Backgammon - Lord of the Board
- August 31, 2016
- Beach Bum Ltd.
- 3h median play time
Backgammon - Lord of the Board is a strategy game with outstanding mechanics, stunning graphics, and plenty of humor. However, it is plagued by numerous bugs and features too many ads. The game allows you to play classic Backgammon online and compete with leading players worldwide. Despite its flaws, it provides an engaging and visually impressive Backgammon experience.
Reviews
- monetization762 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized for its excessive use of ads, with players reporting having to close between 5 to 10 ads every time they open the app or finish a game. Many users feel that the game is designed to push in-app purchases aggressively, often leading to a frustrating experience where gameplay is overshadowed by constant advertisements. Additionally, there are concerns about the fairness of the game, with players suggesting that those who spend money have a significant advantage in gameplay outcomes.
“It's hard to get ahead with money without in-game purchases.”
“In-app purchases are very expensive, though, for a free game.”
“Too much promotions and in-game purchase offers, I want just to play online.”
“Very annoying advertisements, sometimes you need to close seven or even more ads before you can play.”
“Don't bother downloading this game that is full of ads and is trying very hard to get you to spend money on a game that favors people that spend money.”
“The amount of ads is unbearable.”
- graphics257 mentions
- 79 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised, with many users highlighting their quality, smoothness, and vibrant design. While the visuals are often described as some of the best in backgammon games, several reviews note that the gameplay experience is marred by issues such as rigged mechanics and excessive advertisements. Overall, the graphics stand out as a strong point, but they are frequently overshadowed by gameplay frustrations.
“I love the graphics and getting to play with people from all around the world.”
“Great graphics one of the best ones for this classic board game.”
“The graphics are bright and give lots of variety for board and tile play.”
“Poor graphics and uninspired design fail to capture the essence of this classic board game.”
“I was trapped by horrible visuals into forfeiting five successive games on those impossibly colored and lacking visibility boards and had to stop playing.”
“Do not like what you did with this game... graphics stink.”
- gameplay93 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as smooth and enjoyable, with many players appreciating the graphics and overall design. However, there are significant concerns about the fairness of the mechanics, with accusations of rigged outcomes, reliance on in-app purchases, and the presence of bots affecting the experience. While some users find the gameplay engaging, others express frustration over the perceived randomness and imbalance, leading to a mixed reception overall.
“Pros: good smooth gameplay.”
“Gameplay is good; can play for hours.”
“Great gameplay, smooth gameplay, nice UI.”
“Main gameplay: 80% wins for 2 days after spending $$, then 30% for 2 days.”
“The game mechanics are set up to make sure you spend real money.”
“After enough gameplay, I noticed a pattern in the game design, which is meant to make you lose so that you can buy more virtual money with real money.”
- stability84 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 85 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent freezes, glitches, and unexpected crashes that lead to lost progress and in-game currency. While some players have experienced smooth gameplay without issues, the overwhelming feedback highlights a frustrating trend of instability that detracts from the overall experience. Users express dissatisfaction with the game's reliability, often leading to uninstalls and a loss of trust in the app's integrity.
“Excellent game with no glitches.”
“Challenging, fun, program runs great.”
“No glitches or freezing up.”
“Also, sometimes the app freezes and you can't make your move no matter what, so you have to abandon the game.”
“The game has become extremely buggy.”
“Unfortunately, this app is not the way it used to be; it freezes constantly, you lose the game while you're winning, and there's a lot of lagging.”
- humor67 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as unintentional, stemming from players' frustrations with perceived rigging and predictable outcomes, leading to a mix of laughter and disbelief. Many users find the game's mechanics, particularly the dice rolls and bonus card completions, to be so absurdly skewed that it becomes comical, despite their dissatisfaction. Overall, while some players appreciate the humor in the game's flaws, the consensus leans towards a negative experience due to the feeling of being cheated.
“I find it funny that when I'm having a winning streak and have over 30,000 coins, all of a sudden I lose every round.”
“It's hilarious, my mates have tried on my phone and no one can win.”
“This game is hilariously rigged.”
“It's so rigged it's not funny!!!”
“The game is so rigged it's not funny.”
“This game is so rigged it's not funny ....”
- story18 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for being heavily focused on monetization, with players feeling that the gameplay is often overshadowed by issues like glitches and unfair mechanics. While some users enjoy the various quests and challenges, many express frustration over the lack of fairness in outcomes and the cumbersome nature of mission requirements. Overall, the narrative seems to revolve around a frustrating experience with a monetized system rather than a compelling storyline.
“The various quests are fun though.”
“I've been playing this for a little over a year now and I just took notice I had no issues. Other than that, it's a great game; I'm at 6 billion coins.”
“The story is that you buy tokens for playing.”
“The guy who created the game is a 'monetization guru', which tells the whole story.”
“Absolute garbage... the computer picks the winner, and it does not matter how good you play; if the computer chose the other guy, it's over for you... end of story.”
- music14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users expressing frustration over recent updates that prevent background music and audiobook playback while playing. Critics have noted that the game's music feels repetitive and unoriginal, often comparing it unfavorably to other games like "Game of War." Some players enjoy the background music but are calling for new tracks or the return of previously enjoyed music.
“I love the music in the background.”
“Or bring back the music.”
“Or get new music.”
“The new update in December 2022 cuts sounds from other apps; I can no longer listen to music or audiobooks while playing the game.”
“The sound and music are cloned from 'Game of War' and all other pay-to-win games, as are the promos!”
“The last update prevents YouTube music from running in the background.”
- optimization9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it runs smoothly for many users with a good internet connection, there are concerns regarding compatibility with the latest smartphone aspect ratios and potential issues with RNG affecting performance.
“I love backgammon, and as long as you have a good internet connection, I have found that everything runs smoothly.”
“Good quality and performance.”
“Great app, runs smoothly, many competitors.”
“Good game, but not optimized for the current aspect ratios of the latest smartphones.”
“If they truly use an RNG, the optimization is horrible and biased.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often requiring excessive time to collect coins for events, only to face issues like cheating from other players. The gameplay itself is functional, but the repetitive nature of grinding through levels and collecting items detracts from the overall experience.
“After playing this game for about a year, it has become somewhat tedious to deal with its obvious faults.”
“I spent all day grinding to get enough coins to do an event, and a player named Halil took all my coins by cheating.”
“Gameplay works fine, but you have to make your way through a number of 'levels,' which is pretty tedious.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for being enjoyable and inviting, contributing to an easy and accessible gameplay experience.
“The atmosphere is immersive and captivating, making it easy to lose track of time.”
“The game's atmosphere is beautifully crafted, drawing players into its world.”
“The ambiance is rich and engaging, enhancing the overall gaming experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express that the emotional experience of playing this backgammon app is largely negative, with feelings of frustration and disappointment overshadowing their enjoyment of the game.