Comparison

Backgammon NJ vs Backgammon

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

Head to head
About

Backgammon NJ

Engage in classic backgammon against a sophisticated AI, a friend on the same device, or players worldwide. Improve your skills with tutor mode and hints, and customize your game experience.

Highlights
  • Neural network AI opponent
  • Online multiplayer (real-time & turn-based)
  • Local 2-player mode
  • Tutor Mode and Hints
  • Customizable board and checkers
  • Match play up to 25 points
  • Game Center integration
Features
Read full description

● GAME CENTER -- Play online, chat, invite friends, auto-match with random players { Real-time } Play online in real-time { Turn-based } Play online at your own pace ● VERSATILE -- Play offline vs. computer or against another person in 2-player mode ● CUSTOMIZABLE -- More options than any other backgammon app Play & learn backgammon at skill levels ranging from beginner to world-class! Backgammon NJ is a full-featured game which uses an advanced, neural network-based, artificial intelligence. Play against a computer AI, another person in 2-player mode on one device, or online against friends & other players. Using Tutor Mode & Hints, Backgammon NJ can show you how to improve your game! Discriminating players will appreciate how well the AI plays. It uses a neural network trained on millions of positions, a bearoff database, & a match equity table to achieve strong gameplay that will challenge even expert players. REVIEWS "[I] know strong bg play when I see it. This app is the strongest iPhone bg app I've played with by far. It does not cheat period. ...Analyzing these matches with eXtreme Gammon confirms a world class level of play with normal luck factors. If you are losing, get over it. So would 99.9% of the other backgammon players in the world. It is just that good. Learn from it." -Richard Munitz, Giant of Backgammon, #21 world ranking in 2009 "Backgammon NJ plays at an extremely high level with an excellent interface, and I often use it to practice on my iPhone when I am traveling. I recommend it highly to my students and friends." -Phil Simborg, Professional Backgammon Teacher and Player, www.mindgamescenter.com "I've played over 500 games now; I've checked about 5% of these against World Class Desktop programs (GNU, BGBlitz); and I've actually used some of the competition. NJ has the best interface and has more useful functions than any other backgammon apps out there." "For serious backgammon players, Backgammon NJ is the way to go." -Macworld.com, May 2012 IS THIS GAME RIGHT FOR YOU? This game is best for people: • Who recognize the strength of neural network backgammon bots • Who want to improve their game by playing against a world-class level AI • Who will use the in-depth, technical features included in the app to prove that it is honest (https://www.njsoftware.com/note.html) • Who won't expect to win consistently on the higher skill levels FEATURES • Neural network-based AI • 2 game types: Standard Backgammon or Nackgammon • 4 skill levels: Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert • Customizable board design & checker colors • Mersenne Twister algorithm for random number generation • Doubling cube • Single games or match play up to 25 points • Crawford rule for match play • 1-player mode vs. computer • 2-player mode on one device • Game Center: Play real-time or turn-based online matches with friends & other players • Chat with your online opponent • Online Elo & Experience leaderboards • Block list for auto-match • User-friendly, tap-to-move interface • Highlighted checker movement options • Hint & Undo • Learn with Status Meter & Tutor Mode • Game & dice stats, including Elo rating & ER • Match info: GnuBG ID, win chances, equity, top 10 moves, & cube decisions • Email match files • Practice mode with unlimited undo (1-player vs. computer) • Manual match recording mode with unlimited undo & speed mode option • Options to reverse board direction, resign, use one-tap moves, auto bearoff, auto finish, use Jacoby rule, & much more • Match analysis (in-app purchase): Analyze past match files, view moves & errors for match, step through match, jump to position, play from position, save match files permanently IMPORTANT • If an online match ends for any reason, you'll receive the Elo pts you deserve. FAQ: https://gamecenter.njsoftware.com • Contact us for help: https://contact.njsoftware.com

About

Backgammon

Experience a classic board game with a sophisticated AI opponent. Enjoy smooth graphics and realistic dice rolls without needing an internet connection. This free game offers a challenging and engaging way to play anytime, anywhere.

Highlights
  • High-level artificial intelligence
  • Real dice probabilities
  • Smooth graphics and gameplay
  • Offline play
  • Totally free
  • No banner ads
Features
Read full description

Backgammon by SNG is now ready for iPhones and iPads with its high quality and high level artificial intelligence. You can now download the best Backgammon dice game for free. Our main contribution is offline backgammon plus high level artificial intelligence. Features: - Real dice probabilities. - Smooth graphics and game play. - High level artificial intelligence (machine learning and neural networks) - No need for an internet connection. - Totally free! - No banner ads. Our game is a part of a Phd. Thesis about reinforcement learning and neural networks. AI (Artificial Intelligence) bot is trained 1 millions times with an unsupervised learning algorithm. Winning ratio of our agent is 64%. Many comments about rigged dice are not true since our ai agent is nearly a master player. Backgammon has received a bunch of different names over the years such as: Tapa, Tavla, Tabula, Acey Deucey, Tawla, and etc. The games do not offer "real money gambling" or an opportunity to win real money or prizes. Practice or success at our game does not imply future success at "real money gambling". Enjoy this new game from SNG. May the luck be with you.

Screenshots

Backgammon NJ4 screens
Backgammon4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Backgammon at Free against Backgammon NJ's $4.99. Backgammon also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.4). Backgammon NJ's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 12 months). On review sentiment, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Backgammon is free to download; Backgammon NJ costs $4.99 up front. Backgammon NJ sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Backgammon sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Backgammon NJ holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.5K and 423 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of Backgammon NJ's written reviews are positive against 45% of Backgammon's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backgammon NJ ships an update every 9 days, Backgammon every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Backgammon NJ versus Backgammon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackgammon NJBackgammon
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (1.5K ratings) — better4.1 (423 ratings)
Positive reviews51.1% of reviews — better45.2% of reviews
Number of ratings1.5K — better423
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 12 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#42 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.412.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJimmy HuSNG ICT

Customer experience

Backgammon NJ

All ratings1,498 ratings
Positive84.1%
Neutral6.0%
Negative9.9%
Written reviews405 reviews
Positive51.1%
Neutral11.1%
Negative37.8%

Backgammon

All ratings423 ratings
Positive78.5%
Neutral11.8%
Negative9.7%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive45.2%
Neutral14.5%
Negative40.3%

User reviews

Backgammon NJ

From 1.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent gameplay
  • 🤖 Challenging AI opponent
  • 📊 Detailed game analysis and statistics
  • 👍 Smooth and intuitive interface
  • 🏆 Helps improve player skills

Room to improve

  • 🎲 Perceived unfairness in dice rolls
  • 🤖 AI opponent seen as cheating or having an unfair advantage
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
  • 💰 Expensive for a mobile game

Backgammon

From 423 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
  • 🎨 Customizable board and piece designs
  • 📱 Works offline without internet connection
  • 🚀 Smooth and responsive gameplay
  • 📚 Good for learning backgammon basics

Room to improve

  • 🎲 Dice rolls appear biased toward computer opponent
  • 📺 Excessive ads throughout gameplay
  • 🐛 App freezes and crashes requiring device restart
  • 💰 Pay-to-win mechanics in easier difficulty modes
  • 😤 Computer gets unrealistic doubles and perfect rolls

Bugs and requests

Backgammon NJ

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Forced moves not always the best option
  • Inconsistent behavior in auto-bear-off mode
  • Online games prone to disconnections and timeouts

Requested features

4 requests
  • Manual dice roll option to verify randomness
  • Ability to set custom difficulty levels
  • Online multiplayer with chat functionality
  • Improved tutorial and learning resources

Backgammon

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Ads freeze board causing black screen requiring reboot
  • Drag and drop piece movement unreliable
  • Ability to move opponent's pieces incorrectly
  • Single tap feature causes unintended moves
  • Game hangs occasionally
Show 2 more
  • Progress not saved when app crashes
  • Ads appear immediately after game ends blocking results view

Requested features

7 requests
  • Online multiplayer to play against real people
  • Game statistics display before ads appear
  • Pip counting feature
  • Rematch option between games
  • Ability to reset player name
Show 2 more
  • Proper random number generator for fair dice rolls
  • Time limits for player moves

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Backgammon NJ

One-time3
  • Analysis Package$2.99
  • Online VIP$2.99
  • Power User$4.99
5 purchases

Backgammon

One-time5
  • 10000 Chips$0.99
  • 50000 Chips$3.99
  • Remove Ads$4.99
Show 2 more
  • 150000 Chips$9.99
  • 500000 Chips$19.99

Questions

Is Backgammon NJ free?
Backgammon NJ costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Backgammon free?
Backgammon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Backgammon NJ or Backgammon?
Backgammon NJ is rated higher. Backgammon NJ averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Backgammon averages 4.1 from 423 ratings.
Do Backgammon NJ or Backgammon have ads?
Backgammon shows ads; Backgammon NJ does not.
Which is updated more often, Backgammon NJ or Backgammon?
Backgammon NJ ships an update every 9 days, and Backgammon every 12 months. Most recently, Backgammon NJ was updated on October 13, 2026 and Backgammon on October 6, 2026.

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