Ban-sugoroku

Discover Ban-sugoroku, a historic Japanese board game from the same broad family of games as modern backgammon.

Once played in Japan for centuries, Ban-sugoroku survives today through historical research, museum collections, reconstructions, enthusiasts, and appearances in period dramas and anime.

This app lets you experience several ways Ban-sugoroku has been played and reconstructed.

Features:

• Hon-sugoroku
The classic form. Capture opposing pieces, return captured pieces to play, and bring all of your pieces into your home area.

• Yanagi
A pure race with no direct interaction between opposing pieces.

• Oimawashi – 6 Pieces
Roll two dice and advance the rearmost piece whenever a 1 or 6 appears. Capture all opposing pieces to win.

• Oimawashi – 11 Pieces
A larger version of Oimawashi with eleven pieces per player.

• Yamato Reconstruction 1 & 2
Historical sources leave some details of Yamato uncertain. Rather than presenting one interpretation as definitive, this app includes two reconstructed starting arrangements so you can compare them for yourself.

• Four CPU difficulty levels
Easy, Normal, Hard, and Expert.

• Three ways to play
Play against the computer, pass the device between two players, or place the device between you for Face-to-Face play.

• Historical board designs
Choose from several boards and backgrounds, including designs inspired by historical Japanese game boards.

• Beginner-friendly guidance
Tap the lightbulb during a game for hints, or open How to Play for detailed rules.

• English and Japanese
Switch languages at any time.

Ban-sugoroku is not simply “Japanese backgammon.” The games share historical roots and similar board-game traditions, but developed different rules and styles of play over time.

History does not always leave us one clear answer. Where historical sources differ, this app tries to make those differences visible — and playable.

Try all features during the free trial, then unlock the full version with a one-time purchase.