Return to Dark Tower Assistant vs Tabletop Codex
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Return to Dark Tower Assistant
This app helps manage your "Return to Dark Tower" board game experience by tracking phases, actions, and hero board elements. It calculates advantages and supports various expansions and heroes.
- Phase tracking
- Hero board management
- Action display
- Advantages calculator
- Expansion support
- Multiple hero support
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The all-in-one assistant for the "Return to Dark Tower" board game that tracks your phases, actions, cards, and Advantages. - Keep track of phases; never forget if you've already reinforced or cleansed this turn - Recreate your hero board including virtues, corruptions, treasures, companions, potions, gear, quest items, spells, and invocations - View the effects from your cards when they apply, such as "After you Cleanse, remove 1 skull from any building" if you have the Generous virtue - Advantages Calculator: choose your foe, select the effects that apply, and easily see how many Advantages you have - Quickly search for cards by name and add them to your hero board - Support for 1–4 players; check other hero boards and trade cards during your turn - Includes support for the Alliances Expansion and its Guild mechanic, with guild ranks available from any hero board, as well as the Archwright and Haunted Recluse heroes - Also includes support for the Covenant Expansion with its treasure, corruption, spell, and invocation cards, along with the Undaunted Aegis, Relentless Warden, Devious Swindler, and Reverent Astromancer heroes - All heroes can be used with either the base game or the expansions - Advanced "Disable Phase Tracker" mode allows you to just update your hero boards and use the Advantages Calculator without tracking individual game phases Designed to keep everything close at hand whilst you play, whether you're using an iPhone or an iPad. On iPad, run the assistant in a Slide Over window on top of the "Return to Dark Tower" app for easy access, or use it in full screen. Includes support for iPhone Duo, with a layout designed for its compact closed display. You can also stand it in tent mode to keep your current phase and card effects in view on the table whilst you play. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Restoration Games or the "Return to Dark Tower" board game. Built by Ben Dodson, an independent app developer. If you run into any problems or have any suggestions for improvements, then let me know via support@bendodson.com
Tabletop Codex
Access and master tabletop game rules with meticulously crafted summaries. Learn and play faster with clear, organized, and searchable rulebooks, including visual references and game insights. Offers a free selection of rulebooks with options to purchase individually or subscribe for full access.
- Comprehensive game rule summaries
- Organized and searchable library
- Visual references and icons
- Logical rule layout
- Smart search functionality
- Game insights and reviews
- Light/dark mode customization
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It’s never been easier to learn and master your favorite tabletop games! Tabletop Codex is your essential tool for reading and referencing game rules, featuring meticulously crafted summaries by The Esoteric Order of Gamers. Learn and play games faster, never make a mistake, and and never get stuck looking for that crucial rule again. Since 2004, The Esoteric Order of Gamers has curated the largest collection of game rules summaries and reference sheets worldwide. Complex rulebooks are condensed into clear, succinct summaries that retain every crucial detail. Finally, this expertise is available in a portable, searchable app designed for ease of use. Unlike other tabletop game rulebook apps, Tabletop Codex utilizes bespoke summaries optimized specifically for this platform. Each game's rules are reorganized into logical and consistent formats, transforming chaotic manuals into digestible sections that enhance learning and gameplay clarity. Key Features: • Comprehensive Game Coverage: Over 200 popular board, card, and tabletop miniatures games at launch, with new games added all the time. • Organized and Searchable: Easily find games using the intuitive visual or text FIND section, then favourite your chosen games to move them to the LIBRARY tab. • Visual References: Game rules include essential icons and images directly from the game. Tap icons to view full-screen images for enhanced clarity. • Logical Layout: Rules are divided into clear sections and subsections, ensuring effortless navigation and quick reference during gameplay. • Smart Search: Instantly locate specific rules with our innovative search mode, pinpointing exact sections where your search term appears. • Game Insights: Each rulebook includes a box image, game basics, and a concise review by Esoteric Order of Gamers creator, Peter Gifford. • Customizable Interface: Switch between light and dark modes with a tap. On iPad, utilize fullscreen mode for an optimized viewing experience. • Device Compatibility: Supports portrait mode on iPhone and both portrait and landscape modes on iPad, with added functionality for even easier navigation on the iPad. • Free Access to 5 Rulebooks! Start your gaming journey with 5 complimentary rulebooks included when you download the app. Each rulebook provides essential game summaries to enhance your gameplay experience right away. • Flexible payment methods: You can choose to buy individual game rulebooks separately, or subscribe to unlock the entire app and get full access to all existing and future rulebooks. Subscribe per month or opt for the special discounted yearly rate. Tabletop Codex is free to download and use. Should you choose to upgrade to Tabletop Codex Premium, we offer two auto-renewing subscription option for $3.99USD/month, and $39.99USD/year: Payment will be charged to your credit card through your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the end of the subscription period. There is no increase in price when renewing. Subscriptions can be managed and auto-renewal turned off in Account Settings in iTunes after purchase. Once purchased, refunds will not be provided for any unused portion of the term. Read our full Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy at https://www.orderofgamers.com/terms-and-conditions/ and https://www.orderofgamers.com/privacy-policy/.
Screenshots
Verdict
Return to Dark Tower Assistant and Tabletop Codex both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 95% of Tabletop Codex's written reviews are positive against 0% of Return to Dark Tower Assistant's. Tabletop Codex also leads on price (Free vs $1.99) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 5 months). Return to Dark Tower Assistant's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Tabletop Codex is free to download; Return to Dark Tower Assistant costs $1.99 up front. Tabletop Codex sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Return to Dark Tower Assistant asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Return to Dark Tower Assistant against 4.9 for Tabletop Codex. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tabletop Codex has 24 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 0% of Return to Dark Tower Assistant's written reviews are positive against 95% of Tabletop Codex's.
Return to Dark Tower Assistant ships an update every 5 months, Tabletop Codex every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Return to Dark Tower Assistant | Tabletop Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | 4.9 (24 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 95.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 24 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 11 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dodo Apps | Peter Gifford |
Customer experience
Return to Dark Tower Assistant
Tabletop Codex
In-app purchases
Return to Dark Tower Assistant
No in-app purchases
Tabletop Codex
- Premium Monthly$3.991 Month
- Premium Yearly$39.991 Year
- Tier 1 Unlock$0.99
- Tier 3 Unlock$2.99
- Tier 2 Unlock$2.99
Questions
Is Return to Dark Tower Assistant free?
Is Tabletop Codex free?
Which has better reviews, Return to Dark Tower Assistant or Tabletop Codex?
Do Return to Dark Tower Assistant or Tabletop Codex have ads?
Which is updated more often, Return to Dark Tower Assistant or Tabletop Codex?
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