$4.99

Details

Released
August 3, 2018
Updated
August 4, 2022

Features

HardBack video #1 for iPhone
HardBack screenshot #2 for iPhone
HardBack screenshot #3 for iPhone
HardBack screenshot #4 for iPhone
HardBack screenshot #5 for iPhone
iphone
ipad
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About

Build a deck of letters to craft words and earn prestige in this unique word game. Specialize in genres, push your luck for extra cards, and race to become a celebrated 19th-century novelist. Challenge AI opponents or play with friends.

โœ“Deck-building with letter cards
โœ“Genre specialization for bonuses
โœ“Push-your-luck card drawing
โœ“Hotseat and online multiplayer
โœ“AI opponents
โœ“Hardcore mode with no word repeats
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What users say about HardBack

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What's New in HardBack

1.22

August 4, 2022

-Updates to online play -Online play moved to a new server

User reviews

App keeps crashing

The game is great, but every so often, it just stops working for online games.

Poor dictionary, annoying UI

The dictionary is missing common words, which is a cardinal sin for game of this type. A number of cards involve choices (e.g. 1 coin or one VP), and the UI needs a cumbersome number of clicks to navigate this. Just give us a coin-VP slider and a ink-vs-remover slider!

Hardback is great!

Hardback faithfully represents the board game. I haven't played with any of the optional additional mechanics, but a few comments for the developers:

1. You can quit on your turn, and some times you'll get a different hand of cards. This seems like a remediable cheating angle

2. You *have* to quit fairly frequently, because the game will get into a state where it won't accept taps, which is annoying.

3. I'm not a huge fan of how easy it is to accidentally move letters in your word into your letters you're not using. This wouldn't be a big deal if you didn't need to drag things so much, but I'd prefer a swipe-down or something to single tap dismissing a letter

4. It would be really nice if the keyboard worked, so if I typed letters, they'd just move from my list of letters up to the word (and keyboard shortcuts for pressing your luck would be nice, too)
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Great game!

This is one of my favorite deck-building games. German localization would be great!

Multiplayer is broken

The game itself is enjoyable but as others have said the online multiplayer is unusable since I cannot add new friends on the new server. The developer has not yet responded to my support requests. Iโ€™d hold off on any purchase until this is resolved.

Developer apps

User experience

๐Ÿž

Reported Bugs

38 issues

App keeps crashing during online games

Bug

Game gets into a state where it won't accept taps

Bug

Accidentally moving letters

Bug

HTTP errors

Bug

Black ink store is hidden on extended screens

Bug

App is tiny, painful to use, needs zoom

Bug

Backgrounds instantly on launch

Bug

Bombs out on older iOS versions

Bug

AI opponent freezes and app crashes

Bug

Locks up after inspecting offer row

Bug

New invites not showing up

Bug

Passwords not working

Bug

Cannot reset password

Bug

App refuses to let you create a new account with email

Bug

Online system down, cannot log in

Bug

Crashes even on high-end devices

Bug

Cannot look at online games between turns

Bug

Bug with Romance cards doubling effect

Bug

Game locks up intermittently after inspecting offer row cards

Bug

AI player scores unusually high on first turn

Bug

Online multiplayer is unusable, cannot add new friends

Bug

Lost all friends and open games, cannot add them back

Bug

UI feels clunky, especially async online play

Bug

Canโ€™t log in or reset password

Bug

Glitch that eventually disallows playing online

Bug

Technical support does not address issues

Bug

Locks you out of account, says incorrect password

Bug

Reset password gets stuck

Bug

AI player (hard) scores .06 cents on first turn

Bug

Dictionary doesn't accept standard words

Bug

Broken on iPhone 11 Pro, display fails to adjust

Bug

App is tiny, painful to use, needs zoom

Bug

AI opponent hangs during AI's turn

Bug

Freezes sometimes

Bug

Bombs out on IOS 9.3.5

Bug

Bug: If I had two Romance cards with the doubling effect it wouldnโ€™t let me use it with both cards.

Bug

On the iPhone it loses track of ink and has scoring glitches.

Bug

On the iPad it occasionally freezes.

Bug
โœจ

Requested Features

16 requests

German localization

Feature

Coin-VP slider and ink-remover slider

Feature

Swipe-down to dismiss letter

Feature

Keyboard support for typing letters

Feature

Keyboard shortcuts for pressing your luck

Feature

Statistics for local scores

Feature

Leaderboard function

Feature

Zoom and pan around the board

Feature

Sound notifications

Feature

See board even if not their turn (like Carcassonne)

Feature

Bar along the bottom for player score and ink counts

Feature

More defined and identifiable buttons

Feature

Ability to stay in game and play with letters while waiting for turn

Feature

Better tutorial explanation of abilities

Feature

Dark mode option

Feature

Option to adjust victory point goal for game length

Feature

FAQ

What is HardBack?

HardBack is a deck-building word game where players act as aspiring 19th-century novelists. You build a deck of letter cards, use them to form words, and earn prestige points to win. The game involves strategic deck specialization and a push-your-luck mechanic for drawing extra cards.

How do you win HardBack?

The primary objective in HardBack is to be the first player to reach 60 fame points. You earn these points by forming words with your letter cards. Additionally, players can compete for coveted award cards and utilize genre bonuses to gain advantages.

What are the key gameplay mechanics?

Key mechanics include building a deck of letter cards, each with potential powers, and using them to spell words. The 'Ink' system allows players to push their luck for more cards. Matching genre colors on cards grants bonus abilities, and 'Timeless Classic' cards remain in play until used.

Can I play HardBack with others?

Yes, HardBack supports both 1-5 player hotseat (local multiplayer on the same device) and online asynchronous play. You can also challenge three levels of computer opponents if you prefer to play solo.

Is HardBack free to play?

Based on the provided information, HardBack is a free application. There are no mentions of in-app purchases or advertisements, suggesting it is entirely free to download and play.