Framed doubling-cube panel with umber cube faces and dice pip hints.
Doubling-cube panel used across this install guide for the Releases zip path. Point Quill original doubling-cube geometry for this install guide (not a gnubg or Cute Gammon product logo).

People searching for a desk backgammon install often skip the unzip step and wonder why a lone exe fails. This Unity client ships as windows_build.zip on Final-Release. Document extract every time.

Download only from Releases

Type the GitHub Releases URL yourself. Skip Softonic-style mirrors that rename the zip. Asset name on the reviewed tag: windows_build.zip (~24 MB).

Inventory after unzip

You should see at least:

  • windows_build/build.exe
  • windows_build/build_Data/
  • windows_build/UnityPlayer.dll
  • windows_build/MonoBleedingEdge/
  • windows_build/UnityCrashHandler64.exe

If build_Data is missing, extract again from the same zip. Do not fetch a second “data pack” from a random site.

Launch with the correct working directory

Double-click build.exe inside windows_build, or start it from PowerShell after cd into that folder. Isolating the exe on the Desktop breaks the Unity layout.

Keep soft parks parked

No winget or Homebrew id was verified for this OSS. macOS and Linux use their own Final-Release zips, not package managers invented here. gnubg remains a different product—never present it as this download.

Club lab checklist

  1. Ticket names Final-Release and windows_build.zip.
  2. Photo of folder inventory after extract.
  3. One proven launch before students arrive.
  4. Releases bookmark for updates.

Windows install: /install-backgammon-windows. Releases: /backgammon-releases. Download safe: /backgammon-download-safe. Portable folder: /backgammon-portable-folder.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the exe inside the zip?

After extract you should see windows_build/build.exe beside build_Data/, UnityPlayer.dll, and MonoBleedingEdge/. There is no naked exe download URL on Final-Release. Keep windows_build.zip from GitHub Releases as the only Windows download door for this client path.

Can I move only build.exe to another folder?

No. Unity needs the Data folder and player DLLs beside the exe. Copy the whole windows_build folder if you relocate. Keep windows_build.zip from GitHub Releases as the only Windows download door for this client path.

What about macOS and Linux?

macos_build.zip extracts to mac_build/build.app. linux_build.zip extracts to linux_build/build.x86_64 beside build_Data. Soft parks stay parked for winget and brew. Keep Final-Release as the only download door for this Unity client.

Is there a winget id?

No winget package id was found for qawse3dr/Backgammon on the review date. Do not invent one. Keep windows_build.zip from GitHub Releases as the only Windows download door for this client path.