run on your phone, so you can play to the end anywhere.
Get the app
Free to play, with optional in-app purchases.
- 50
- matches
- 5
- chapters
- 70
- tsume puzzles (mate in 1 and 3)
- Free
- post-game review
What you can do
50 court matches
Opponents are lined up weakest first, with a Sengoku warlord waiting at the end of each chapter. Each win costs 1–3 days depending on how you win; the goal is to reach Kyoto within 80 days.
70 tsume puzzles
Mate-in-1 and mate-in-3 problems, grouped into chapters by length. Solve every problem in a chapter to clear it. They run on your phone, so you can solve them anywhere.
An AI that thinks on your device
Search runs on your phone, so you can finish a game anywhere, even on a plane.
Their thoughts, and a review afterwards
In the opening and the endgame, your opponent says what is on their mind in a speech bubble. Advice during the middlegame is a premium feature. When the game ends, the review of that game is free to read.
Replay the game record
When the game ends, step back through it move by move and see for yourself where it turned.
Online match
Play one to one against someone near your own strength. The longer you wait, the wider the search grows, reaching players a little further from your level.
Rank and a record of your play
Results give you a kyu or dan rank and an estimate of your playing strength. Scoring your habits across 5 axes is part of the premium plan.
A journey through 5 chapters
Owari and Mino
Where the journey starts: how pieces move, and the first castles.
Kai and Shinano
Mountain play. Your defence is put to the test.
Echigo and Hokuriku
Long thinking in snow country. Endgame tenacity.
Setouchi and Shikoku
Fast tides, fast shogi. Counting speed decides games.
Kyoto and the Jurakudai
The grand court itself. Win here and the journey ends.
Column
Short reads on how to think about shogi and how to get better.
Questions
Does it cost anything?
All 50 matches, the tsume puzzles, online matches and the post-game review are free to play. The free version shows ads. Premium (monthly or a one-time purchase) removes them and adds middlegame advice and scoring of your playing habits. Avatars and board designs are sold separately as one-time purchases.
Can I win if I have only just learned shogi?
The first opponent plays gently, so it is an easy place to start. Tapping a piece puts a dot on every square it can reach, and you choose only from legal moves, so rules such as the two-pawn rule are taken care of for you. Against the AI you can take back a move up to 3 times per game.
How is it different from other shogi apps?
During the game, your opponent's thoughts appear in a speech bubble, and after it you get a written review. The 50 matches form one journey, with 80 days to reach Kyoto.
Can I play without a connection?
Yes. Games against the AI and the tsume puzzles run entirely on the device, so they work on a plane or in the mountains. Online matches, reviews and middlegame advice work when you are online.
Which devices does it run on?
iPhone and Android. Get it from the App Store on iPhone or from Google Play on Android; the badges under "Get the app" on this page open each store.
Where is my data kept?
Game history and settings stay mostly on the device. The privacy policy has the details.