# HardBack vs Morels

The clearest difference is rating: Morels at 4.9 against HardBack's 3.8. Morels also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 54%) and ratings volume (485 vs 39). HardBack's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#64 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

HardBack costs $4.99 and Morels $4.99 up front. Morels sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. HardBack asks for nothing beyond the download.

Morels holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Morels has 485 ratings behind it against 39, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of HardBack's written reviews are positive against 90% of Morels's.

HardBack ships an update every 2 weeks, Morels fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HardBack | Morels |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | $4.99 |
| Rating | [3.8 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardback/id1377791842/reviews) | **[4.9 (485 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/morels/id1396126409/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 39 | **485** |
| Positive reviews | 53.7% of reviews | **89.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#64** | — |
| Size | 281 MB | 128 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fowers Games Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1131388980) | [MOSSBARK GAMES LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1396126408) |

## What reviewers say

### HardBack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardback/id1377791842)

**Currently charting:** #64 Top Paid · Card, #78 Top Paid · Board (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Deck-building with letter cards, Genre specialization for bonuses, Push-your-luck card drawing, Hotseat and online multiplayer, AI opponents, Hardcore mode with no word repeats

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Morels

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/morels/id1396126409)

This is a digital adaptation of a beloved card game where players forage for delicious mushrooms in a dappled forest. Compete against others or AI, cook your finds, and strategically collect varieties to win. Includes an expansion with new cards and gameplay elements.

**Highlights:** Digital adaptation of a strategy card game, Online asynchronous 2-player games, Local pass & play mode, Solo play against AI, Game modifiers for varied gameplay, Interactive tutorial, In-app rulebook

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Foray | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast paced gameplay
- 👍 Relaxing and enjoyable experience
- 🎨 Beautiful art and music
- 💡 Great implementation of physical game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches with certain features
- ⏱️ Slow online gameplay and turn-taking
- 🔍 Unclear or missing tutorials for expansions
- 📱 UI issues on newer devices

**Reported bugs**

- Foray cards not functioning properly
- Destroying Angel card causing game to get stuck
- Shiitake log not always creating bonus
- Butter and cider extras not working together

**Requested features**

- Online synchronous 2-player mode
- In-game messaging for online play
- Faster end-game scoring
- More player accounts and leaderboards


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HardBack free?

HardBack costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Morels free?

Morels costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, HardBack or Morels?

Morels is rated higher. HardBack averages 3.8 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while Morels averages 4.9 from 485 ratings.

### Do HardBack or Morels have ads?

Neither HardBack nor Morels shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HardBack or Morels?

HardBack ships an update every 2 weeks, and Morels fortnightly. Most recently, HardBack was updated on September 29, 2026 and Morels on September 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*