# Backgammon NJ — user reviews > 396 indexed App Store user reviews of Backgammon NJ by Jimmy Hu, rated 4.40/5 from 1,498 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-nj/id328168559/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-nj/id328168559.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,100 · 4★ 160 · 3★ 90 · 2★ 51 · 1★ 97 ## What do users think of Backgammon NJ? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🚀 Excellent gameplay - 🤖 Challenging AI opponent - 📊 Detailed game analysis and statistics - 👍 Smooth and intuitive interface - 🏆 Helps improve player skills **Cons** - 🎲 Perceived unfairness in dice rolls - 🤖 AI opponent seen as cheating or having an unfair advantage - 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues - 💰 Expensive for a mobile game **Commonly reported bugs** - Forced moves not always the best option - Inconsistent behavior in auto-bear-off mode - Online games prone to disconnections and timeouts **Most requested features** - Manual dice roll option to verify randomness - Ability to set custom difficulty levels - Online multiplayer with chat functionality - Improved tutorial and learning resources ## Newest reviews (14 of 396) ### 2/5 — Dice so biased it’s amusing… *2026-08-15, version 7.0.2* Don’t play the computer, it cheats very badly, often so biased it can be hilarious! It’s a pity the program doesn’t have enough skill to play a challenging and fair match, just relying on better dice than you for each situation, meaning you can’t learn from it, but the app is ok if you can find a real person to play, but there aren’t many of them. But overall a fair enough app to pass a few hours considering it’s free. ### 2/5 — Questionable *2026-08-10, version 7.0.2* Even though this game came highly touted for fairness, the more I play the more I’m annoyed. Over and over again the rolls require you to compromise your position, especially in critical times like near the end of the round, then you split your pips and they will roll and knock you out every time. This was why I deleted the last backgammon app I had. It’s so frustrating. Maybe not so noticeable to play here and there but I’m playing multiple games during flights and it just becomes too predictive. Oh no, I can only split and … yup, I’m knocked back and then am stuck with no option to move until… wait for it, they get all their chits home and start casting off. Can’t believe I paid money for this thinking it’d be better. ### 2/5 — Horrible random rolling *2026-07-18, version 7.0.2* Game seems rigged for the computer, always rolling exactly what would be beneficial. Awful stuff don’t waste your money. UI isn’t bad. ### 3/5 — Bs on fair rolls *2026-07-10, version 7.0.2* Not going to read supposed documents. Ok interface with options, rolls are not random ### 3/5 — Good fun but…. *2026-06-30, version 7.0.2* Good fun app but don’t expect to win much, especially on higher levels. This is the third time I’ve spent a few weeks on this app and, a few thousand rolls in each time, the same patterns emerge. The computer opponent will always have higher than expectation on pip score and doubles and you will have lower. The downside of the app having a statistics section is that it tells you the AI beats expectation over the long term and you don’t. The computer doubles seem to be bunched in to the following situations……1) when it is bearing off 2) when it is massively behind on pip score to save it from being gammoned and 3) when re entering from the bar, it will throw a double and take out many of your counters on the way round. On the other hand, when in a race, one of your dice will always be a one and you wont get any doubles when you bear off. Still, it’s fun and, if you think of it as a slot machine in a casino, you’ll be fine. At least this way you’ll laugh at yet another miraculous escape. ### 4/5 — Clunky *2026-06-24, version 7.0.2* Overall the game is pretty good. It is insanely frustrating that I have to wait a long time to leave an online match when the other player doesn’t accept. There are some other things that could be polished but the fact I sit there forever waiting to leave a match wastes too much of my time to give this 5 stars. ### 4/5 — Great but feels like loaded dice *2026-05-29, version 7.0.2* Great app for improving your backgammon skills because it clearly shows the best possible moves and helps you understand strategy. The interface is smooth and easy to use. My only complaint is that the dice rolls often feel skewed in favor of the computer, especially in key moments, which can make matches frustrating. If the dice felt more balanced, this would be an excellent app. ### 2/5 — Can See the Future *2026-03-13, version 7.0.2* The computer ABSOLUTELY knows what rolls are coming. That’s cheating. I think I have the ability to look ahead as well–but that would be cheating. ### 1/5 — Disappointing *2026-03-09, version 7.0.2* Gets a 2 cos although the online game is fair you often have to wait a while for an opponent and there’s no timer on the play so they can just leave you hanging or simply abort when losing (needs a fix) BUT die roll playing against the computer is NOT random. Don’t insult everyone’s intelligence by claiming it is. Anyone who’s played backgammon more than twice can tell. Utterly idiotic when you have a perfectly good RNG. FIX IT PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ### 1/5 — There’s 5 bucks down the toilet *2026-03-08, version 7.0.2* This app is a joke. Rigged. Dice are not anywhere near random. ### 3/5 — Lucky computer *2026-03-06, version 7.0.2* The computer seems to get more lucky rolls than the player, the player seems to get more doubles when they are in position where they can’t use them ### 1/5 — Poor at best *2026-03-05, version 7.0.2* Okay, it can be hard to beat. But only when it takes control of the dice. Or the at very least looks ahead at future throws. The author denies this of course, but anybody who’s played this for as long as I have can see the patterns. From the very first throw you know how the game is going to pan out. If it’s pure gameplay, I usually win. If it takes control of the dice or looks ahead then you stand little chance. Of course you can easily beat this by throwing your own dice and entering the throws manually. But what’s the point? ### 2/5 — Good UI bad dice alg *2026-02-19, version 7.0.2* Just know that there’s really no such thing as random dice when you’re playing the computer. It knows what it needs so just be prepared. When it starts getting every role it needs just start a new game. If you accept a double it will absolutely get what it needs. ### 3/5 — Good enough but… *2026-02-18, version 7.0.2* Not the worst, but leaves a few things to be desired. I do like how customizable the gameplay is. App works smoothly and gameplay is intuitive. Cons: Despite what the developers insist, there’s no possible way that the ai isn’t aware of the dice rolls coming up… it gives “hints” and judges/rates your moves based on what will be rolled next. Also as noted in other reviews, the computer on hard gets LOTS of very lucky rolls including repeated doubles during the end game… All of that being said it’s as good of a backgammon app as I’ve come across so far. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Cheats *2026-08-15, version 7.0.2* Had to remove. Definitely knows the dice rolls in advance. What’s the point of playing against an opponent that has an advantage? ### 1/5 — RIGGED BEYOND BELIEF *2026-08-13, version 7.0.2* Holy cow - what a waste of $5. This game doesn’t even TRY to be fair. The computer rolls doubles more than 50% of the time during every single game. If I get a double, it’s only for ones. Hilarious. Greed is a terrible thing. Do not support this developer with your money like I did. The developer is a con. DO NOT PURCHASE THIS APP!!! ### 1/5 — It’s fun at first but, well, you’ll see….. *2026-07-27, version 7.0.2* Totally playable on hard and above. Give it 5,000 rolls and then check the stats. Same pattern over and over again. App deleted. ### 1/5 — Don’t believe the feedback of roll authenticity *2026-07-21, version 7.0.2* You guys are liars! Your rolls are not authentic! Too many doubles are thrown especially in real time. And I’m not saying this because I’m losing. I’m saying this because I get the benefit as well. I noticed often the higher ranked players get extremely “lucky” when they down and out but somehow manage throw multiple doubles ( 2 to 4 doubles) at the very end in a race scenario to win their way out. ### 1/5 — Cheats *2026-07-02, version 7.0.2* Definitely knows the dice rolls in advance. ### 1/5 — Game cheats; but get it anyway! *2026-05-30, version 7.0.2* The game cheats: Auto bear-off sometimes declines to take the greedy move even when it is safe to do so. Yet never losses the game as a result. ### 1/5 — Trash *2026-05-29, version 7.0.2* Horrible. Cheats both ways which I’m not looking for either way. Want my money back ### 1/5 — Cheats outrageously *2026-05-10, version 7.0.2* Knows upcoming dice rolls and makes decisions based on this. ### 1/5 — Whatever—Jimmy’s making bank *2026-05-01, version 7.0.2* I have used this app for years; deleting in frustration, reinstalling because I don’t know of a better. I am just tired now. The perfectly non-random roll generator—look at Jimmy’s evidence. It’s just not a fun challenge to try to beat a rigged engine anymore. Thanks for the years of it. May 2026 Update: And now the dude is charging $8 for the app.—Just know that you will learn but never win. ### 1/5 — Dice Engine Issue *2026-03-12, version 7.0.2* I don’t believe the game is rigged. However there are definitely issues with the dice roll engine. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great game! *2026-08-11, version 7.0.2* Great ### 5/5 — My favorite board *2026-07-21, version 7.0.2* This just seems like old-fashioned backgammon weather without all the flashing stuff, it’s easy and fun and it’s my go to when I feel like I need a game ### 5/5 — Game cheats; but get it anyway! *2026-07-10, version 7.0.2* The game cheats: Auto bear-off sometimes declines to take the greedy move even when it is safe to do so. Yet never losses the game as a result. Developer response requested please. ### 5/5 — Longtime player *2026-06-20, version 7.0.2* I’ve been playing this app for longer than I can remember, and it remains my “go to” app for playing a good, solid game of backgammon. Nackgammon option is also fun for a change of pace. Five stars! ### 5/5 — Best Ever Backgammon App *2026-05-11, version 7.0.2* But does it cheat?… For example, during auto bear off, it does not always take the greedy move even when safe to do so. Why not? The lack of a developer response to this particular question suggests the game does cheat. ### 5/5 — One of the best *2026-02-26, version 7.0.2* Have been playing for years. Never get tired of playing. ### 5/5 — comprehensive for real time play *2026-01-20, version 7.0.2* came to this platform from another that had no controls to handle a player who delays, hoping you’ll abort and lose points. this app’s 90 seconds rule helps tremendously. regarding playing heads up with the app/ai; no matter how i’ve’ ‘altered’ how i play(ie, minimizing open pieces) it definitely is a bit frustrating. in summary,i wanted some integrity of an online player that i’d never let get away with slow play. ### 5/5 — Frustrating! *2026-01-06, version 7.0.2* Game is not enjoyable when rigged. ### 5/5 — Best option; 1 potential improvement *2025-11-02, version 7.0.2* Excellent. Only improvement would be to make the workflow to improvement with hints easier. Ex: player moves, then can see an overlay of best possible move. ### 5/5 — Love it *2025-10-15, version 7.0.2* EDT. Sch --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-04.*