Backgammon NJ vs Backgammon Tutor
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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● 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
Backgammon Tutor
This app serves as a comprehensive tutor for learning and playing backgammon. It offers various game modes, including against AI or other players, with features like progressive undo, move suggestions, and detailed statistics. Customize your experience with extensive settings and enjoy enhanced graphics on multiple devices.
- AI Tutor for learning
- Play against computer or players
- Progressive undo and move suggestions
- Game Center achievements and leaderboards
- Local network and pass-the-device modes
- Detailed statistics tracking
- Customizable settings
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* MOST User Friendly BACKGAMMON App * - Tutor for Computer games, helps you learn how to play. - Invite players or play with random opponents. - Rematch option at the end of a match. - Game Center achievements and leader boards. Highlights include: - Look for Game Center auto-match opponents while playing a local game - Option to switch board home position and swap color. - Text chat feature for all network games (Game Center, Local Network). Can be turned OFF. - Play a Local Network game (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi), against the computer, or a pass-the-device game. - Skill rating, won games, won match points and experience scores for completed Game Center matches. - Progressive undo, replay last move, PIP values, doubling cube, human powered random rolls. - Checkers are easy to select and move, with variable animation speed. - Optionally show all possible moves for any piece, or use "one-tap" moves. - Play 1, 3, 5 or unlimited-point matches. - Resignation with 1, 2, 3 and unlimited times multiplier. - Universal App: enhanced graphics for iPad and retina displays. - Neural Network based advanced computer algorithm. - Extensive settings screen allows users to customize their experience (see screen shots). - Multiple dice rolling algorithms. - Statistics screen: tracks games won, matches points won, as well as dice roll statistics. - If the losing player disconnects from the game the winning player gets awarded the win. - 60-second time limit per move for Game Center Auto-Match games.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Backgammon Tutor at Free against Backgammon NJ's $4.99. Backgammon NJ's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). On rating, 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
Backgammon Tutor is free to download; Backgammon NJ costs $4.99 up front. Backgammon NJ sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Backgammon Tutor sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Backgammon NJ against 4.4 for Backgammon Tutor. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.5K and 307 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 51% of Backgammon NJ's written reviews are positive against 27% of Backgammon Tutor's.
Backgammon NJ ships an update every 9 days, Backgammon Tutor every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Backgammon NJ | Backgammon Tutor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.4 (1.5K ratings) | 4.4 (307 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 51.1% of reviews — better | 27.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.5K — better | 307 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #56 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.4 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Jimmy Hu | Quatrian Inc. |
Customer experience
Backgammon NJ
Backgammon Tutor
User reviews
Backgammon NJ
From 1.5K App Store ratingsWhat 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 Tutor
From 307 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Great for learning backgammon
- 👍 Skill levels are perfect
- 👍 Fun to play
- 👍 Good competitive game
- 👍 Can play fast
Room to improve
- 👎 App crashes and restarts
- 👎 Tutor doesn't teach
- 👎 Computer cheats
- 👎 Dice rolls are rigged
- 👎 Unfair play
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 Tutor
Reported bugs
12 issues- App crashes and restarts
- Computer rolls too many doubles
- Computer rolls specific numbers to win
- Computer cheats
- Dice rolls are not random
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Game is rigged
- Computer always wins initial roll
- Computer gets doubles more often
- Computer rolls 6 more frequently
- Skill ratings not kept
- Does not work on older phones
- Not compatible with older iOS versions
Requested features
7 requests- Increase customization options
- More step-by-step instructions
- Auto-roll option
- Auto-select knocked out piece
- Option to re-roll dice
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Recognize when game has limited moves and notify player with auto-complete option
- Market better to increase online players
In-app purchases
Backgammon NJ
- Analysis Package$2.99
- Online VIP$2.99
- Power User$4.99
Backgammon Tutor
- No Ads Subscription$1.991 Year
- No Ads$4.99
Questions
Is Backgammon NJ free?
Is Backgammon Tutor free?
Which has better reviews, Backgammon NJ or Backgammon Tutor?
Do Backgammon NJ or Backgammon Tutor have ads?
Which is updated more often, Backgammon NJ or Backgammon Tutor?
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