Comparison

Backgammon NJ HD vs Grandpa's Solitaire

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
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

Grandpa's Solitaire

A classic Klondike solitaire experience designed for simplicity and enjoyment, free from advertisements and in-app purchases. Offers unlimited undos, detailed statistics, and satisfying win animations.

Highlights
  • Classic Klondike gameplay
  • Draw-one or draw-three options
  • Unlimited undo (up to 20 moves)
  • Detailed game statistics
  • Satisfying win animations
  • Tap or drag controls
  • Fully offline play
Features
Read full description

My father-in-law had 15 solitaire apps on his phone. Not because he wanted 15 - because each one buried him in ads until he gave up and downloaded another one. He also had two "cleaner" apps trying to fix the damage. I built this for him. CLASSIC KLONDIKE - the card game you already know, the way it should look: green felt, cream cards, gold details. Draw-one or draw-three, your choice. UNLIMITED UNDO - take back up to 20 moves, no penalty STATISTICS - win rate, current streak, best time, fewest moves SATISFYING WINS - when every tableau card is face-up and the stock is gone, the board sweeps itself home with confetti TAP OR DRAG - tap to select and tap to place, or drag-and-drop on desktop FULLY OFFLINE - no account, no internet required, no data collection of any kind BUILT FOR PEOPLE WHO REMEMBER WINDOWS SOLITAIRE - Zero ads - not now, not ever - One honest price - pay once at install, own it forever - Nothing leaves your device - No casino chips, no coin packs, no spin wheels If the person in your life has too many solitaire apps because of ads and junk, this is the last one they'll need to download.

Screenshots

Backgammon NJ HD4 screens
Grandpa's Solitaire4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Backgammon NJ HD at 4.5 against Grandpa's Solitaire's 3.0. Backgammon NJ HD also leads on ratings volume (3.6K vs 2) and chart position (#55 vs unranked). Grandpa's Solitaire's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and price ($1.99 vs $7.99). On review sentiment, ads, 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 NJ HD costs $7.99 and Grandpa's Solitaire $1.99 up front. Backgammon NJ HD sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Grandpa's Solitaire asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Backgammon NJ HD holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. 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: 55% of Backgammon NJ HD's written reviews are positive against 50% of Grandpa's Solitaire's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backgammon NJ HD ships an update every 5 months, Grandpa's Solitaire every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Backgammon NJ HD versus Grandpa's Solitaire: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackgammon NJ HDGrandpa's Solitaire
Price$7.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.5 (3.6K ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews55.4% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3.6K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#55 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJimmy HuThe Creative Dad LLC

Customer experience

Backgammon NJ HD

All ratings3,647 ratings
Positive88.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative8.1%
Written reviews581 reviews
Positive55.4%
Neutral7.9%
Negative36.7%

Grandpa's Solitaire

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

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

Grandpa's Solitaire

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

Grandpa's Solitaire

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Backgammon NJ HD free?
Backgammon NJ HD costs $7.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Grandpa's Solitaire free?
Grandpa's Solitaire costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Backgammon NJ HD or Grandpa's Solitaire?
Backgammon NJ HD is rated higher. Backgammon NJ HD averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.6K ratings, while Grandpa's Solitaire averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Backgammon NJ HD or Grandpa's Solitaire have ads?
Neither Backgammon NJ HD nor Grandpa's Solitaire shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Backgammon NJ HD or Grandpa's Solitaire?
Backgammon NJ HD ships an update every 5 months, and Grandpa's Solitaire every 4 weeks. Most recently, Backgammon NJ HD was updated on October 18, 2026 and Grandpa's Solitaire on October 6, 2026.

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