# XG Mobile Backgammon — user reviews > 403 indexed App Store user reviews of XG Mobile Backgammon by Open Roll, LLC, rated 3.90/5 from 1,237 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xg-mobile-backgammon/id536774050/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xg-mobile-backgammon/id536774050.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 719 · 4★ 159 · 3★ 96 · 2★ 68 · 1★ 195 ## What do users think of XG Mobile Backgammon? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 🚀 Great tool - 🎓 Excellent learning tool - 🤖 Extremely strong AI - 💯 Best backgammon app **Cons** - 🐛 Freezes and glitches - 🎲 Dice rolls not random - 🤖 AI cheats/has unfair advantage - 🤯 Frustrating/infuriating - 💤 Outdated/not updated **Commonly reported bugs** - Crashes frequently - Dice rolls not displayed - Sidebar/menu issues - Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions **Most requested features** - Explanations for suggested moves - Ability to save/load game positions - Multiplayer mode - Improved user interface - More detailed statistics and analysis ## Newest reviews (17 of 403) ### 3/5 — Silly app *2026-08-26, version 1.31* Your opponent gets exactly what is needed to beat you, your skills are not welcome here. Another waste of time. I also should say that if it wasn’t cheating it would’ve been a great app. After playing it so many time I realized the game also cheats, it rolls the dice out of turn and gets exactly what it needs every time.it just takes the fun out of the game. Why do some developers do that? Is it ego? ### 3/5 — It mostly rolls perfectly *2026-08-14, version 1.31* It will mostly roll perfectly to get your piece out. Take that for what you will. ### 3/5 — Good engine, ok interface *2026-07-14, version 1.31* The game plays well and for those that are good players, it probably offers a great challenge. For a total beginner like me, it works, but it takes time to learn the interface and the tutor mode is not very helpful ### 2/5 — Fix the crashes! *2026-07-12, version 1.31* Game is great but constantly crashes forcing me to uninstall and reinstall ### 2/5 — So disappointed *2026-06-17, version 1.31* I thought “Ooh XG! This means the AI is gonna be so good it won’t have to cheat”. Then after hours and hours of play, all of a sudden, every blot I expose, it hits it. With out fail. Then during the end game as I’m trying to get home, I get an Acey Duecey 3 times in a row. That was it. App deleted. I thought you were better than that XG. So disappointed. ### 3/5 — Silly app *2026-06-14, version 1.31* Your opponent gets exactly what is needed to beat you, your skills are not welcome here. Another waste of time. I also should say that if it wasn’t cheating it would’ve been a great app. After playing it so many time I realized the game also cheats, it rolls the dice out of turn and gets exactly what it needs every time.it just takes the fun out of the game. Why do some developers do that? Is it ego? ### 4/5 — Fair rolling? *2026-05-14, version 1.31* Great tutoring via AI, wondering if all the rolls taken by AI are fair and by chance or if AI generated rolls create advantage??? ### 1/5 — Random Rolls My *** *2026-04-15, version 1.31* Random… right! This app recommends a move and then immediately (90% of the time) gets the exact roll or series of rolls needed to hit every open checker and close out the home board. When rolling to come off the bar, it nearly always rolls in the first time whereas the player requires 3-4x and often gets closed out (see above). I can literally predict the exact roll that the computer will get based on my position. When playing live humans I never (ever) see the near perfect sequence of rolls this app gives the computer. It just doesn’t happen in real life. I can usually win half the time against good players that have been playing for decades but can barely beat the beginner level here. In fact, following whatever the tutor recommends results in losses more than half the time. What a piece of **** app. ### 1/5 — This app isnt random *2026-04-05, version 1.31* I have played on this app on and off for sometime. I usually stop using it when the startling regularity that the app generates the exact throws gets too much. This time i have lasted a day checking it out after a hiatus of about a year. I am now deleting once again. ### 3/5 — Mediocre *2026-04-01, version 1.31* I appreciate that the hints give you rank ordered suggestions and probability details. Beyond that the game is seriously lacking. First of all the way it seems to dumb down its level of play is by adding in random moves. So for example, you’ll be playing it at Expert level and then it makes an absolutely braindead, inexplicable move, which just isn’t realistic for any type of gameplay. Secondly, the app needs an undo, particularly in tutor mode so that you can experiment with different moves. Thirdly. The app needs an auto complete for those situations where there’s a long tail to the game. Finally the graphics and the animation leave a lot to be desired. It is one of the uglier backgammon games I’ve tried. This is an example of an app that’s been out there for a long time. The developers should continue to improve it, but clearly they’re just raking in money and being lazy because these issues have existed and been noted in other use for feedback for a long, long time. ### 1/5 — Average *2026-03-16, version 1.31* I completely agree with the previous review. When playing against the computer in XG Backgammon, it often feels like the dice are either pre-determined or somehow loaded, which makes the experience pretty frustrating. What’s more disappointing is that I’m not even sure the app has actually improved my game. If anything, it seems to encourage an overly conservative style of play rather than helping develop better instincts. Another issue is the interface — quite often you can’t clearly see the dice you’ve rolled, which shouldn’t really happen in a paid app. Overall, for £10 I expected a much better experience. Sadly, it doesn’t feel worth the money. ### 1/5 — Yet another garbage backgammon game! *2026-02-15, version 1.31* Garbage! ### 3/5 — Expert *2026-01-15, version 1.31* It’s okay to control the moves, but try not to control the rolls. Make the rolls random and then use AI to control the moves. That more realistic when playing against a top flight player. ### 3/5 — Great engine, poor interface *2026-01-09, version 1.31* Great engine to learn BG. Clearly a very powerful one. But the user interface needs a lot of work. Not easy to use, sometimes the checkers are unresponsive, can’t review games in the app (at least I haven’t figured out how). Looking beyond that, probably among the best training apps to get good at BG. Just wish it was easier to navigate. ### 1/5 — Upgrade Please *2026-01-04, version 1.31* Doesn’t work with new iOS ### 1/5 — Buggy, unresponsive *2026-01-01, version 1.31* Does not show computer dice rolls ### 1/5 — Impossible *2025-12-30, version 1.31* The game gets every perfect roll at the most difficult setting which is ridiculous. I counted the roll points and it has 34% higher rolls and 62% more doubles than me over 15 matches. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Don’t believe what you read that was probably AI too. *2026-08-27, version 1.31* I went through every level that was provided on the free setting for about two weeks just to see. All I can say is rng. It’s to bad developers just push a button. Don’t waste your time ### 1/5 — Does any one read these reviews? Had to reload the app again because it crashes *2026-08-12, version 1.31* Great app if only I didnt keep getting booted, then having to delete it to have to reload it … to only be able to play in unlimited … ### 1/5 — Keeps crashing on iPhone! *2026-08-08, version 1.31* This app keeps crashing on iPhone. The Desktop version is much better. Don’t waste your money. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t Work *2026-07-20, version 1.31* According to research, good app for fair dice. However, game doesn’t work on iPad Pro 13” (M4). Send multiple screen shots to AI to try to help figure it out. AI had multiple things to try and ultimately said to give up and try another app. Simply can’t play a game of backgammon. ### 1/5 — Terribly Predictable *2026-07-18, version 1.31* When playing versus the computer you can always count on the computer landing the perfect rolls to make it almost impossible to win. In almost every case when possible the dice always come to cause maximum punishment against your position. Terribly coded and programmed and makes it almost impossible to learn how to play when you know what roll is coming next. If there was a setting for 0 stars I would give it 0 but in this case it’s definitely a 1. ### 1/5 — Keeps crashing on iPhone17 Pro Max *2026-07-05, version 1.31* I can't use the app on my iPhone but I can on my iPad. Hoping the Developers can fix asap ### 1/5 — Unplayable *2026-05-30, version 1.31* I wish I could love that apparently brillant, but non-intuitive, lagging & ugly piece of software. ### 1/5 — Anomalie sur les lancers de dés *2026-05-22, version 1.31* Suite à des analyses statistiques sur plus de 1000 lancer de dès, il ressort de façon claire et non équivoque plusieurs anomalies statistiques. Il est à noter que la validation a été fait en mode expert uniquement. Je vous suggère une enquête interne et aimerait également connaître votre procédure de conservation des données et de vérification. Suite à la réception de vos informations et de mon enquête, une réclamation collective pour être entamé contre vous. Cordialement, ### 1/5 — Not good *2026-05-01, version 1.31* I don’t care what the developers say, the dice rolls are not random. I tracked rolls for a few games and compared them to the stats that are provided. They lie about key statistics to make the dice look random when they are not. Doubles in a race and entering from the bar are skewed to make it look fair. ### 1/5 — Sh it *2026-04-20* I hope there will be mass shooting at your office some day. App is sh it ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Training Training Training *2026-08-15, version 1.31* I am happily beaten up by the engaged training this app allows I am learning Backgammon. ### 5/5 — Exciting XG mobile news *2026-06-30, version 1.31* Extreme Gammon is the defacto best BG bot on the market and this is the mobile version. The company has been sold recently to the founder of Uber, so hopefully some much needed updates and AI involvement are on the way. Fingers crossed as there are only four BG apps worth using on the App Store in my humble opinion and this is one. ### 5/5 — Great!!!!!! *2026-06-07, version 1.31* Best trainer out there ### 5/5 — Goldy222 *2025-12-29, version 1.31* The best way to learn how to play well. Fantastic app. ### 5/5 — Great Tutor Mode *2025-10-08, version 1.31* Prepare to lose frequently at the highest level, but that’s the point isn’t it? To improve your play. It seems to get lucky often, but remember that every time you win, if you didn’t play perfectly, then you were the one that got lucky. Also, with its mathematically near perfect play, when it does get lucky, it’s hard not to notice what a devastating combination that is. Don’t get discouraged, get better. It really helps against human opponents. ### 5/5 — Well worth the premium upgrade *2025-10-08, version 1.31* Great for any decent player. Just one thing….Don’t get me wrong, I know how tin-foil-hat reviewers blame BG apps for their own faulty play and mistrust computer-thrown dice. I’m not a great player but have played many of these neural net AI’s and accept that they have much to teach. And the tutor mode here is well done and doesn’t intrude like gnubg’s does. But my impression is this: when I reluctantly accept the suggestion to go bulletproof risk-wise, and hit two blots or make some other crazy-looking play that I might be able to justify with an hour’s study, it seldom works, and the wild risks I have been urged to accept are quickly whacked! When I go my own way it takes even greater pride in finding the remote roll that crushes my game as soon as it can. If this were a human teacher repeatedly recommending moves that went violently south the second I picked up my dice, I wouldn’t be interested in more lessons! Maybe some explanation why the computer is choosing one move over another would help, if that can even be done with a NN program. Maybe a temperature map showing the up sides of these wild gambles XG suggests might be a good addition. Another option to maybe add (or make more clear how to do it, if already possible): save a position in a game for later study. ### 5/5 — Great for on the go *2025-09-28, version 1.31* I have XG on my PC and it’s great. When I travel it’s good to continue improving my PR by having the features for analysis, etc on the iPad too. ### 5/5 — Robinson *2025-09-10, version 1.31* Excellent game ### 5/5 — Extremely Strong *2025-08-28, version 1.31* Amazing how much I have learned playing this Engine. Clearly stronger than the GNU engine that I used to play against. XG is also highly optimized for match play, taking more risks when it is behind and less risks when it is ahead. ### 5/5 — Enjoying XG Mobile *2025-06-09, version 1.31* This is my first time using XG outside of Backgammon Galaxy while reviewing games. Am thrilled it’s available for iPhones. Just upgraded to premium because I’d like to be able to analyze positions for matches longer than 3 games (free version caps it to 3). So far it’s working great. My only feedback is it would be nice to be able to upload my game files from Backgammon Galaxy to make it easier to analyze here instead of being forced to set up a position. The analysis on Galaxy is nice but doesn’t allow you to move the pieces around or modify a position. I don’t have a PC set up (just a Mac), so currently can’t access XG anywhere else. Would be very grateful if game uploads are supported in the future. --- *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 2026-08-31.*