Carrom 3D

Play carrom on your mobile device

Carrom is a cue sport and tabletop game that originated from South Asia. Wildly popular in countries from that area such as India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and more, carrom can be described as a unique mix between billiards and checkers. However, it can be a bit difficult to set it up in real life because you’re going to need some special equipment such as plywood and the carrom men made of wood or plastic. Fortunately, there are apps for people who want to play carrom on the go. Carrom 3D is a simulated board game developed by Zagmoid, and with it, users will be able to play carrom anytime, anywhere.

What is Carrom?

Carrom is similar to billiards as your objective to win the game is to use a cue striker to strike your disks, or carrom men, and propel them to one of the pockets at the edge of the board. The difference between carrom and billiards is, aside from the fact that players use disks instead of balls, is the fact that each player has their own set of carrom men. In order to win, the player must be the first to pocket all of their disks. A player gets an extra turn whenever they successfully pocket one of their carrom men. There are other special rules like pocketing queens, fouls, and more, but the instruction above is pretty much the gist of the game.

Can 3 people play carrom?

Yes, 3 people can play carrom, but it requires a different setup and rules compared to the standard game for 2 or 4 players. Here's how it works:

Setup:

1. Arrange the carrom men on the center circle of the carrom board as usual, with the red queen in the middle
2. Each player chooses a side of the board to play from, leaving one side unoccupied
3. The striker is placed in the center circle

Gameplay:

• Players take turns striking the striker with their finger
• The goal is to pocket your own colored carrom men (usually 9 each) and the red queen
• If a player pockets a carrom man of the opponent, they receive an additional turn
• Pocketing the red queen requires a player to have already pocketed at least one of their own carrom men
• The first player to pocket all their carrom men and the red queen wins the game

Additional Rules:

• Some variations of 3-player carrom allow players to hit the carrom men of the unoccupied side, gaining an extra turn if they pocket one
• Others may implement a scoring system where points are awarded for pocketing carrom men and the red queen

Playing with 3 players can be challenging and require more strategic thinking, as you need to be mindful of not only your own moves but also the potential moves of your two opponents.

Which country does carrom originate from?

Evidence suggests its origins lie in the Indian Subcontinent, with the earliest records of a similar game found in 18th century India. Carrom boards made of glass have been discovered in palaces in Patiala, India, further supporting its Indian origin.

Carrom as a Mobile App

Carrom 3D by Zagmoid functions perfectly well as a mobile version of carrom. The physics and animation of the game are incredibly well-done and it feels like you are playing with a real-life Carrom board. One great thing about this app is the fact that it displays the trajectory of your cue so it’s much easier to predict where your carrom man is going end up. With this feature, you will be able to plan and strategize more accurately. 

The interface and controls of Carrom 3D are intuitive and easy to grasp. The screen itself doesn’t have any unnecessary embellishments. The controls are pretty much just drag-and-release. Some may find that to be too simple, but it serves its purpose well even without any added distractions.

3D board moves a lot

The 3D board implementation seems to be a double-edged sword. While it adds a sense of depth to the gameplay, you may experience unwanted board movement during play, especially when aiming the striker. This issue disrupts the flow of the game and can be frustrating for players. An option to lock the board in place, particularly in top-view mode, is a highly requested feature.

Is it an AI or a carrom champion?

The game offers various difficulty levels, it is safe to say that there are inconsistencies in AI performance. The intermediate mode seems too easy, with the computer taking unnecessary risks. Conversely, the expert mode is described as frustratingly difficult, with the AI displaying an almost unbeatable level of accuracy. This imbalance makes it challenging to find a suitable challenge level for players of varying skill levels.

From Tabletop to Video Game

Turning tabletop games to video games always come with complex problems and downsides, but you wouldn’t think that when playing Carrom 3D. It may not be as polished or decorative as other tabletop turned to video games, but it gets the job done with its functionality and simplicity.

This carrom game boasts promising gameplay mechanics and intuitive controls. However, the lack of visual appeal, recurring ads in the paid version, and inconsistent AI difficulty hold it back from reaching its full potential. With some improvements to the interface, ad management, and AI balancing, this game has the potential to become a favorite among carrom lovers.