Comparison

Makruk vs BlitzGammon

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

Head to head
About

Makruk

Features
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Step into the ancient world of strategy with Makruk: Authentic Thai Chess! Experience the rich history and deep tactical gameplay of Makruk, the traditional chess variant of Thailand. Whether you are a seasoned grandmaster or a curious beginner looking to learn a new board game, our app offers the ultimate Makruk experience right on your device. Play online against opponents worldwide, challenge your friends, or hone your skills against our intelligent AI. Makruk (also known as Thai Chess) is a descendant of the ancient Indian game of Chaturanga and is closely related to Cambodian Ouk Chaktrang. Known for its methodical pace and emphasis on endgame strategy, Makruk will test your foresight and tactical planning like never before. WHY PLAY MAKRUK? Makruk offers a unique twist on standard chess. With different piece movements (like the stepping Khon and the leaping Met) and a distinct endgame counting system, every match is a fresh mental challenge. If you love classic strategy games, board games, or puzzle solving, you will be captivated by the depth of Makruk. KEY FEATURES - Real-Time Multiplayer Gameplay: Connect instantly and battle players from all over the world. Climb the global leaderboards and prove you are the ultimate Makruk master! - Play Against Smart AI: Practice your strategies offline against multiple difficulty levels. Perfect for beginners learning the rules or veterans testing new tactics. - Play with Friends: Create private matches and invite your friends for a friendly (or fiercely competitive!) game of Thai Chess. - Comprehensive Player Profiles & Stats: Track your progress, win rate, total matches played, and view your match history. Watch your rank grow from Beginner to Grandmaster! - Stunning Visuals & Customization: Enjoy beautiful, authentic board designs and piece sets. Customize your avatar and express yourself. - Seamless Cross-Platform Play: Play on your phone or tablet. Your progress and account are securely synced. - Interactive Features: Use quick chat emojis and phrases to communicate with opponents during intense matches. - Daily Rewards & Credits: Earn credits by playing games, winning matches, and completing daily challenges. HOW TO PLAY (Quick Overview) - The Goal: Checkmate the opponent's King (Khun). - The Board: 8x8 uncheckered board. - The Pieces: -- Khun (King): Moves one square in any direction. -- Met (Queen/Counselor): Moves one square diagonally. -- Khon (Bishop): Moves one square straight forward or one square diagonally. -- Ma (Knight): Moves in an 'L' shape (like international chess). -- Ruea (Rook): Moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically. -- Bia (Pawn): Moves forward one square, captures diagonally. Promotes to a Met when reaching the 6th rank. - The Endgame: Learn the unique counting rules when neither player has pawns left, adding thrilling tension to the final moves! Join the vibrant community of Makruk players today! Whether you want to connect with your cultural heritage, challenge your brain with a new strategy game, or simply enjoy a beautifully crafted digital board game, Makruk is the perfect app for you. Download Makruk now and make your opening move!

About

BlitzGammon

Features
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Description box BlitzGammon is the modern home for backgammon, whether you are just learning the game or chasing a top ranking. Play in real time against friends, club mates, and players around the world, or test yourself against a world class AI built on the trusted GNU Backgammon engine. Every match feels fast, fair, and smooth. WHAT YOU CAN DO Live multiplayer Jump into a quick match or invite a friend and play head to head in real time, with chat, spectating, and instant updates. Play the AI Practice against a powerful computer opponent with adjustable difficulty, great for warming up or studying tricky positions. Daily puzzle Solve a fresh backgammon puzzle every day, see the best move, compare your choice with the community, and climb the puzzle leaderboard. Tournaments Enter single elimination, double elimination, and Swiss tournaments, with proper brackets, seeding, and automatic scheduling. Clubs and friends Join clubs, add friends, and build your own circle of regular opponents. Ranking and stats Earn an ELO rating, track your record, and watch your progress over time. Post game analysis Review your matches move by move with detailed analysis and a performance rating, so you always know where you can improve. Roll the dice and start playing today. Terms of Use (EULA): https://blitzgammon.com/terms

Screenshots

Makruk4 screens
BlitzGammon4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Makruk at none against BlitzGammon's 9. BlitzGammon's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. BlitzGammon sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Makruk asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Makruk ships an update every 2 months, BlitzGammon every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
Makruk versus BlitzGammon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMakrukBlitzGammon
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 days โ€” better
AdsYesNo โ€” better
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 โ€” better16.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size39 MB34 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperCHHAY VANDYRICHATBLITZ GAMMON ONLINE GAMING SERVICES L.L.C S.P.C

In-app purchases

None

Makruk

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

BlitzGammon

Subscriptions2
  • Premium14 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Tournament Director$14.991 Month
One-time7
  • Starter Stack$0.99
  • Pro Pack$4.99
  • 16,500 coins to play BlitzGammon$9.99
Show 4 more
  • Champion Vault$19.99
  • Grand Reserve$49.99
  • Ultimate Hoard$99.99
  • Legendary Cache, 1,375,000 Coins$200.00

Questions

Is Makruk free?
Makruk is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BlitzGammon free?
BlitzGammon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Makruk or BlitzGammon have ads?
Makruk shows ads; BlitzGammon does not.
Which is updated more often, Makruk or BlitzGammon?
Makruk ships an update every 2 months, and BlitzGammon every 2 days. Most recently, Makruk was updated on October 10, 2026 and BlitzGammon on October 25, 2026.

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