Comparison

Zen Backgammon vs Nearby Backgammon

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

Head to head

Backgammon Game

Play Backgammon Nearby

Free

🎮 Games

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About

Zen Backgammon

Features

Read full description

Play fair backgammon in retro pixel art, offline.

About

Nearby Backgammon

Features

Read full description

Nearby Backgammon lets you challenge friends and players around you to a classic game of backgammon over Bluetooth — no internet required. Simply open the app, discover nearby players, and start a match in seconds. Roll the dice, move your checkers, and enjoy the timeless strategy of backgammon face-to-face with anyone around you. Features: • Play backgammon with nearby players via Bluetooth • No internet connection required • Classic backgammon rules with a beautiful board • Pass & Play mode for two players on one device • Fast and easy matchmaking • Works anywhere — cafes, parks, travel

Screenshots

Zen Backgammon2 screens

Nearby Backgammon3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Nearby Backgammon at none against Zen Backgammon's shown. Nearby Backgammon also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.5). Zen Backgammon's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly). On price, 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, Nearby Backgammon fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level

Zen Backgammon versus Nearby Backgammon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter	Zen Backgammon	Nearby Backgammon
Price	Free	Free
Update frequency	Every 3 days — better	Fortnightly
Ads	Yes	No — better
In-app purchases	No	No
Devices	iPhone, iPad	iPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS	18.5	13.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size	4 MB	21 MB
Age rating	4+	4+
Developer	ARDA GERMIYANOGLU	Onder Ilke Sever

In-app purchases

None

Zen Backgammon

No in-app purchases

None

Nearby Backgammon

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zen Backgammon free?

Zen Backgammon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

Is Nearby Backgammon free?

Nearby Backgammon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

Do Zen Backgammon or Nearby Backgammon have ads?

Zen Backgammon shows ads; Nearby Backgammon does not.

Which is updated more often, Zen Backgammon or Nearby Backgammon?

Zen Backgammon ships an update every 3 days, and Nearby Backgammon fortnightly. Most recently, Zen Backgammon was updated on October 6, 2026 and Nearby Backgammon on October 10, 2026.