iGammon vs Zen Backgammon
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iGammon
Enjoy classic backgammon with a user-friendly interface. Play against AI or friends, with options for different game modes and helpful features like hints and an undo button. Improve your strategy and have fun playing anytime.
- Play against AI or friends
- Table stakes and match play modes
- Doubling cube with Jacoby and Beaver rules
- Undo button and hint feature
- Autoplay and fast-forward options
- Choose direction and checker colors
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Play backgammon against the computer or your friends. You'll have a lot of fun and you'll see your backgammon game steadily improve! "The interface in iGammon is clean and easy to use. Best of all, it just works." ---------------- FEATURES: • Large board and checkers • Fast animation • Autoplay forced moves • Fast-forward plays both sides to the end of the game for you • Undo button lets you to take back moves • Running pip counts • Choose direction of play and checker colours • Human-vs-human play. Use your iPad or iPhone as a traveling backgammon board! • Hint feature gives you a suggestion if you can't decide what to do *** Try the Hint feature! Just watch the lightbulb (hint indicator) to see if it disappears when you finish your move. If so, you can pick up the dice knowing you've make the best move. Otherwise, try something else or tap on the lightbulb to see the computer's suggestion. ---------------- MODES OF PLAY There are two modes of play: "table stakes" or "match play". In TABLE STAKES, you and your opponent start with an equal number of chips. The goal is to collect all the chips before your opponent does. Use the doubling cube to increase the stakes. If you play with the "Jacoby rule", gammons and backgammon don't count unless the cube has been turned. If you play with the "Beavers rule", a player who accepts a double may immediately redouble and still keep the cube. In MATCH PLAY, the goal is to be the first player to reach a specified total number of points. Use the doubling cube to increase the stakes. The "Crawford rule" takes the doubling cube out of play for one game when a player gets to within one point of winning. You offer a double by sliding the cube over to your opponent's side of the board. Opponent can accept the double by pressing "Take" (the game continues at twice the previous stakes), or reject the double by pressing "Pass" (he loses the game and must pay the previous stakes.) ---------------- COMPUTER PLAYER The computer AI is VERY strong. There are two levels of play: Average and Strong. Both are fun and challenging. ---------------- Thank you for all the suggestions. If you have a feature you'd like to see, please email me at tom@bkgm.com. Many user suggestions have already been incorporated into this app. I hope you enjoy iGammon. Thank you for playing! Tom Keith, August 2017
Zen Backgammon
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Play fair backgammon in retro pixel art, offline.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: iGammon at none against Zen Backgammon's shown. iGammon also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 18.5). Zen Backgammon's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 months). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
iGammon ships an update every 3 months, Zen Backgammon every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iGammon | Zen Backgammon |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.9 (85 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 23.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 85 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 18.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tom Keith | ARDA GERMIYANOGLU |
Bugs and requests
iGammon
Reported bugs
2 issues- Dice disappear as soon as they are rolled
- Incompatible with older devices
Requested features
6 requests- Dark mode option
- Advanced analytics dashboard
- Ability to play matches (7-point etc) with appropriate cube play from the program
- Option to reverse the board
- Sound
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- Ability to change the board or the color of the checkers
Zen Backgammon
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
iGammon
No in-app purchases
Zen Backgammon
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is iGammon free?
Is Zen Backgammon free?
Do iGammon or Zen Backgammon have ads?
Which is updated more often, iGammon or Zen Backgammon?
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