We stand with Ukraine to help keep people safe. Join us
All Apps
Best AppsReviewsComparisonsHow-To
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

Goban for Mac

Play the classic game of Go.

$9.99
In English
Version 4.10
4.7
Based on 6 user rates

Goban overview

Use Goban to play the game of go against the program. Play with people on the Internet go servers or your local network. Observe live pro and amateur games on IGS, the Internet Go Server. Review and analyze games. Browse through joseki or fuseki libraries. Goban is a powerful, simple, fast, and elegant go board for Mac.

To play go against your computer, against an opponent on your local network, or to automatically score games you need to download and install this free package. It contains GNU Go, a go playing program, and NNGS, a go server software. Both are released under the Free Software Foundation’s GPL license and therefore could not be directly bundled with Goban on the App Store.

Additional designs for the stones are available. In order to use them, create a folder named Goban in your Library folder, create a folder named Stones in the Goban folder you just created, and copy the content of this package in the Stones folder.

What’s new in version 4.10

Version 4.10:
  • This version adopts Big Sur look for toolbars and also fixes problems saving games, editing toolbars and koma setting.

Goban for Mac

$9.99
In English
Version 4.10

What users say about Goban

Try our new feature and write a detailed review about Goban

Write your thoughts in our old-fashioned comment

MacUpdate Comment Policy. We strongly recommend leaving comments, however comments with abusive words, bullying, personal attacks of any type will be moderated.
4.7

(15 Reviews of Goban)

  • Comments

  • User Ratings

Inkwolf
Inkwolf
Aug 6 2012
3.2.12
4.0
Aug 6 2012
4.0
Version: 3.2.12
I've been using this program for quite a while, almost daily, and have been very happy with it. I have only used it to play against the computer, as I use KGS's client software when playing on the server. The only reason I have not given it a full 5 stars is that it could use some updating and minor feature adds/fixes. It comes with Gnu Go 3.7 built in, but Gnu Go is now up to 3.9. I have not attempted to download 3.9 and use it as an alternate player, to be fair, but my attempts to do the same with other Go game engines have all failed. Goban is fabulously easy to use as a game, or as a bare-bones SGF viewer. SGF files with alternate paths and on-the-board notations don't work quite so well. It would be nice if the SGF editing features were easier to use. (Attempting to use them at all is one of the few things that glitches the program up!) There are some features--such as using a timer--which apparently can't be activated at all. (I assume the clock only works for network play?) And a little documentation would have been dearly appreciated for these more obscure features. But it's free, so those are only observations, not complaints! For the price, this is a super-sweet little program which will let you enjoy a game against the computer (until you are about 10 kyu or so, at which point you ought to be able to kick Gnu Go 3.7's butt regularly) and give you access to view all those downloadable professional game files, and your own online game SGFs, with ease. Thanks so much for the program!
Poikkeus
Poikkeus
Jan 3 2011
3.2.12
5.0
Jan 3 2011
5.0
Version: 3.2.12
Go is a challenging board game, but rendering it for the Mac a total success. Clear, precise visuals and audio are complemented by a game that's quite difficult for beginning or intermediate players. The only thing you'd need is a "coach" option - if only to find a way to improve your Go skills. Outstanding.
Mikuro
Mikuro
Aug 30 2006
3.2.12
5.0
Aug 30 2006
5.0
Version: 3.2.12
Great program. Definitely the best IGS (Internet Go Server) client available. Plus, it has GnuGo integrated, so you can play against the computer (which is great for beginners). The graphics are beautiful. Goban is by far the nicest-looking Go program I've seen on any platform. Very smooth and very subtle, like a real Go set. However, this is actually not the Go program I use most. I prefer to play on KGS (Kiseido Go Server), which can only be done with the official KGS client (called CGoban). You can check out KGS at http://kgs.kiseido.com . I find the KGS server to much more friendly than IGS. It's especially good for beginners, or anyone of any level who wants to learn (or teach). Bottom line: Goban is great. KGS is also great.
Guest
Guest
Oct 29 2005
3.2.9
0.0
Oct 29 2005
0.0
Version: 3.2.9
disk image is mounting but the program does not start G4 os X2.8
Guest
Guest
Jun 3 2005
3.2.6
5.0
Jun 3 2005
5.0
Version: 3.2.6
Disk image doesn't work.
Inkwolf
Inkwolf
Aug 6 2012
4.0
Aug 6 2012
4.0
Version: null
Poikkeus
Poikkeus
Jan 3 2011
5.0
Jan 3 2011
5.0
Version: null
Mikuro
Mikuro
Aug 30 2006
5.0
Aug 30 2006
5.0
Version: null
Guest
Guest
Dec 7 2004
5.0
Dec 7 2004
5.0
Version: null
Nutrimentia
Nutrimentia
Nov 16 2003
4.8
Nov 16 2003
4.8
Version: null
luis-3
luis-3
May 16 2003
4.3
May 16 2003
4.3
Version: null