# Marble King vs The Backgammon

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Marble King at 69% against The Backgammon's 8%. Marble King also leads on rating (4.5 vs 2.3) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Marble King holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Marble King has 354 ratings behind it against 64, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Marble King's written reviews are positive against 8% of The Backgammon's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 6, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Marble King | The Backgammon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (354 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marble-king/id1019103380/reviews)** | [2.3 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-backgammon/id1436665047/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **354** | 64 |
| Positive reviews | **69.0% of reviews** | 8.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 39 MB | 324 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MOBIRIX](https://appshunter.io/developer/349276666) | [UNBALANCE Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/358617691) |

## What reviewers say

### Marble King

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marble-king/id1019103380)

Engage in an addictive puzzle game where the goal is to achieve three stars on every stage. Strategically launch beads to match three or more of the same color, clearing them from the board. Utilize various items and modes to challenge high scores and compete with others.

**Highlights:** Fresh and different levels, Arcade mode for high scores, Bombs, arrows, and items, Easy operation scheme, Leaderboards and achievements, Multiplayer support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and enjoyable gameplay
- 🤩 Addictive and engaging
- 💯 Great challenge
- ✅ Well-made game
- ✨ Exciting and challenging

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Level 171 unbeatable
- 😠 Discouraging difficulty
- 🤔 Lack of instructions/hints
- 👎 Too many balls
- 🚫 Political ads

**Reported bugs**

- Level 171 impossible to pass
- Game design makes levels unbeatable

**Requested features**

- Add instructions or hints
- Rebalance difficult levels
- Offer pro-Dem ads


### The Backgammon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-backgammon/id1436665047)

Engage in classic backgammon matches online against players worldwide or offline against an AI with adjustable difficulty. Enhance your skills with detailed game analysis and practice tools. Enjoy a free, feature-rich experience with customizable rules and visually appealing boards.

**Highlights:** Online multiplayer games, Offline AI opponent, 5 difficulty levels, Rating and ranking system, Match replay and review, Customizable rules, Hint facility

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good for learning the game
- 👍 Pleasant interface and display
- 👍 Efficient matching
- 👍 Good for casual players
- 👍 Can be played for free

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Overwhelmingly negative sentiment due to rigged dice
- 😠 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 😠 Dice rolls are not random
- 😠 AI favors the computer
- 😠 Unfair advantage for higher-rated players

**Reported bugs**

- Ads block the game board
- Ads won't go away, requiring app restart
- Game freezes frequently
- App crashes and closes unexpectedly
- Game rolls back after restart

**Requested features**

- Option to buy a version with no ads
- Improve sound settings (separate BGM and SFX)
- Add a chat option for online play
- Improve controls and piece manipulation
- Option to choose dice button position


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Marble King free?

Marble King is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Backgammon free?

The Backgammon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Marble King or The Backgammon?

Marble King is rated higher. Marble King averages 4.5 out of 5 from 354 ratings, while The Backgammon averages 2.3 from 64 ratings.

### Do Marble King or The Backgammon have ads?

Both Marble King and The Backgammon show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Marble King or The Backgammon?

Marble King ships an update every 2 months, and The Backgammon every 2 months. Most recently, Marble King was updated on August 6, 2026 and The Backgammon on September 28, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*