Comparison

Hardwood Backgammon vs Backgammon AI

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

Head to head
About

Hardwood Backgammon

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
Read full description

Pull up a chair at the Hardwood Inn. Backgammon is one of the oldest games in the world -- and Hardwood Backgammon has been bringing players together for over 20 years. Whether you're a seasoned player or just learning the board, you'll find a welcoming atmosphere, good company, and a great game. Free to play, always. If you're tired of board games dressed up as casinos, you've found your Hardwood Inn. Play online with players worldwide, challenge a friend sitting next to you, or test yourself against our world-class Neural Net AI. For the ultimate face-to-face experience, our exclusive Tablet Board Mode lets you place your device flat on the table like a real backgammon board -- the UI flips automatically between players on each turn. Why Players Keep Coming Back: • A Mature Community: Moderated and friendly -- sportsmanship comes first • World-Class AI: Neural Net engine plays like a real opponent, not a pushover • Play Anywhere: Solo, online, or local multiplayer -- no internet required for solo • Tablet Board Mode: Place your device flat and play face-to-face just like a real board • Full Match Play with doubling cube support • Competitive Edge: Online tournaments and global leaderboards • Immersive Experience: Stunning environments and high-quality audio • Total Customization: Unique boards, checkers, dice, and backgrounds -- available with tokens, purchasable anytime Sign in with your Hardwood account across all our games and your cosmetics come with you. One collection, every game. Want chat, rated games, an ad-free experience, and 200 tokens every month? Plus membership is optional and affordable. More Hardwood Games: • Hardwood Spades -- the classic trick taking game • Hardwood Euchre -- Jacks are Trump • Hardwood Hearts -- avoid the points • Video Poker Duel -- competitive video poker for two Prefer a quiet game alone? All of our games can be played solo -- but for the ultimate single player experience, check out Hardwood Solitaire IV, also available on the App Store. Questions, suggestions, or found an issue? We love hearing from our players at support@silvercrk.com ____________________ Hardwood Games Subscriptions are optional and available at a rate of 1 month for $4.99, 3 months for $14.99 or 1 year for $29.99. Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions will auto-renew unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your iTunes account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. Your subscriptions can be managed from your iTunes account settings. Cancellation of subscriptions is not allowed. Our privacy policy may be viewed at http://www.hardwoodgames.com/about/privacy/ Our terms of service may be viewed at http://www.hardwoodgames.com/about/terms/

About

Backgammon AI

Experience a classic board game with a smart AI opponent across four difficulty levels. Enjoy online multiplayer, customizable themes, and helpful move previews. Play for free with no ads or subscriptions.

Highlights
  • Four AI difficulty levels
  • Online multiplayer via Game Center
  • Pass-and-play mode
  • Full doubling cube support
  • Three visual themes
  • Move previews and animations
  • Available in 14 languages
Features
Read full description

Play backgammon against a smart AI opponent — free, with no ads and no subscriptions. Backgammon AI brings the world's oldest board game to your iPhone and iPad with three AI difficulty levels, online multiplayer, and pass-and-play. Learn the game on Easy, then climb all the way to a near-expert neural-net opponent. Smart AI Opponents • Easy and Medium — free, perfect for learning and casual play • Expert — a one-time unlock; a neural-net engine that plays near-expert backgammon and knows when to double Play Online Challenge players worldwide with Game Center multiplayer. Find opponents automatically or invite friends, with push notifications when it's your turn. Full doubling cube support. Three Visual Themes • E-Ink — clean black & white, perfect for focus • Classic — the original board aesthetic • Dark Walnut — rich wood tones, 3D checkers, and emerald felt Move Previews & Animations See where your checkers can go before you commit. Movable checkers are highlighted, arrows show legal destinations, and dice tumble with a satisfying bounce. Doubling Cube Full doubling cube support in every mode — offer doubles, accept or decline, just like tournament play. Available in 14 languages. Designed for iPhone and iPad with portrait menus and landscape gameplay. Free to play — unlock the Expert AI once, forever.

Screenshots

Hardwood Backgammon4 screens
Backgammon AI3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Backgammon AI at none against Hardwood Backgammon's shown. Backgammon AI also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Hardwood Backgammon's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (166 vs 15). On price and in-app purchases 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. Hardwood Backgammon sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Backgammon AI sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hardwood Backgammon holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hardwood Backgammon has 166 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Hardwood Backgammon's written reviews are positive against 50% of Backgammon AI's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hardwood Backgammon ships an update every 2 months, Backgammon AI every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Hardwood Backgammon versus Backgammon AI: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHardwood BackgammonBackgammon AI
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (166 ratings) — better4.1 (15 ratings)
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings166 — better15
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size105 MB10 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperSilver Creek EntertainmentAsa Ivry Block

Customer experience

Hardwood Backgammon

All ratings166 ratings
Positive82.5%
Neutral5.4%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews80 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral8.8%
Negative28.7%

Backgammon AI

All ratings15 ratings
Positive73.3%
Neutral13.3%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative33.3%

Bugs and requests

Hardwood Backgammon

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

8 requests
  • 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
Show 3 more
  • Ability to select teammates in multiplayer
  • Penalty system for players who quit mid-game
  • Improved Apple TV compatibility and local multiplayer

Backgammon AI

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

16 purchases

Hardwood Backgammon

Subscriptions6
  • Plus Membership$4.991 Month
  • 1 Month Plus Membership$4.991 Month
  • Plus Membership$14.993 Months
Show 3 more
  • 3 Month Plus Membership$14.993 Months
  • Plus Membership$29.991 Year
  • 12 Month Plus Membership$29.991 Year
One-time10
  • Pack of 80 Tokens$0.99
  • Pack of 165 Tokens$1.99
  • Plus Membership$2.99
Show 7 more
  • Pack of 425 Tokens$4.99
  • 1 Month Plus Membership$4.99
  • Plus Membership$4.99
  • Pack of 865 Tokens$9.99
  • Plus Membership$14.99
  • Plus Membership$19.99
  • Pack of 1800 Tokens$19.99
1 purchases

Backgammon AI

One-time1
  • Expert AI Unlock$1.99

Questions

Is Hardwood Backgammon free?
Hardwood Backgammon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Backgammon AI free?
Backgammon AI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hardwood Backgammon or Backgammon AI?
Hardwood Backgammon is rated higher. Hardwood Backgammon averages 4.3 out of 5 from 166 ratings, while Backgammon AI averages 4.1 from 15 ratings.
Do Hardwood Backgammon or Backgammon AI have ads?
Hardwood Backgammon shows ads; Backgammon AI does not.
Which is updated more often, Hardwood Backgammon or Backgammon AI?
Hardwood Backgammon ships an update every 2 months, and Backgammon AI every 5 days. Most recently, Hardwood Backgammon was updated on October 6, 2026 and Backgammon AI on September 29, 2026.

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