Comparison

Narde vs Backgammon Now

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

Head to head
About

Narde

This app offers a strategic variant of backgammon where luck is removed, focusing on positioning and tactical blocking. Play against AI or global opponents, mastering unique rules and building your legacy through skillful play.

Highlights
  • Pure strategy, no luck
  • Solo mode against AI
  • Online multiplayer via Game Center
  • Authentic Narde rules
  • One-tap movement
  • In-game rulebook with tips
  • Daily leaderboards
Features
Read full description

Experience the strategic depth of the beloved backgammon variant! ◆ Pure Strategy, No Luck Unlike traditional backgammon, Narde eliminates the element of chance through hitting. Every checker you place is safe, transforming the game into a thrilling race of positioning and tactical blocking. Master the art of building primes, managing your pieces, and outmaneuvering your opponent in this chess-like twist on a classic! ◆ Game Features Two Ways to Play: ► Solo Mode - Challenge sophisticated AI in matches of 1, 3, 5, 11, or 15 rounds. Perfect your strategy with optional doubling cube! ► Online Multiplayer - Compete globally through Game Center. Start with 2,000 chips and build your fortune one strategic victory at a time! ◆ Authentic Narde Rules: • Strategic "head" rule - only one checker can leave your starting point per turn • No hitting - create blocking positions instead of risky blots • Build powerful primes (but not too powerful - fair play rules apply!) • Both players race in the same direction for unique tactical challenges ◆ Smart Features: • One-tap movement with intelligent die ordering • Advanced random dice algorithm ensures completely fair rolls • Clean, intuitive interface designed for iOS • Comprehensive in-game rulebook with strategy tips • Daily leaderboards to track your dominance ◆ Why Narde? If you love backgammon but crave more strategy and less luck, Narde is your perfect match. Every game is a battle of wits where superior positioning beats fortunate rolls. Whether you're a backgammon master seeking a fresh challenge or a strategy game enthusiast looking for your next obsession, Narde delivers depth, excitement, and endless replayability. ◆ Build Your Legacy • Climb the daily leaderboards • Accumulate chips through skillful play • Master both aggressive racing and patient blocking strategies • Join a global community of strategic thinkers Download now and discover why Narde has captivated players for generations!

About

Backgammon Now

Experience a fun and relaxing way to play Backgammon. Challenge a computer opponent, track your progress with game stats, and enjoy customizable themes. Learn the game easily with built-in instructions and realistic dice physics.

Highlights
  • Computer opponent
  • Game stats tracking
  • Customizable board themes
  • Adjustable difficulty
  • Touch-to-move or drag-to-move
  • Random physics-based dice
  • Easy 'How to Play' guide
Features
Read full description

Experience a quick and awesome new way to play and learn Backgammon! We’ve added a great computer opponent to play against (and beat!) as well as Game Stats to help you keep track of your wins and let you see your performance improve! Enjoy the fun and laid-back challenge of Backgammon and discover the joy of this entertaining and relaxing game like never before! • Awesome board theme's to choose from • Choose your difficulty & improve your game! • Touch-to-move or drag-to-move, you choose! • Track your game stats & see your performance! • Truly random physics based dice throwing! • Get playing quick, with easy "How to Play" • A super smooth, fun and relaxing game! • Looks amazing, plays even better! For note, Backgammon Now's dice rolling algorithm. We use the Mersenne Twister algorithm to generate a lot of random values which we use to throw the dice with (a dice roll is based on many values), so it's only when the dice have rolled and landed that the game knows the outcome. It's as close to a real dice throw as possible! Backgammon Now (v1.6) a perfect entry into the world of Backgammon. _______________________________________________ Backgammon Now Premium monthly subscription also available, $1.49/£1.49/€1.49 monthly. New board themes, adds extended player stats (up to 14 days), adds custom dice, removes adverts from game and more. Subscription payments will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription will automatically renew each month unless you cancel it 24-hours prior to the end of the current term. You can manage your subscription settings and turn off auto-renew at any time from your iTunes Account settings. More Discover more amazing Cobra Mobile games at www.cobramobile.com Support Having problems? Visit www.cobramobile.com/support to see if we can help License Agreement www.cobramobile.com/eula/

Screenshots

Narde4 screens
Backgammon Now4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Narde at 51% against Backgammon Now's 31%. Backgammon Now's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. Narde sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Backgammon Now sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Backgammon Now holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 362 and 346 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of Narde's written reviews are positive against 31% of Backgammon Now's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Narde ships an update every 2 months, Backgammon Now every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Narde versus Backgammon Now: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNardeBackgammon Now
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (362 ratings)4.4 (346 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.8% of reviews — better31.4% of reviews
Number of ratings362 — better346
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB144 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAdikusCobra Mobile Limited

Customer experience

Narde

All ratings362 ratings
Positive78.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative13.0%
Written reviews183 reviews
Positive50.8%
Neutral12.0%
Negative37.2%

Backgammon Now

All ratings346 ratings
Positive83.2%
Neutral7.5%
Negative9.2%
Written reviews70 reviews
Positive31.4%
Neutral17.1%
Negative51.4%

User reviews

Narde

From 362 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎮 Engaging and addictive gameplay
  • 🎨 Good visual design and interface
  • 🧠 Requires strategic thinking and skill
  • 🌐 Online multiplayer functionality
  • 📱 Works well as a mobile game

Room to improve

  • 🎲 Dice rolls appear non-random and biased
  • 🤖 Suspected rigged algorithm favoring opponents
  • ⏳ Long wait times for online opponents
  • 💰 Requires payment to continue playing
  • 🔗 Connection loss issues and exploits

Backgammon Now

From 346 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 User-friendly interface and easy navigation
  • 🎨 Visually appealing graphics and presentation
  • 🔊 Good sound effects and audio design
  • 📊 Tracks win/loss statistics and match history
  • 🎮 Suitable for beginners learning backgammon

Room to improve

  • 🎲 Dice rolls appear biased toward AI opponent
  • 🤖 AI makes illogical moves and poor strategy
  • 📺 Excessive ads disrupt gameplay experience
  • ⚙️ Inconsistent game rules and mechanics
  • 🐢 Game moves slowly with required confirmations

Bugs and requests

Narde

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Dice roll #5 does not allow piece movement
  • Game refuses to allow valid moves
  • Doubles cannot be used when spaces are blocked
  • Possible movements not underlined after update
  • Rule changes for first roll (3:3, 4:4, 6:6)
Show 5 more
  • Piece placement position incorrect in some versions
  • Color contrast too neutral making game hard to see
  • Accept/Reject buttons swapped in dialogs
  • Rules link does not work
  • Game lag and performance issues

Requested features

10 requests
  • Publish dice rolling algorithm for peer review
  • Implement doubling cube in live play
  • Add difficulty levels for computer opponents
  • Display opponent statistics and skill levels
  • Persistent scoring system across sessions
Show 5 more
  • Better rule explanations and tutorials
  • Music alert when opponent joins waiting game
  • Option to change color skins/themes
  • Real player matching instead of bots
  • Improved online matchmaking system

Backgammon Now

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Game freezes and becomes unresponsive
  • App locks and prevents access to home screen
  • Stuck on ad screen with no way to close
  • Cannot connect to real players
  • Unauthorized clipboard pasting on app switch
Show 5 more
  • Incorrect piece placement and board setup
  • Cannot execute standard opening moves
  • AI takes pieces off board before collecting them all
  • Glitch allowing 16 counters in play
  • Inconsistent counter counting on takeoff board

Requested features

10 requests
  • Auto-finish option when both sides are clear
  • Ability to initiate doubling cube independently
  • Hot seat/pass-and-play multiplayer mode
  • Game save functionality for longer durations
  • Adjustable difficulty settings
Show 5 more
  • Undo button for move corrections
  • Larger board display for better visibility
  • Replay feature for past matches
  • Turn-based gameplay mode
  • Faster game progression without confirmations

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Narde

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99
3 purchases

Backgammon Now

Subscriptions1
  • BACKGAMMON NOW PREMIUM 1 MONTH$1.491 Month
One-time2
  • UNLOCK BOARDS of the WORLD$0.99
  • REMOVE ALL ADVERTS$1.99

Questions

Is Narde free?
Narde is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Backgammon Now free?
Backgammon Now is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Narde or Backgammon Now?
Backgammon Now is rated higher. Narde averages 4.2 out of 5 from 362 ratings, while Backgammon Now averages 4.4 from 346 ratings.
Do Narde or Backgammon Now have ads?
Both Narde and Backgammon Now show ads.
Which is updated more often, Narde or Backgammon Now?
Narde ships an update every 2 months, and Backgammon Now every 3 months. Most recently, Narde was updated on September 24, 2026 and Backgammon Now on September 26, 2026.

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