# Hardwood Backgammon vs The Backgammon

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hardwood Backgammon at 63% against The Backgammon's 8%. Hardwood Backgammon also leads on rating (4.3 vs 2.3). The Backgammon's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 16). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hardwood Backgammon sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. The Backgammon asks for nothing beyond the download.

Hardwood Backgammon holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 166 and 64 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Hardwood Backgammon's written reviews are positive against 8% of The Backgammon's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hardwood Backgammon | The Backgammon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (166 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardwood-backgammon/id897715914/reviews)** | [2.3 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-backgammon/id1436665047/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **166** | 64 |
| Positive reviews | **62.5% of reviews** | 8.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 105 MB | 324 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Silver Creek Entertainment](https://appshunter.io/developer/493710735) | [UNBALANCE Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/358617691) |

## What reviewers say

### Hardwood Backgammon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardwood-backgammon/id897715914)

Experience the classic board game with this digital adaptation. Play against a strong AI, challenge friends locally, or compete with players worldwide. Features include full match play, a doubling cube, and engaging achievements.

**Highlights:** Single player vs AI, Online multiplayer, 2 player local mode, Full match play, Doubling cube, Achievements

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Plus Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| Plus Membership | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| 3 Month Plus Membership | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| Plus Membership | $29.99 | per year |
| 12 Month Plus Membership | $29.99 | per year |
| Pack of 80 Tokens | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 165 Tokens | $1.99 | one-time |
| Plus Membership | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 425 Tokens | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1 Month Plus Membership | $4.99 | one-time |
| Plus Membership | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 865 Tokens | $9.99 | one-time |
| Plus Membership | $14.99 | one-time |
| Plus Membership | $19.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 1800 Tokens | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 High-quality graphics and visual design
- 🎵 Relaxing sound effects and audio
- 👍 Clean, intuitive interface
- 🎮 Multiple game modes (single and multiplayer)
- ⚡ Minimal ads and non-intrusive monetization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎲 Perceived unfair/rigged dice rolls favoring AI
- 😤 Computer gets excessive doubles and perfect rolls
- 🔒 Paywall features and token-based progression
- 📱 Game board too small on large screens
- 🐢 Game performance issues and slowness

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to load on some devices
- Apple TV version blocks legal moves
- Controls unresponsive on Apple TV
- Unclear how to enable local multiplayer between devices
- Game becomes unresponsive during gameplay

**Requested features**

- Acey-Deucey game variant
- Larger, scalable game board for tablets
- Better difficulty settings based on strategy, not just dice manipulation
- More multiplayer players available
- Customizable game rules and settings


### The Backgammon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-backgammon/id1436665047)

Engage in classic backgammon matches online against players worldwide or offline against an AI with adjustable difficulty. Enhance your skills with detailed game analysis and practice tools. Enjoy a free, feature-rich experience with customizable rules and visually appealing boards.

**Highlights:** Online multiplayer games, Offline AI opponent, 5 difficulty levels, Rating and ranking system, Match replay and review, Customizable rules, Hint facility

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good for learning the game
- 👍 Pleasant interface and display
- 👍 Efficient matching
- 👍 Good for casual players
- 👍 Can be played for free

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Overwhelmingly negative sentiment due to rigged dice
- 😠 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 😠 Dice rolls are not random
- 😠 AI favors the computer
- 😠 Unfair advantage for higher-rated players

**Reported bugs**

- Ads block the game board
- Ads won't go away, requiring app restart
- Game freezes frequently
- App crashes and closes unexpectedly
- Game rolls back after restart

**Requested features**

- Option to buy a version with no ads
- Improve sound settings (separate BGM and SFX)
- Add a chat option for online play
- Improve controls and piece manipulation
- Option to choose dice button position


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hardwood Backgammon free?

Hardwood Backgammon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is The Backgammon free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hardwood Backgammon or The Backgammon?

Hardwood Backgammon is rated higher. Hardwood Backgammon averages 4.3 out of 5 from 166 ratings, while The Backgammon averages 2.3 from 64 ratings.

### Do Hardwood Backgammon or The Backgammon have ads?

Both Hardwood Backgammon and The Backgammon show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hardwood Backgammon or The Backgammon?

Hardwood Backgammon ships an update every 2 months, and The Backgammon every 2 months. Most recently, Hardwood Backgammon was updated on September 19, 2026 and The Backgammon on September 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*