# True Backgammon vs Pine Tar Poker

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pine Tar Poker at 91% against True Backgammon's 48%. Pine Tar Poker also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 12). True Backgammon's advantage is ratings volume (2.6K vs 140). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

True Backgammon costs $3.99 and Pine Tar Poker $3.99 up front. True Backgammon sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. Pine Tar Poker asks for nothing beyond the download.

Pine Tar Poker holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: True Backgammon has 2.6K ratings behind it against 140, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of True Backgammon's written reviews are positive against 91% of Pine Tar Poker's.

True Backgammon ships an update fortnightly, Pine Tar Poker every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | True Backgammon | Pine Tar Poker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| Rating | [4.3 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/true-backgammon/id364593496/reviews) | **[4.9 (140 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pine-tar-poker/id1606835767/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.6K** | 140 |
| Positive reviews | 48.0% of reviews | **90.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #41 | **#13** |
| Size | 69 MB | 250 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [CompuLab, Markus Gömmel](https://appshunter.io/developer/295302259) | [Bird Cartel LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1532844907) |

## What reviewers say

### True Backgammon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/true-backgammon/id364593496)

**Currently charting:** #41 Top Paid · Casino, #183 Top Paid · Board (US App Store)

Engage in classic backgammon against challenging computer opponents or human players online. Customize your game with various board designs and difficulty levels. Connect with friends for local or online matches.

**Highlights:** Play against computer or humans, Three difficulty levels, Modern and ornate board designs, In-app purchase for world-class AI, Local and online multiplayer, Voice chat with opponents, Optimized for iOS

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Playboard Orient 3 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Playboard Neon 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Playboard Neon 3 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Playboard Orient 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Playboard Orient 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Playboard Leather | $0.99 | one-time |
| Playboard Neon 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Neon Package | $1.99 | one-time |
| Orient Package | $1.99 | one-time |
| BGBlitz Tutor | $1.99 | one-time |
| BGBlitz Gameplay Engine | $3.99 | one-time |
| BGBlitz Package | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 📊 Helpful tutor and analysis features
- 🎨 Attractive and intuitive interface
- 🕹️ Realistic backgammon experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎲 Dice rolls perceived as biased towards the computer
- 🤖 Computer opponent seen as too lucky or advantaged
- 🧠 Difficulty level imbalance (too easy or too hard)
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Dice not registering correctly
- Game freezing or becoming unresponsive
- Issues with the human-computer move synchronization

**Requested features**

- Ability to play against other human players online
- More customization options for the board and pieces
- Detailed player statistics and progress tracking
- Improved doubling cube functionality


### Pine Tar Poker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pine-tar-poker/id1606835767)

**Currently charting:** #13 Top Paid · Casino, #52 Top Paid · Card (US App Store)

Experience a unique card game with a touch of the supernatural. Gather your deck and paper to learn a new way to play, where a little bit of magic might just tip the scales in your favor and bring a smile to your face.

**Highlights:** Unique card game mechanics, Supernatural elements, Learn to play easily, Focus on entertainment, Potential for magical advantages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Addictive gameplay loop
- 💡 Unique poker/Yahtzee mechanics
- ✨ Engaging story and atmosphere
- 🎨 Charming art style
- 🎮 High replay value

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏳ Story is too short
- 🎶 Music can be repetitive
- ❓ Some mechanics unclear
- 📱 No cloud save feature
- 🔥 Device runs hot

**Reported bugs**

- Device overheating on iPad Pro 12.9

**Requested features**

- Add more content (scratch offs, dice, roulette)
- More explanation for items/mechanics
- Option to turn off upgrades/powers
- Cloud save feature
- More story content


## Frequently asked questions

### Is True Backgammon free?

True Backgammon costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Pine Tar Poker free?

Pine Tar Poker costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, True Backgammon or Pine Tar Poker?

Pine Tar Poker is rated higher. True Backgammon averages 4.3 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while Pine Tar Poker averages 4.9 from 140 ratings.

### Do True Backgammon or Pine Tar Poker have ads?

Neither True Backgammon nor Pine Tar Poker shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, True Backgammon or Pine Tar Poker?

True Backgammon ships an update fortnightly, and Pine Tar Poker every 3 days. Most recently, True Backgammon was updated on October 16, 2026 and Pine Tar Poker on October 14, 2026.

### Which is more popular, True Backgammon or Pine Tar Poker?

True Backgammon currently peaks at #41 in the App Store charts, and Pine Tar Poker at #13. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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