Comparison

Backgammon vs Backgammon Arena

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

Head to head
About

Backgammon

Experience the classic board game of Backgammon on your mobile device. Play against AI opponents or challenge friends and family online or offline. Master strategy and luck to climb leaderboards and unlock achievements.

Highlights
  • Play for free without limitations
  • Play against varied computer opponents
  • Compete online against global players
  • Challenge friends and family locally
  • Climb online highscore leaderboards
  • Unlock achievements
Read full description

Play the LITE Games version of the popular board game Backgammon now for free on your iPhone and iPad with offline and online multiplayer mode. Features: - Play for free without limitations - Play against a variety of unique computer opponents with different play styles - Compete online against opponents from all over the world - Challenge your friends and family on the same device - Climb to the top of the online highscore leaderboard Backgammon, also known as Tavla, is a two players board game that involves a combination of strategy and luck, due to rolling dice. The goal is to remove all of one’s own playing pieces from the board before the opponent can do the same. While the dice can determine the outcome of a single game, strategy is what separates the good and the better players over a series of games. Learn the game, work on your tactics and unlock amazing achievements. Experience thrilling matches through the global online matchmaking or hone your skills versus the computer. Challenge your friends and family offline or online regardless of what phone or operating system they use through our great multiplayer modes – as long as the game is available on their phone you can play together! Play Backgammon now for free! With the right strategy, tactics and observation skills you will eventually find yourself amongst the top players of the LITE Games community and earn yourself a spot in the global leaderboards. Can you make it? The Backgammon board game is offered in high quality localization in the following languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish & Russian. The game is perfect for fans of Checkers, Othello or Mills and offers a strategic challenge for beginners as well as experienced veterans. Join in and get yourself a top spot in our player community. The 10 best players will be proudly displayed each week on https://www.lite.games/games/Backgammon/ _________________ FAQ: Why did you change the game? The former version was no longer compatible with iOS 11 (it wouldn't start or crash in most cases). The code base of the former version was too old to just be updated which is why we needed to rebuild the game from scratch. We used this opportunity to also implement a multiplayer mode and update the graphics. How can I play the former / old version of Backgammon? You can only play the old version if you don't update the game and use a device that uses iOS 10.3.3 or lower. Where is the "Undo" button? After your first move, there will be a circular arrow pointing to the left, at the bottom right of the board. Tapping the arrow will undo your move. ________________ You can find our general terms and conditions here: http://tc.lite.games ...and our privacy policy here: http://privacy.lite.games Visit us for more free iPhone and iPad games: https://www.lite.games https://www.facebook.com/LiteGames Or give us your app feedback here: support@lite.games Thanks for playing!

About

Backgammon Arena

Compete against real players worldwide in this classic dice board game. Master strategy and luck across multiple game modes, from beginner to expert levels. Enjoy fair dice rolls, HD graphics, and social features like chat and gifting.

Highlights
  • Compete with real players
  • Fair dice roll with secure RNG
  • Multiple live game modes
  • Daily coin bonuses
  • Global tournaments
  • In-game chat
  • Play with friends
Features
Read full description

About Backgammon Board Game Backgammon is the ultimate king lord of dice games! A challenging and addicting game with millions of fans all over the world! Backgammon Basics and Rules / How to Play Each player has a piece set of Backgammon checkers. In front of him/her is the home board where he/she should bear off while the side across is the starting point. This means the opponents starting point is exactly on the opposite side. The objective is to remove all of one's own checkers from the board before one's opponent does. When a player leaves a checker single, the opponent has the option to make a blot, plus leave the checker temporarily out of game. Once the player has moved all his fifteen checkers into his/her home board, might commence “bearing off”. Hints: If during a game a player has not been able to bear off neither of his checkers, the other player scores a gammon, a double victory, which counts twice a normal win (doubling). Backgammon Arena offers 6 live Game Modes (different rooms and themes) according to your progress. Start your unlocking journey, enjoy the trip with unlimited games! 1. Newbies (learn the tricks at level 1) 2. Amateurs (rush for the win at level 2) 3. Professionals (pro race unlocked at level 4) 4. Experts (high stakes matches unlocked at level 6) 5. Super VIP Players (unlocked by superiors at level 8) 6. Gods! (unlocked by the unbeatables at level 10) Backgammon Arena is multiplayer and can be highly competitive among elite dice gurus. Luck is needed but long practice is Gold! Test your skills and strategy, win one match after the other, have fun with buddies, level up, enjoy prestigious trophies, earn amazing prizes and become the master of the best and most popular dice game! Get in this premium club! Join the worldwide community of Backgammon champions! Backgammon Arena Features • Compete with REAL players: no robots / no artificial intelligence opponents. • FAIR dice roll and PLAYING: Backgammon Arena uses a "cryptographically secure" random number generator, implemented by the OpenSSL library, for all random aspects of the game. This is a state of the art RNG that is guaranteed to generate uncorrelated and unpredictable values. • Quality, hd graphics in each mode. Deluxe royale backgammon version with: • Daily coins BONUS: instant win. • Global TOURNAMENTS for elite players. • Different bet, earnings and settings: In each new Game Mode, you have the chance to win more Points and Chips for each victory while game completion can be achieved either on one or on three wins as you elevate across modes. More over quick decisions are needed while the time to play each one's turn, is reduced, as you progress. • In-game CHAT with your oppenents (Online feature). • "Play with a FRIEND" option: invite your chums to an extreme buddy challenge! • Fireworks effects to celebrate a match win! • Daily, weekly and monthly Leaderboards and CHARTS for TOP players • "Share the fun" feature by sending GIFTS (special items) to your friends even when they are offline. The game is popular in certain countries like Egypt, Greece, India, Turkey etc. Apart from the classic game, many variants exist, known with alternative names around the globe such as Tavli or Tavle, Tawla or Tavla, Tapa, Tabula (table for Romans), Gamao, Narde or Nardi, Nackgammon, Hypergammon, Gammon, Acey Deucey, Shesh Besh, Portes, Plakoto, Fevga, Mahbusa, Gul Bara. Backgammon is oftened considered a type or parlour games or part of social casino style games.

Screenshots

Backgammon4 screens
Backgammon Arena4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backgammon at none against Backgammon Arena's 10. Backgammon also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (597 vs 72). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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

Both are free to download. Backgammon Arena sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Backgammon asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Backgammon holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backgammon has 597 ratings behind it against 72, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of Backgammon's written reviews are positive against 26% of Backgammon Arena's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Backgammon versus Backgammon Arena: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackgammonBackgammon Arena
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (597 ratings) — better4.3 (72 ratings)
Positive reviews31.6% of reviews — better25.7% of reviews
Number of ratings597 — better72
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size215 MB128 MB
Age rating9+17+
DeveloperLITE Games GmbHLazyLand LTD

Customer experience

Backgammon

All ratings588 ratings
Positive88.3%
Neutral4.1%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews272 reviews
Positive31.6%
Neutral10.7%
Negative57.7%

Backgammon Arena

All ratings72 ratings
Positive80.6%
Neutral6.9%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive25.7%
Neutral20.0%
Negative54.3%

Bugs and requests

Backgammon

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Game freezing or locking up
  • Incorrect game outcome reporting
  • Issues with screen orientation and touch responsiveness

Requested features

5 requests
  • Customizable board and piece designs
  • Offline play mode
  • Detailed game statistics and analytics
  • Ability to disable 'show possible moves' feature
  • Resign option during games

Backgammon Arena

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Backgammon

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

Backgammon Arena

One-time9
  • 500 Chips2 variants$0.99
  • 2000 Chips$2.99
  • 2000 Backgammon Chips$2.99
Show 6 more
  • 5000 Chips$4.99
  • 400 Diamonds$10.99
  • 15000 Chips$10.99
  • 150 Diamonds$13.99
  • 40000 Chips$21.99
  • 40000 Chips$23.99

Questions

Is Backgammon free?
Backgammon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Backgammon Arena free?
Backgammon Arena is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Backgammon or Backgammon Arena?
Backgammon is rated higher. Backgammon averages 4.5 out of 5 from 597 ratings, while Backgammon Arena averages 4.3 from 72 ratings.
Do Backgammon or Backgammon Arena have ads?
Both Backgammon and Backgammon Arena show ads.
Which is updated more often, Backgammon or Backgammon Arena?
Backgammon ships an update every 2 months, and Backgammon Arena every 2 months. Most recently, Backgammon was updated on November 1, 2026 and Backgammon Arena on November 1, 2026.

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