Hardback is the 'spiritual sequel' to Paperback, and it improves on the formula in almost every way. It’s a deck-building word game that feels like a cross between Scrabble and Dominion. The theme—19th-century novelists competing for fame—is charming and well-integrated. The genius of the game lies in the 'prestige' system and the ability to turn any card into a wildcard at the cost of its special ability.
This digital port is exceptionally well-handled. The UI is clear, making it easy to see what your opponents are building and what cards are available in the market. The AI is challenging enough to keep solo players engaged, but the asynchronous online multiplayer is where the game truly shines. It’s a sophisticated, intellectual game that rewards a large vocabulary without alienating casual players, thanks to its clever card mechanics.
Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod
Version 1.22Thu Aug 04 2022
-Updates to online play
-Online play moved to a new server
Hardback is a deck-building word game, a prequel to Paperback. As an aspiring 19th-century novelist, you work to pen your next masterpiece, earning prestige along the way. Specialize your deck in certain genres to exploit card combinations, and press your luck to draw extra cards — but make sure you can still string a word together!
Players build a deck of letters with various powers and race to 60 fame points to win.
Features:
1-5 player hotseat and online async
3 levels of computer opponents to challenge you.
Gameplay
No wilds in your deck - any card can be wild.
Push your luck for more cards with the Ink system.
Match genre colors to gain bonus abilities on your cards.
Fight over the coveted award cards.
Timeless Classic cards stay in play, until someone uses them.
New hardcore mode - can't repeat a word!
Requires iOS 9.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.Hardback is a deck-building word game. As an aspiring 19th-century novelist, you work to pen your next masterpiece, earning prestige along the way.
Hardback is a deck-building word game, a prequel to Paperback. As an aspiring 19th-century novelist, you work to pen your next masterpiece, earning prestige along the way. Specialize your deck in certain genres to exploit card combinations, and press your luck to draw extra cards — but make sure you can still string a word together!
Players build a deck of letters with various powers and race to 60 fame points to win.
Features:
1-5 player hotseat and online async
3 levels of computer opponents to challenge you.
Gameplay
No wilds in your deck - any card can be wild.
Push your luck for more cards with the Ink system.
Match genre colors to gain bonus abilities on your cards.
Fight over the coveted award cards.
Timeless Classic cards stay in play, until someone uses them.
New hardcore mode - can't repeat a word!








Hardback is a word-building strategy game where players act as 19th-century authors. You start with a basic deck of letters and use them to spell words, which earns you coins and prestige. Coins allow you to buy better letters with powerful abilities. With four different genres to specialize in (Mystery, Horror, Romance, and Adventure), players can create unique card synergies to outwit their opponents and reach the prestige goal first.
Official digital port of the board game
Solo play vs multiple AI levels
Asynchronous online multiplayer
Customizable game rules and genre sets
Try to stick to one or two genres (colors) in your deck. Many cards have 'trash' or 'draw' abilities that only trigger if you play another card of the same genre in the same turn.
Any card can be played face-down as a wildcard (representing any letter). This is vital for completing long words, but you won't get the coins or prestige written on that specific card.
Yes, the game features a built-in dictionary to verify words and help suggest possibilities if you're stuck.