Comparison

Backgammon NJ HD vs Backgammon Heroes

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

Head to head
About

Backgammon NJ HD

Play backgammon against a powerful AI, a friend on the same device, or players worldwide. Improve your skills with tutor mode and detailed analysis. Offers customizable options and supports all iOS devices.

Highlights
  • Neural network AI
  • Online multiplayer (real-time & turn-based)
  • 2-player mode on one device
  • Tutor Mode & Hints
  • Customizable board and checkers
  • Match play and single games
  • Game Center integration
Features
Currently charting
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 ● UNIVERSAL -- Supports iPad, iPhone, & iPod touch Play & learn backgammon at skill levels from beginner to world-class! Backgammon NJ HD 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 & others. Using Tutor Mode & Hints, Backgammon NJ HD 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 & friends." -Phil Simborg, Professional Backgammon Teacher & 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 & 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 pts • 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 • Tap-to-move interface • Highlighted checker movement options • Hint & Undo • Learn with 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 Heroes

Engage in fast-paced online backgammon matches with friends or compete against players worldwide. Test your skills in tournaments and climb the leaderboards. Enjoy a simple and quick gaming experience.

Highlights
  • Online multiplayer matches
  • Play with friends via code sharing
  • Tournament competitions
  • Player ranking and evaluation
  • Simple and fast gameplay
Features
Read full description

Play Online with click a button. It's really simple and fast to enjoy the game. Play with your friends by sharing a code. Compete players and evaluate yourself in tournaments. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.backgammononline24.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Backgammon NJ HD4 screens
Backgammon Heroes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Backgammon Heroes at Free against Backgammon NJ HD's $7.99. Backgammon Heroes also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 56%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.5). Backgammon NJ HD's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (3.6K vs 2). On device support and iOS requirement 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 Heroes is free to download; Backgammon NJ HD costs $7.99 up front. Backgammon NJ HD sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Backgammon Heroes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Backgammon Heroes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backgammon NJ HD has 3.6K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Backgammon NJ HD's written reviews are positive against 100% of Backgammon Heroes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backgammon NJ HD ships an update every 5 months, Backgammon Heroes monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Backgammon NJ HD versus Backgammon Heroes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackgammon NJ HDBackgammon Heroes
Price$7.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (3.6K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.6K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
Best chart rank#189 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.414.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB233 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperJimmy HuMohammad Saleh Habibi Mazaheri

Customer experience

Backgammon NJ HD

All ratings3,647 ratings
Positive88.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative8.1%
Written reviews578 reviews
Positive55.5%
Neutral8.0%
Negative36.5%

Backgammon Heroes

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Backgammon NJ HD

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Frequent crashes
  • Unreliable online play and matchmaking
  • Issues with syncing progress across devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Manual dice rolling option
  • Ability to undo moves
  • Improved online/multiplayer experience
  • More difficulty levels

Backgammon Heroes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Backgammon NJ HD

One-time3
  • Analysis Package$2.99
  • Online VIP$2.99
  • Power User$4.99
None

Backgammon Heroes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Backgammon NJ HD free?
Backgammon NJ HD costs $7.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Backgammon Heroes free?
Backgammon Heroes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Backgammon NJ HD or Backgammon Heroes?
Backgammon Heroes is rated higher. Backgammon NJ HD averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.6K ratings, while Backgammon Heroes averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Backgammon NJ HD or Backgammon Heroes have ads?
Backgammon Heroes shows ads; Backgammon NJ HD does not.
Which is updated more often, Backgammon NJ HD or Backgammon Heroes?
Backgammon NJ HD ships an update every 5 months, and Backgammon Heroes monthly. Most recently, Backgammon NJ HD was updated on October 12, 2026 and Backgammon Heroes on October 1, 2026.

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