Item: Kifu Cam
Rating: 78
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

78/100

Kifu Cam is a specialized utility that feels like magic when it works. For Go (Weiqi/Baduk) players, the chore of manually recording a physical game into a digital SGF file is a major hurdle to improvement. Kifu Cam solves this by using AI to 'see' the board and stones through your camera. The integration of KataGo for win-probability and move suggestions transforms your physical board into a smart-board instantly.

However, it isn't without its quirks. Lighting is the app's biggest enemy; glare on the stones can lead to misreads, and it occasionally struggles with boards that aren't the standard 19x19 size. Despite these technical hurdles, for serious students of the game who want to analyze their club matches using modern AI tools, this is an indispensable, time-saving resource.

Reviewed on: Wed Feb 25 2026

Dinsun Review

Dinsun here. I appreciate a tool that serves a specific purpose, and Kifu Cam is as niche as it gets. For a Go player, being able to snap a photo and have the moves recorded is like magic. When it works, it’s a massive time-saver.

However, 'when it works' is the operative phrase. It is incredibly finicky. If your lighting isn't studio-perfect or if your board has a slight glare, it misreads the stones. I spent almost as much time correcting the digital board as I would have recording it manually. It’s a 10/10 idea with 5/10 execution. Hard to score this as a 'game,' but as a utility, it needs more robust computer vision.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Automates the tedious task of recording Go games
Saves in standard SGF format
Clean, no-nonsense interface

Highly sensitive to lighting conditions
Frequent misidentification of stones
Steep learning curve for camera positioning

Technical Report

Performance: Heavy battery usage during camera operations; image processing can be slow on older devices.

Accessibility:

High Contrast Mode
Voice Feedback for stone placement

Audience Fit

Buy if: You play physical Go matches and want a way to digitize them quickly.

Skip if: You don't play Go, or you expect 100% accuracy in all lighting environments.

Similar Games:

SmartGo Kifu
Baduk Cap

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, board game traditionalist
Hardware: iPhone 13 mini
Playtime: 5 hours
Status: Digitized 10 physical matches

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

1343303689

$3.99 4+★2 2 reviews

Author : Andreas Hauenstein

Pubish Date : Sun Feb 04 2018

Last Update Date : Tue Jul 29 2025

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 5.2Tue Jul 29 2025

Stability and accuracy improvements.
Use your iphone to take a picture of a Go board or online client and find your winning probability and the next move with KataGo.
Estimate the score at any time.
You can export the game position to any app.
If you do not own a Go set, buy one.
It's fun to watch the app do its thing even if you don't know the rules.
You can also take a picture of a computer screen with a Go board on it.
Requires iOS 13.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Use your iphone to take a picture of a Go board or online client and find your winning probability and the next move with KataGo.
Estimate the score at any time.
You can export the game position to any app.
If you do not own a Go set, buy one.
It's fun to watch the app do its thing even if you don't know the rules.
You can also take a picture of a computer screen with a Go board on it.

Ratings & Reviews

2 out of 5 with 2 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Kifu Cam is an essential utility for players of the board game Go. Using advanced computer vision, the app identifies stones on a physical board and converts the position into a digital format. It features KataGo integration to provide real-time score estimation and 'next move' suggestions, allowing players to analyze their live games with professional-level AI insights.