Comparison

Mahbuse vs Tavli Master

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

Head to head
About

Mahbuse

Experience two classic Middle Eastern board games, Mahbuse and Tawla 31, with online multiplayer. Master strategic trapping in Mahbuse or race to bear off in Tawla 31. Compete globally or with friends in real-time matches.

Highlights
  • Online multiplayer for Mahbuse and Tawla 31
  • Strategic trapping gameplay
  • Fast-paced racing gameplay
  • Play with friends via private rooms
  • Global leaderboards
  • Realistic dice rolls and smooth animations
Features
Read full description

Experience the Ultimate Duo: Mahbuse & Tawla 31! Experience the authentic classics! This app brings the most beloved Middle Eastern dice and board games directly to your screen with seamless online multiplayer. Whether you are a master of the "pin" in Mahbuse or a speed expert in Tawla 31, this is the definitive way to play. Two Iconic Games, One App 1. Mahbuse Unlike standard backgammon, Mahbuse (also known as Plakoto or Tapa) is all about the trap. Instead of hitting your opponent's checkers, you pin them down! Strategize your moves to freeze your opponent’s pieces and dominate the board. It is easy to learn for beginners but deep enough to challenge true masters. 2. Tawla 31 Play the most popular variation of the region. Focus on speed and precision as you race to move your checkers across the board and bear them off before your opponent. It’s the pure, classic experience you know and love. Top Features: Real-Time Multiplayer: Match up instantly and compete against players from all over the world in live matches. Play with Friends: Create private rooms and challenge your friends to see who is the true champion. Seamless Login: Get straight into the action securely with one-tap Google, Apple, or Facebook login. Global Leaderboards: Track your stats, win matches, and climb the rankings to prove your skills. Authentic Design: Enjoy a beautifully clean game board, realistic physics-based dice rolls, and smooth animations optimized for all iOS devices. Interactive Experience: Use quick emojis to react to the game and engage with your opponents during the heat of the match. How to Play: In Mahbuse: Roll the dice and move. If you land on a single opponent's checker, it is "trapped" and cannot move until you release it. Victory goes to the one who bears off first or effectively blocks the opponent. In Tawla 31: It's a race to the finish. Avoid leaving single checkers vulnerable and focus on moving your entire set to the home board as quickly as possible. Roll the dice, trap your opponent, and claim victory. Download Mahbuse & Tawla 31 today!

About

Tavli Master

Experience three beloved Greek backgammon variants—Portes, Plakoto, and Fevga—in a single, polished app. Play against AI, friends locally, or online opponents, and track your progress with detailed statistics. Customize your game experience with various settings and enjoy authentic gameplay.

Highlights
  • Three Tavli variants: Portes, Plakoto, Fevga
  • Play against AI with adjustable difficulty
  • Local and online multiplayer modes
  • Interactive 'How to Play' guide
  • Progress tracking and leaderboards
  • Customizable game settings and visuals
Features
Read full description

Experience Tavli—the legendary Greek backgammon tradition—wherever you are. Tavli Master brings together Greece’s three beloved backgammon variants in one beautifully designed game: • Portes — Classic backgammon with hitting and strategic escapes • Plakoto — Trap and pin opposing checkers to control the board • Fevga — Race forward, build powerful blocks, and outmaneuver your opponent Whether you are discovering Tavli for the first time or have played around the family table for years, Tavli Master offers an authentic, polished, and deeply strategic experience. PLAY YOUR WAY • Challenge the computer with adjustable difficulty • Play with another person on the same device • Find opponents online • Invite friends using a private room code • Play directly with friends on the same Wi-Fi network • Choose your preferred match length and game settings LEARN ALL THREE VARIANTS The interactive How to Play guide teaches each game step by step. Visual move hints and destination previews make it easy to learn while preserving the depth experienced players expect. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS Review your wins, losses, match history, win rate, and performance across every Tavli variant. Compete for a place on the online leaderboards and build your reputation at the table. MAKE THE GAME YOURS Customize sound effects, animation speed, match rules, hints, point numbers, pip counts, and more. Tavli Master is designed to feel comfortable on phones and tablets. BUILT FOR TAVLI PLAYERS EVERYWHERE With smooth animations, detailed wooden boards, intuitive controls, multiple languages, and authentic rules for Portes, Plakoto, and Fevga, Tavli Master brings the spirit of the traditional Greek table to players around the world. Roll the dice. Plan your moves. Master all three games. Download Tavli Master and take your seat at the table.

Screenshots

Mahbuse4 screens
Tavli Master4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mahbuse at none against Tavli Master's 2. Mahbuse also leads on ratings volume (12 vs 1). Tavli Master's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Tavli Master sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Mahbuse asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Tavli Master holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mahbuse has 12 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mahbuse ships an update every 2 weeks, Tavli Master every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 4 level
Mahbuse versus Tavli Master: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMahbuseTavli Master
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (12 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings12 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAmer HarbJohn Tsinonis

In-app purchases

None

Mahbuse

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Tavli Master

One-time2
  • Remove Ads$0.99
  • Support the Developer$1.99

Questions

Is Mahbuse free?
Mahbuse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tavli Master free?
Tavli Master is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Mahbuse or Tavli Master?
Tavli Master is rated higher. Mahbuse averages 4.6 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Tavli Master averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Mahbuse or Tavli Master have ads?
Both Mahbuse and Tavli Master show ads.
Which is updated more often, Mahbuse or Tavli Master?
Mahbuse ships an update every 2 weeks, and Tavli Master every 4 days. Most recently, Mahbuse was updated on October 18, 2026 and Tavli Master on October 22, 2026.

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