# Mancala HD > Digital adaptation of the ancient strategy board game Mancala with HD graphics and AI. (iPhone/iPad app by Paul Hudson.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mancala-hd/id376558836 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Paul Hudson](https://appshunter.io/developer/333613446) - Category: Games, Entertainment, Board, Family - Price: $0.99 - Rating: 2.80/5 from 5 App Store ratings · 54 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 9.0 · 57 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2010-06-23 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mancala-hd/id376558836/reviews.md ## What is Mancala HD? As previously featured by Apple in "New and Noteworthy" and "Staff Favorites" In Russia they call it Kalah, in Nigeria it's called Oko, in Malaysia it's called Congkak, but most of the world knows it as Mancala: the strategy board game that many believe to be the oldest game in the world. If you've never played it before, Mancala will take you just minutes to learn, but it will take a lifetime to master as you need to exercise good judgement, patience and lateral thinking with every move. Mancala HD is the most polished Mancala game on the App Store, featuring: - Stunning high-definition graphics that bring the game to life before you, including Retina and Retina HD graphics. - Beautiful soundtrack that blends ethnic music with a modern feel, plus original sound effects. - Built-in video teaching first-timers how to play. - Play against a friend, or try the computer player with three difficulty settings. - Set your own options to make your favourite game. - It's a universal app - buy it once, and play on iPad, iPhone and Apple TV! Please get in touch on Twitter @twostraws to let us know what you think - we'd love to make Mancala HD even better with your suggestions! Still not sure? Here are just a few reviews from users: "Very few people seem to know how to play this game, so I am grateful for the iPad app. The colors are nice, the graphics are very clear. Love the music and the sounds. This is honestly one of the best purchases I have ever made. This is a game I will play over and over. Hats off to the developer!" - Lostingames "This is just like playing the original game down to the sound of the marbles. Definitely a favorite!" - allbean32 "Mancala is a time-honored game that's easy to learn, fun to play and can be quick paced. This app is gorgeous and well done. Good tutorial, too. Get it. You'll enjoy it." - Mtnmedic64 "This app is beautifully presented and captures the game perfectly. As an app, there's very little room for improvement" - Apidaya "Finally - We discovered mancala while travelling and IMHO this is the perfect game for iPad. Simple but deep, the game itself is ace and this version's AI is perfectly pitched at medium - demanding but not deep blue. two player just works. I'd recommend this to mancala fans or newbies." - Grifter101 "Noticed this in the Noteworthy section of the store and grabbed it straight away. My wife and I are great Mancala fans, and this is the best virtual interpretation we've found. Very very playable and makes great use of the iPad's capabilities." - Degsy314 "For those of you old computer geeks like myself, you might remember this game as a game within a game from Quest for Glory 3: Wages of War, or you might just be looking for a fun time waster, and this is it!" - Matthew110607 "Great game. Very easy to pick up but you can spend hours learning the finer points." - Lorrana ## Key features - High-definition graphics - Ethnic soundtrack and sound effects - Built-in tutorial - Play against AI or a friend - Adjustable AI difficulty - Universal app support ## Recent user reviews (10 of 54) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mancala-hd/id376558836/reviews.md ### 2/5 — Kalaki *2021-07-14, version 3.1* Play this game all the time, but the game has major flaws now. Played a game against the computer and won, but the game said the other player won. Just won a game with a high score and the game said draw. What is going on? ### 1/5 — Terribly glitchy - not worth the $.99 *2021-04-01, version 3.1* Playing on the Apple TV app and this game is awful and glitchy. The glitches in the game are so bad that, at first, I thought that I had somehow forgotten the rules. The marbles don’t seed properly, they render wherever they please, they don’t capture where they are supposed to, and they didn’t allow me to get any free turns when I was supposed to. I want my $1 back. ### 5/5 — Thanks! *2015-11-27, version 3.1* Thank you for the Swift tutorials (Google Hacking with Swift ;) ). ### 3/5 — Need For Speed *2015-11-23* First off this has always been a great app and one I use nearly every day whilst I commute or wait for meeting etc. I used it so much think this is the first time I've ever been compelled to write a review. Usually don't care enough. No doubt the tech update behind the new version is huge but I have stopped using the app - for now at least. The response time of the beads is just too slow. Whilst visually the movement looks great. It just makes playing a fast game too frustrating. ### 5/5 — Best in Class *2015-11-09, version 3.1* New update now has a smarter and tougher AI Count of the marbles in pit were added after request Great gameplay ### 1/5 — Update ruined good app *2015-11-04, version 3.0* Boohiss ### 1/5 — Me2801 *2015-11-03, version 3.0* New version is terrible. There is no stone count for each cup, and no way to count how many stones when they pile up. Bring back original version. I am deleting this version. ### 2/5 — Where are the glass beads? *2015-10-31* The old version really felt like you were playing with glass marbles on a wooden board. This new version looks ugly compared to that. Please please bring back the glass marbles! ### 5/5 — A good bit of fun. *2015-10-31, version 3.0* Looks great, and the computer can put up a good challenge. Can't wait to play it on my Apple TV!!! ### 1/5 — Me *2015-10-29, version 3.0* Hate the new look ,feel sound and most of all music are ruined. Please bring back the old work, I just deleted this one. ## Frequently asked questions about Mancala HD ### What is Mancala HD? Mancala HD is a digital version of the ancient strategy board game known by various names globally, including Kalah and Oko. It offers a polished gameplay experience with high-definition graphics, an immersive soundtrack, and multiple play options. ### How do I learn to play Mancala HD? The app includes a built-in video tutorial designed to teach first-time players how to play the game. This makes it easy for newcomers to understand the rules and start playing quickly. ### Can I play against other people or the computer? Yes, you can play Mancala HD against a friend on the same device or against a computer player. The computer opponent offers three different difficulty settings, allowing you to choose a challenge that suits your skill level. ### What devices is Mancala HD compatible with? Mancala HD is a universal app, meaning you can purchase it once and play it on your iPad, iPhone, and Apple TV. This allows for a seamless gaming experience across your Apple ecosystem. ### What are the main features of Mancala HD? Key features include stunning high-definition graphics, a beautiful ethnic soundtrack with original sound effects, a video tutorial for new players, the ability to play against a friend or a computer with adjustable difficulty, and customizable game options. It is also a universal app. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 3.1 — 2015-11-07 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. By popular demand, the classic marbles are back, as are the individual pit counters – thank you for all your feedback! New in v3.0: This huge new update has been rewritten from scratch to support all iPhones and iPads in both portrait and landscape, including Slide Over and Split View on supported devices, and also introduces support for the new Apple TV too – all for free! ### 3.0 — 2015-10-27 This huge new update has been rewritten from scratch to support all iPhones and iPads in both portrait and landscape, including Slide Over and Split View on supported devices, and also introduces support for the new Apple TV too – all for free! ### 2.0 — 2012-01-07 This free update adds support for iPhone and iPod Touch, which means you can download the app for free on all your devices if you already purchased the iPad version! If you have an iPhone 4 or 4s, we hope you enjoy the gorgeous retina-display graphics. Also fixed is a glitch where the game would sometimes refuse to restart when playing against an AI who went first. *** NEW! *** If you enjoy Mancala!, you'd love Jungle Pairs - our great new memory game for kids is now available for iPhone and iPad! ### 1.4 — 2011-11-01 Mancala is now iOS 5-compatible - sorry for the delay! This update also fixes a problem whereby the game would hang if the last move was a capture by the AI. Please take the time to leave a review if you enjoy the game! Note: this update requires iOS 4.3 or later. ### 1.3 — 2011-06-16 - Major performance boost on both generations of iPad. - Redesigned the main menu to make the options clearer. - Fixed a glitch with the backgrounds of menus. - Fixed a glitch where the game would sometimes start upside down. If you encounter any problems after upgrading, we strongly recommend you restart your iPad and try again - that usually clears any problem. Like Mancala HD? Check out my other apps: Jewel Jam HD, BioBlitz, Brain Party and SPQR! ## Apps similar to Mancala HD | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Pickout](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pickout/id909804280) | — | $2.99 | Games | | [Memory Stamps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memory-stamps/id1548945086) | 4.3 (68) | $1.99 | Games | | [Rail Baron Tools](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rail-baron-tools/id1338950601) | 5.0 (18) | Free | Games | | [Hot Hands: Red Hands game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hot-hands-red-hands-game/id1636468700) | — | Free | Games | | [Icon Match for One&Two](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/icon-match-for-one-and-two/id1596587460) | — | Free | Games | | [Science Art: Free Jigsaw Puzzle Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/science-art-free-jigsaw-puzzle-game/id521129820) | 4.0 (7) | Free | Games | ## More apps by Paul Hudson - [SPQR Latin Dictionary and Reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spqr-latin-dictionary-and-reader/id407340562) - [Ancient Greek](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ancient-greek/id463233342) - [Class Kit](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/class-kit/id912969832) - [View Source – HTML, JavaScript and CSS](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/view-source-html-javascript-and-css/id917660039) All apps by Paul Hudson: https://appshunter.io/developer/333613446 --- *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 2026-06-10.*