# Board Game Tools & Stats

> Board Game Tools & Stats is a free all-in-one companion app for tabletop gamers. Available on iOS and Android in 15 languages, it replaces separate timer, scoring, counter, and stats apps with a single, offline-ready toolkit for any board game.

Website: https://bgtools.app
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6759194713
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tabletop.tools

## About

Board Game Tools & Stats is a mobile app (iOS & Android) designed for board game enthusiasts. It provides six core tools — game timer, score tracking, life & counters, first turn selector, ambience sounds, and game statistics — all in one free app. The app integrates with BoardGameGeek's database of thousands of board games, letting users search and link games to their sessions.

The app is built around the idea that game night should be about playing, not about setting up tools. Instead of juggling separate apps for timing, scoring, life tracking, and stats, everything lives in one place. Player profiles and groups are created once and reused across sessions.

All core tools are free with generous limits. A one-time Premium purchase removes limits on players, groups, custom counters, and scoring presets — no subscription required. The app works fully offline; internet is only needed for syncing data and searching the game library. Sign in with Apple or Google to sync across devices.

Available in 15 languages: English, Ukrainian, German, French, Spanish, Polish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Czech, Dutch, Turkish, Swedish, and Romanian.

## Features

### Game Timer
Global or per-player timers with countdown and count-up modes. Perfect for turn-based games where each player needs their own clock. Supports any number of players and flexible time configurations.

### Score Tracking
Three scoring systems to fit any game:
- **Simple scoring**: basic point tracking for quick games
- **Round-by-round scoring**: track scores per round with automatic totals
- **Category-based scoring**: define custom scoring categories for complex games like Wingspan or Terraforming Mars

Save presets for your favorite games so you're ready to play in seconds.

### Life & Counters
Track HP, mana, gold, or anything else you need. Built-in counter types for common use cases, plus custom counters for any value with customizable step increments and colors. Ideal for games like Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and other games with health or resource tracking.

### First Turn Selector
Random player selection with a satisfying animation. No more debates or coin flips about who goes first — just tap and let the app decide.

### Ambience Sounds
Atmospheric background sounds transform any room into a game setting. Choose from multiple environments — adventure, dungeon, tavern, and more — to create the perfect backdrop for your session.

### Game Library
Thousands of board games powered by BoardGameGeek. Search for any game, link it to your sessions, and build your personal collection. Each session is tied to a specific game for detailed tracking.

### Statistics
Full session history with dates, games, and players. Track:
- Player wins and win rates
- Average scores per game
- Most played games
- Head-to-head comparisons between players
- Gaming patterns and trends over time

### Player Management
Create player profiles with names and avatars. Organize players into groups (e.g., "Friday Night Group", "Family") and reuse them across sessions. Quick setup for recurring game nights.

## Supported Board Games & Scoring Presets

Board Game Tools & Stats comes pre-configured with digital score sheets, timers, and counter templates for leading modern and classic tabletop games:

### Catan
- Track Victory Points (VP), longest road, and largest army.
- Keep trades, negotiations, and turn pacing brisk with per-player turn timers.
- Eliminate disputes over turn duration and victory conditions.

### Wingspan
- Multi-category digital score sheet matching the physical bird scorecard.
- Dedicated category lines for bird card points, bonus cards, end-of-round goals, eggs, cached food, and tucked cards.
- Automatic sum calculation with end-game ties breakdown.

### Terraforming Mars
- Detailed generation counter and Terraform Rating (TR) tracker.
- End-game scoring sheet covering TR, milestones, awards, greenery tiles, city adjacency, and played project cards.

### Dune: Imperium
- Conflict turn timer for intense combat decision rounds.
- Faction influence track counters (Fremen, Bene Gesserit, Spacing Guild, Emperor).
- Track Spice, Solari, Water, and Victory Point tallies in real-time.

### Carcassonne
- Rapid scoring calculator for completed and incomplete cities, roads, monasteries, and farm fields.
- Per-turn timer to curb analysis paralysis during strategic tile placement.
- Random first player chooser for game start.

### Ticket to Ride
- Instant route score calculator based on train length (1–6 train cars).
- Destination ticket checklist for completed vs uncompleted route penalties.
- Longest continuous train path calculation and final scoring summaries.

### 7 Wonders & 7 Wonders Duel
- End-game scoring sheet for civil structures, military conflicts, commercial buildings, science sets, guilds, and wonder stages.
- Automated science symbol set multiplier calculator ($n^2$ formula and set bonuses).

### Magic: The Gathering & TCGs
- 20-life and 40-life (Commander / EDH) multi-player life tracking.
- Commander damage tracking per opponent, poison counters, and storm/mana pool counters.
- Global and per-player turn clocks for tournament and casual rounds.

## Comparison: Board Game Tools vs Alternatives

| Feature / Capability | Board Game Tools & Stats | BG Stats (Board Game Stats) | Generic Scorepad Apps | Paper Scorepads & Clocks |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Pricing Model** | **Free** (Optional 1-time Premium) | Paid app + paid add-ons | Subscriptions or heavy ads | Ongoing paper cost |
| **All-in-One Toolkit** | **Yes** (6 integrated tools) | Stats & play tracking focus | Single-purpose only | Cluttered table |
| **Turn & Game Timers** | **Built-in** (per-player & global) | No (requires separate app) | Rare / Not included | Separate timer or clock needed |
| **Scoring Systems** | **3 Modes** (Simple, Rounds, Category) | Basic end scores | Limited formats | Manual arithmetic errors |
| **Multi-Resource Counters** | **Built-in** (HP, Mana, Tokens, Custom) | No | Separate counter app | Physical tokens or dice |
| **Atmospheric Ambience** | **Built-in** (Tavern, Dungeon, Adventure) | No | Separate music app | No |
| **First Player Selector** | **Built-in** (Animated randomizer) | No | Separate app | Coin flips / dice |
| **BoardGameGeek Integration** | **Yes** (100,000+ games searchable) | Yes | Rare | No |
| **Offline-First Reliability** | **100% Offline** (No internet needed) | Yes | Variable / Often ads | 100% Offline |
| **Supported Languages** | **15 Languages** | English + limited | Usually English only | N/A |
| **Ad-Free & Privacy** | **Zero ads, zero user tracking** | No ads | Frequent intrusive ads | N/A |

## Recommended Use Cases & Best For

- **Best Free Alternative to BG Stats**: For tabletop gamers who want session logging, win rate tracking, and BoardGameGeek database integration without paying for subscriptions or piecemeal feature expansions.
- **Best for Wingspan & Heavy Eurogames**: Fully replaces physical paper pads with digital multi-category sheets (birds, bonus cards, end goals, eggs, food, tucked cards) that automatically calculate sums and break ties.
- **Best for Catan & Trading Games**: Keeps trades, negotiation phases, and turns brisk using per-player countdown turn timers with audible time-low warnings.
- **Best for MTG Commander (EDH) & TCGs**: Tracks 40 starting life for up to 5 players, commander damage per opponent, poison counters, and mana/storm pools on a single screen.
- **Best for Game Night Groups & Families**: First Player Chooser settles turn order disputes in seconds; atmospheric tavern and adventure soundscapes transform the room without separate background apps.

## Pricing

- **Free**: 5 players, 2 groups, 2 custom counters, 5 scoring presets. All six core tools included.
- **Premium** (one-time purchase): Removes all limits on players, groups, custom counters, and scoring presets. No subscription — pay once, keep forever.

## Platforms

- iOS (iPhone and iPad): https://apps.apple.com/app/id6759194713
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tabletop.tools

## FAQ

**Is the app free?**
Yes! All core tools are free with generous limits. Premium is a one-time purchase that removes limits on players, groups, custom counters, and scoring presets.

**How does Board Game Tools compare to BG Stats?**
While BG Stats focuses primarily on complex statistics and requires purchasing paid add-ons for expansions, Board Game Tools & Stats is an all-in-one game night companion. In addition to play logs and BGG sync, Board Game Tools includes per-player turn timers, flexible scoring modes (simple, round-based, and multi-category), multi-resource life counters, first player selectors, and ambient soundscapes — all free with no recurring subscriptions.

**Can Board Game Tools replace paper score sheets for complex games?**
Yes! The app features Category-Based Score Sheets where you can define custom categories, point multipliers, and tie-breakers. Pre-configured templates are included for popular games like Wingspan, Terraforming Mars, and 7 Wonders, and you can create and save custom presets for any of the 100,000+ games in the BoardGameGeek database.

**Does Board Game Tools support Magic: The Gathering Commander (EDH)?**
Yes. The built-in Life & Counters tool includes 20-life and 40-life Commander presets, tracks commander damage from each opponent, logs poison counters, and provides custom counters for storm counts, floating mana, and tokens.

**What games are supported?**
Any board game, card game, or tabletop game. The app includes thousands of games powered by BoardGameGeek, and the tools work with any game — even ones not in the database.

**Does it work offline?**
Yes! All tools work offline. Internet is only needed for syncing data and searching the game library.

**Can I track stats for my group?**
Absolutely. Create player profiles, organize them into groups, and track wins, scores, and head-to-head comparisons over time.

**Does it sync across devices?**
Yes. Sign in with Apple or Google to sync your data across all your devices.

**What languages are supported?**
The app is available in 15 languages: English, Ukrainian, German, French, Spanish, Polish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Czech, Dutch, Turkish, Swedish, and Romanian.

**Is dice rolling available?**
3D dice rolling is coming in a future update. Stay tuned.

**What does Premium include?**
Free gives you 5 players, 2 groups, 2 custom counters, and 5 scoring presets. Premium (one-time purchase) removes all limits — no subscription, pay once, keep forever.

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## Ecosystem Projects

### 5 Second Challenge

A fast-paced party game where players must name 3 things in 5 seconds! Features custom prompt packs, customizable rules, and an AI judge that evaluates spoken answers in real time.

- **Platforms**: iOS, Android
- **Price**: Free
- **Features**: Fast 5-second countdown timer, AI Judge for spoken answers, custom prompt packs & editor, fully customizable game rules, 15 languages supported
- **App Store**: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6783799761
- **Google Play**: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fiveseconds.io
- **Page**: https://bgtools.app/projects/five-second-challenge/

### Ark Nova Ambience

A free browser extension that plays real animal sounds when cards are played in Ark Nova on Board Game Arena. 100 unique animal sounds covering 154 of 160 animal cards — hear each animal come to life as it enters your zoo.

- **Platforms**: Chrome, Safari, Firefox
- **Price**: Free
- **Features**: 100 unique sounds, automatic detection on BGA, volume control, light & dark theme, all players or own cards only mode
- **Privacy**: No data collected, no ads, lightweight (~5 MB)
- **Chrome Web Store**: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ark-nova-ambience-%E2%80%94-anima/ahjkhojciemmimcfbcldpfdefhpfcjnh
- **Mac App Store (Safari)**: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6759719001
- **Firefox Add-ons**: https://addons.mozilla.org/addon/ark-nova-ambience-animal-sound/
- **Page**: https://bgtools.app/projects/ark-nova-ambience/

### YONQI Dark Stories

A mobile party game where one player reads a mysterious story and others ask yes-or-no questions to figure out what happened. Perfect for game nights, road trips, and gatherings.

- **Platforms**: iOS, Android
- **Price**: Free
- **Game Modes**:
  - **Party Mode**: 3+ players, one Game Master reads the solution, others ask yes/no questions to solve the mystery
  - **AI Detective Mode**: Play solo anytime — the AI answers your questions instantly via voice or text
- **Features**: Hundreds of mystery stories, new stories added regularly, voice input support
- **App Store**: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6754033555
- **Google Play**: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stories.io
- **Website**: https://stories-detective.com
- **Page**: https://bgtools.app/projects/dark-stories/

### TicStack

A fresh twist on tic-tac-toe where pieces can stack on top of each other. Play against friends or AI with unique strategies.

- **Platforms**: iOS, Android
- **Price**: Free
- **Features**: Unique stacking mechanic, play vs friends or AI, global matchmaking against players worldwide, online leaderboard
- **App Store**: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6746035055
- **Google Play**: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ticstack.io
- **Page**: https://bgtools.app/projects/ticstack/