Comparison

Pocket Gomokunarabe vs ToriShogi

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Pocket Gomokunarabe

This classic board game challenges players to strategically place stones to form a line of five. It offers two rule sets, Gomoku and Renju, with specific restrictions to ensure fair play for all skill levels.

Highlights
  • Classic board game strategy
  • Gomoku and Renju rules
  • Beginner to veteran friendly
  • Strategic stone placement
  • Vertical, horizontal, and diagonal wins
Features
Read full description

A popular classic table game that is persistent! It covers a wide range from beginner to veteran! ◆ Introduction of the game ◆ Placing black and white stones alternately in the eyes of the board and winning five stones earlier and straight than the opponent will win. The direction of arranging can be any direction such as vertical, horizontal, or diagonal. With this application, you can enjoy the game with two kinds of rules: Gomoku and Renju. ■ What is Renju? In the well-known gaming stage, the problem of having the leading side become advantageous is a problem. Therefore, by setting some restrictions on the leading side, the one that was made to be fair competition becomes a rosary. ■ Limitations of Laden ・ Do not make 2 or more rows of 3 or 4 stones at the same time. (Thirteen, fourty four) ・ Do not make rows of six or more stones. (Long) ※ These are restrictions only for the first hand. There are no restrictions at the end. ■ Restrictions on the fifth line There are no restrictions on both the first and second hand in the fifth grade. However, please note that the winning side will not win even if you make "Long Band".

About

ToriShogi

This app offers a digital version of Tori Shogi, a Japanese chess variant played on a 7x7 board with bird-themed pieces. It features an interactive tutorial, multiple game modes against AI or another player, and saves game records for replay. The app is free, ad-free, and playable offline.

Highlights
  • Interactive piece guide
  • Learn-as-you-play tutorial
  • Two-player mode
  • AI opponent with multiple levels
  • Automatic game saving and replay
  • Offline play
Features
Read full description

■ What is Tori Shogi? Tori Shogi ("bird shogi") is a Japanese chess variant born in the Edo period, traditionally attributed to Ōhashi Sōei, the ninth hereditary shogi Meijin. It is played on a compact 7×7 board with 16 pieces per side — and every piece is named after a bird. Guard your Phoenix, attack with a flock of Swallows, and promote your Falcon into the mighty Eagle. Unusually for an old shogi variant, captured pieces return to your hand and can be dropped back into play, just like in modern shogi. A small board with surprisingly deep tactics. New to the game? The app is built to teach you as you play. Choose Japanese or English at first launch — you can switch any time. ■ Learn as you play - Illustrated guide to all nine pieces: names, movements and promotions - Press and hold any piece during a game to see how it moves - The Swallow rules (the "three Swallows" and drop-mate prohibitions) and the mirrored left/right Quails, all explained ■ Game modes - Two Players: take turns on one iPhone or iPad - vs Computer: Beginner, Easy and Normal levels — a perfect sparring partner while you learn ■ Complete rules, faithfully implemented - Mandatory promotion: Falcon → Eagle, Swallow → Goose - Piece drops, the "three Swallows" rule, the swallow-drop-mate prohibition - Check and checkmate detection, repetition draws ■ Game records - Finished games are saved automatically; save mid-game any time - Replay your games move by move ■ Perfect for… - Shogi and chess players curious about variants - Quick but thoughtful games on a small board - Fans of Japanese tradition, birds and beautiful woodcraft - Playing with kids as a gateway into shogi Everything runs on your device — play offline, on a plane, anywhere. No ads, no in-app purchases, completely free. Enjoy the elegant bird chess of Edo Japan.

Screenshots

Pocket Gomokunarabe4 screens
ToriShogi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ToriShogi at 100% against Pocket Gomokunarabe's 50%. ToriShogi also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 5 months). Pocket Gomokunarabe's advantage is iOS requirement (7.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pocket Gomokunarabe ships an update every 5 months, ToriShogi every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Pocket Gomokunarabe versus ToriShogi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPocket GomokunarabeToriShogi
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS7.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size169 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSilverStarJapanTomohiko Kanai

Customer experience

Pocket Gomokunarabe

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

ToriShogi

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Pocket Gomokunarabe

No in-app purchases

None

ToriShogi

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pocket Gomokunarabe free?
Pocket Gomokunarabe is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ToriShogi free?
ToriShogi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pocket Gomokunarabe or ToriShogi have ads?
Neither Pocket Gomokunarabe nor ToriShogi shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pocket Gomokunarabe or ToriShogi?
Pocket Gomokunarabe ships an update every 5 months, and ToriShogi every 3 days. Most recently, Pocket Gomokunarabe was updated on October 24, 2026 and ToriShogi on October 24, 2026.

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