# Hardwood Backgammon vs Backgammon by Staple Games

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backgammon by Staple Games at none against Hardwood Backgammon's 16. Backgammon by Staple Games also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (2.5K vs 166). Hardwood Backgammon's advantage is review sentiment (63% vs 47%). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Backgammon by Staple Games holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backgammon by Staple Games has 2.5K ratings behind it against 166, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of Hardwood Backgammon's written reviews are positive against 47% of Backgammon by Staple Games's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Hardwood Backgammon ships an update every 2 months, Backgammon by Staple Games every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hardwood Backgammon | Backgammon by Staple Games |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (166 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardwood-backgammon/id897715914/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-by-staple-games/id6451217307/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 166 | **2.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **62.5% of reviews** | 47.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 105 MB | 171 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Silver Creek Entertainment](https://appshunter.io/developer/493710735) | [Staple Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454538415) |

## 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


### Backgammon by Staple Games

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-by-staple-games/id6451217307)

Experience the classic game of Backgammon with a focus on simplicity and pure enjoyment. This app offers clean graphics and intuitive controls for an undistracted gameplay experience. It's designed for players who appreciate the core mechanics of the game.

**Highlights:** Pure Backgammon gameplay, Simple and classic design, Easy-to-use controls, Clean graphics, No distractions

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast gameplay
- 👍 Simple and good design
- 🎨 Great art style

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Dice rolls seem unfair
- 👎 User-unfriendly interface
- 🎨 Hard to see game pieces
- 💰 Too many ads

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect move counting
- Game gets stuck on ads

**Requested features**

- Add doubling cube feature
- Improve AI difficulty settings
- Add undo/cancel button
- Provide rules and procedures


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hardwood Backgammon free?

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

### Is Backgammon by Staple Games free?

Backgammon by Staple Games is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hardwood Backgammon or Backgammon by Staple Games?

Backgammon by Staple Games is rated higher. Hardwood Backgammon averages 4.3 out of 5 from 166 ratings, while Backgammon by Staple Games averages 4.7 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do Hardwood Backgammon or Backgammon by Staple Games have ads?

Both Hardwood Backgammon and Backgammon by Staple Games show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hardwood Backgammon or Backgammon by Staple Games?

Hardwood Backgammon ships an update every 2 months, and Backgammon by Staple Games every 3 months. Most recently, Hardwood Backgammon was updated on September 19, 2026 and Backgammon by Staple Games on September 26, 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.*