Comparison

Zen Backgammon vs Backgammon

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

Head to head
About

Zen Backgammon

Features
Read full description

Play fair backgammon in retro pixel art, offline.

About

Backgammon

Experience the classic strategy board game with multiple AI difficulty levels, local multiplayer, and online matches against players worldwide. Features a beginner-friendly tutorial, intuitive controls, and a visually appealing design with dark mode support.

Highlights
  • Multiple AI difficulty levels
  • Local multiplayer mode
  • Online multiplayer with matchmaking
  • Beginner-friendly tutorial
  • Intuitive controls
  • Dark mode support
Features
Read full description

BACKGAMMON - THE ULTIMATE CLASSIC EXPERIENCE Discover the timeless strategy of Backgammon, one of the world's oldest and most beloved board games! Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, our beautifully designed app brings the classic game to your fingertips. GAME MODES VS AI - Challenge our intelligent AI with 3 difficulty levels: - Easy - Perfect for learning the basics - Medium - Balanced gameplay for casual players - Hard - Ultimate challenge for masters Local Multiplayer - Play face-to-face with friends on the same device Online Multiplayer - Connect with players worldwide: - Random matchmaking - Find opponents instantly - Friend invites - Share codes to play with friends - Real-time gameplay powered by Firebase KEY FEATURES Stunning Visual Design - Beautiful wooden board with authentic aesthetics - Smooth animations and intuitive controls - Dark mode support for comfortable gaming Beginner-Friendly - Interactive tutorial for new players - Valid move indicators - Clear game rules and instructions Advanced Gameplay - Drag-and-drop or tap-to-move controls - Auto-bear off when possible - Move validation and rule enforcement Free to Play - No ads on launch - All features unlocked - Optional in-app purchases for cosmetics (coming soon) HOW TO PLAY Backgammon is a two-player strategy game where the goal is to move all your checkers to your home board and then bear them off. Roll the dice and strategically move your pieces while blocking your opponent! The game combines luck and skill - easy to learn but challenging to master. Each match brings new tactical opportunities and exciting comebacks. AUTHENTIC AND GLOBAL Backgammon (known as Tavla in Turkish culture) is played and loved worldwide. Our app honors the traditional style while being accessible to international players. OPTIMIZED FOR IOS - Native SwiftUI interface - Smooth 60 FPS gameplay - Works on iPhone and iPad - Optimized for all screen sizes - Low battery consumption PRIVACY AND SECURITY Your privacy matters! We use: - Anonymous authentication for online play - Minimal data collection - Secure Firebase backend - No personal information required COMING SOON - Tournament mode with leaderboards - Daily challenges and achievements - Custom board themes and checker designs - Statistics and match history - Chat and emotes - Sound effects and haptic feedback SUPPORT AND FEEDBACK We're constantly improving! Have suggestions or found a bug? Contact us at support@backgammonapp.com or follow us on social media for updates. DOWNLOAD NOW Join thousands of players enjoying the most authentic Backgammon experience on mobile. Whether you're waiting for coffee, commuting, or relaxing at home - a quick match is always ready! Download free and start playing today!

Screenshots

Zen Backgammon2 screens
Backgammon2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Backgammon at none against Zen Backgammon's shown. Zen Backgammon's advantage is iOS requirement (18.5 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zen Backgammon ships an update every 3 days, Backgammon every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Zen Backgammon versus Backgammon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZen BackgammonBackgammon
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.3 (3 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.5 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperARDA GERMIYANOGLUOnur YILMAZ

In-app purchases

None

Zen Backgammon

No in-app purchases

None

Backgammon

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zen Backgammon free?
Zen Backgammon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Backgammon free?
Backgammon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Zen Backgammon or Backgammon have ads?
Zen Backgammon shows ads; Backgammon does not.
Which is updated more often, Zen Backgammon or Backgammon?
Zen Backgammon ships an update every 3 days, and Backgammon every 2 days. Most recently, Zen Backgammon was updated on September 19, 2026 and Backgammon on September 13, 2026.

Other comparisons