Comparison

Bao la Zanzibar vs Mongjin

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

Head to head
About

Bao la Zanzibar

Features
Read full description

Step into the vibrant culture of East Africa with Bao la Zanzibar, the digital adaptation of the legendary board game, Bao la Kiswahili. Often regarded as the most complex and deeply strategic game in the Mancala family, Bao has been played for centuries across Tanzania, Kenya, and the historic squares of Stone Town. Now, you can carry this rich piece of Swahili heritage in your pocket. Whether you are a seasoned Bingwa (master) or a beginner eager to learn a new strategy game, Bao la Zanzibar offers an authentic, beautifully crafted experience. What is Bao la Kiswahili? Unlike simpler Mancala games, Bao is played on a 4x8 board and involves intricate rules for sowing seeds, capturing your opponent's front row, and defending your territory. It requires forethought, quick calculation, and deep tactical planning. Key Features Authentic Rule Set: Play by the traditional, exact rules of Bao la Kiswahili as played in East Africa. Single Player vs. AI: Test your skills offline against computer opponents ranging from beginner to expert. Pass and Play: Play locally against a friend on the same device. Cultural Immersion: Features a clean, visually stunning design inspired by traditional carved wooden boards and authentic seeds (kete). Why Play Bao la Zanzibar? We built this game to preserve and celebrate the true mechanics of Bao la Kiswahili. It is perfect for fans of abstract strategy games like Chess, Go, Oware, or Awale who are looking for their next great mental challenge. Sharpen your mind, honor the tradition, and become a Bao master today!

About

Mongjin

A two-player strategy board game where players escort their King to safety while using Guards to block opponents and open routes. Simple rules offer deep strategic decisions for quick matches, friend games, or playing against AI.

Highlights
  • Real-time online matches
  • Friend matches via room code
  • Computer opponents (Easy, Normal, Hard)
  • Local two-player mode
  • Step-by-step tutorial
  • Anonymous profiles with stats
Features
Read full description

Mongjin (๋ชฝ์ง„, ่’™ๅกต) is an original two-player strategy board game from Korea. Escort your King to the far side of the board while your Guards open routes, block the opponent, and protect every step forward. Simple rules lead to deep decisions. A Guard that protects your King can become your sharpest attacker, and one well-timed block can decide the match. Features โ€ข Quick Match with real-time online opponents โ€ข Friend matches using a six-character room code โ€ข Computer opponents with Easy, Normal, and Hard difficulty โ€ข Local two-player matches on one device โ€ข A step-by-step tutorial for new players โ€ข Anonymous profiles with wins, losses, win rate, Elo rating, and ranking Win by reaching the goal row with your King, capturing the opposing King, or surrounding it so it cannot move. Find the balance between safety and speed, attack and defense, then lead your King home.

Screenshots

Bao la Zanzibar4 screens
Mongjin3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Bao la Zanzibar at none against Mongjin's shown. Bao la Zanzibar also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 5 level
Bao la Zanzibar versus Mongjin: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBao la ZanzibarMongjin
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviewsโ€”100.0% of reviews
Update frequencyโ€”Every 3 days
AdsNo โ€” betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetizationโ€”Ad-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 โ€” better17.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size108 MB44 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperSaleh OmarOin Kwon

In-app purchases

None

Bao la Zanzibar

No in-app purchases

None

Mongjin

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bao la Zanzibar free?
Bao la Zanzibar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mongjin free?
Mongjin is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Bao la Zanzibar or Mongjin have ads?
Mongjin shows ads; Bao la Zanzibar does not.

Other comparisons