# Backgammon vs Hardwood Backgammon

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hardwood Backgammon at 63% against Backgammon's 36%. Hardwood Backgammon also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.1). Backgammon's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (709 vs 166). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backgammon sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Hardwood Backgammon sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Hardwood Backgammon holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 709 and 166 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Backgammon's written reviews are positive against 63% of Hardwood Backgammon's.

Backgammon ships an update every 3 weeks, Hardwood Backgammon every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backgammon | Hardwood Backgammon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (709 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-18-games/id581133305/reviews) | **[4.3 (166 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardwood-backgammon/id897715914/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **709** | 166 |
| Positive reviews | 35.9% of reviews | **62.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 91 MB | 105 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Boyan Paskalev](https://appshunter.io/developer/528219271) | [Silver Creek Entertainment](https://appshunter.io/developer/493710735) |

## What reviewers say

### Backgammon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-18-games/id581133305)

Experience a vast collection of backgammon variants, playable offline against AI or online with friends. Track your progress with detailed statistics and compete in tournaments. Offers customizable gameplay and daily challenges for endless entertainment.

**Highlights:** 18+ Backgammon Variants, Offline AI Play, Online Multiplayer, Backgammon Tournaments, ELO Rating System, Daily Challenges, Customizable Gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No adds | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and smooth gameplay
- 👍 Variety of game modes
- 🎨 Visually appealing
- 🕹️ Responsive controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Suspected AI manipulation of dice rolls
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🕰️ Slow performance after updates
- 💰 Ads even after paid purchase

**Reported bugs**

- Dice disappearing during gameplay
- Scoring and game progression issues
- Multiplayer functionality not working
- Orientation lock problems on mobile

**Requested features**

- Online multiplayer mode
- Undo/rollback move option
- Detailed game statistics tracking
- Customizable AI difficulty settings


### Hardwood Backgammon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardwood-backgammon/id897715914)

Experience the classic board game with this digital adaptation. Play against a strong AI, challenge friends locally, or compete with players worldwide. Features include full match play, a doubling cube, and engaging achievements.

**Highlights:** Single player vs AI, Online multiplayer, 2 player local mode, Full match play, Doubling cube, Achievements

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Plus Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| Plus Membership | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| 3 Month Plus Membership | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| Plus Membership | $29.99 | per year |
| 12 Month Plus Membership | $29.99 | per year |
| Pack of 80 Tokens | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 165 Tokens | $1.99 | one-time |
| Plus Membership | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 425 Tokens | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1 Month Plus Membership | $4.99 | one-time |
| Plus Membership | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 865 Tokens | $9.99 | one-time |
| Plus Membership | $14.99 | one-time |
| Plus Membership | $19.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 1800 Tokens | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 High-quality graphics and visual design
- 🎵 Relaxing sound effects and audio
- 👍 Clean, intuitive interface
- 🎮 Multiple game modes (single and multiplayer)
- ⚡ Minimal ads and non-intrusive monetization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎲 Perceived unfair/rigged dice rolls favoring AI
- 😤 Computer gets excessive doubles and perfect rolls
- 🔒 Paywall features and token-based progression
- 📱 Game board too small on large screens
- 🐢 Game performance issues and slowness

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to load on some devices
- Apple TV version blocks legal moves
- Controls unresponsive on Apple TV
- Unclear how to enable local multiplayer between devices
- Game becomes unresponsive during gameplay

**Requested features**

- Acey-Deucey game variant
- Larger, scalable game board for tablets
- Better difficulty settings based on strategy, not just dice manipulation
- More multiplayer players available
- Customizable game rules and settings


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backgammon free?

Backgammon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hardwood Backgammon free?

Hardwood Backgammon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Backgammon or Hardwood Backgammon?

Hardwood Backgammon is rated higher. Backgammon averages 4.1 out of 5 from 709 ratings, while Hardwood Backgammon averages 4.3 from 166 ratings.

### Do Backgammon or Hardwood Backgammon have ads?

Both Backgammon and Hardwood Backgammon show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Backgammon or Hardwood Backgammon?

Backgammon ships an update every 3 weeks, and Hardwood Backgammon every 2 months. Most recently, Backgammon was updated on October 29, 2026 and Hardwood Backgammon on October 23, 2026.

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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.*