Hardback

by Fowers Games · Board · $4.99

On Google Play since June 2018 · Data updated 2026-10-30

Hardback is made and published by Fowers Games. AppBrain is an independent app data site and isn't affiliated with Fowers Games. The app name, icon, screenshots and description belong to Fowers Games and are shown as published on Google Play.

AppBrain's verdict

EstablishedNiche

Rating on Google Play: 3.85; 70 ratings
Installs: 3.1 thousand
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Ads: No ads
Size: 70.8 MB

Hardback is a niche app, with 3.1 thousand installs. It doesn't have enough ratings yet to judge what users think.

Download on Google Play

User feedback

Ratings and reviews on Google Play

Comments on Hardback for Android

★★★★☆ Andy Wong · Aug 5, 2018

No doublt this is similar to Paperback. I like the mechanic for using any cards as wilds. The push your luck mechanic also work well. But the Genre cards are what break this game for me. Very often it becomes who can cumulate the same genre cards fastest win the game kind of scenario. Doesn't really matter if you spell any long impressive words because a 3-letter word of the same genre can worth 10 stars. And if your opponent can spell 3 or 4 of those you lose. Other than that, I think it is a fun game, and it is different enough from Paperback. But I think Paperback is more fair. By the way, can developer please add an undo function to buying ink please? Sometimes I wanted to sell ink but pressed the wrong button for buying instead. Can't seem to find a way to undo that.

★★★★★ Brooklyn Beck · Apr 28, 2021

Fabulous game and a great online translation from the original card game

★★☆☆☆ Joan Fleischer · Jun 22, 2021

Like 2 years after my original review and there are still large periods of time when no online games will appear and if I log out and try to log in, I get a "generic error" and can't log back in. I'm annoyed that I've paid for this and can't play with actual people. When it's not your turn, you can't open that game to see what you most recently did. When people stop playing there's no way to continue with AI or push a notification to them. So it just sits there.

★☆☆☆☆ Alex Wilson · Aug 25, 2022

Sadly broken by the Android 13 update on my Pixel 4a, it will now only launch into a black screen. Hopefully this can be fixed soon. Will happily update this when it does get fixed, this is (was) my go-to game on my phone.

Google Play Rating history and histogram

Store listing

By Fowers Games, from Google Play

“Hardback is a deck-building word game, a prequel to Paperback.”

Screenshots by Fowers Games, from the Google Play listing

Description by Fowers Games Written by the developer, not by AppBrain. Click to read.

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!

Recent changes:
Fixed a Security Flaw.

Download on Google Play

Safety and technology

Found in the app by AppBrain

Ads: No ads
Price: $4.99
Libraries: 6
App size: 70.8 MB
Needs Android: 4.1+
Content rating: Everyone

Technologies used by Hardback

2 permissions · 6 libraries

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Releases

Updates seen on Google Play

Version: 1.9911
Launched: June 2018

Apr 8, 2026UpdateVersion 1.9911
Dec 26, 2024UpdateVersion 1.9911
Aug 21, 2023UpdateVersion 1.99
Nov 24, 2022UpdateVersion 1.9
Sep 17, 2022Price DropNew price: $4.99 ($6.66)

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Alternatives

Similar apps and more from Fowers Games

Alternatives to Hardback

Installs

Tracked by AppBrain

Last 30 days: 11
Play install range: 1+ thousand
Launched: June 2018

Installs over time

Hardback has been installed 3.1 thousand times. Over the past 30 days, it has been installed 11 times.

Rankings

Google Play top charts

Google Play Rankings for Hardback

This app is not ranked

About the app and developer

About Hardback

Hardback is a board app developed by Fowers Games.

Download Statistics

Hardback has been downloaded 3.1 thousand times. In the last 30 days, the app was downloaded 11 times.

User Ratings

Hardback is rated 3.85 out of 5 stars. The rating is based on 70 ratings.

App Information

Hardback costs $4.99. The APK size is 70.84 MB. The latest APK version available is 1.9911. The last update was on April 8, 2026.

Technical Requirements

Hardback requires Android 4.1+ or higher. The app has a content rating of Everyone. The APK has been available on Google Play since June 2018.

App Performance Report

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Developer information for Fowers Games

Fowers Games

support@fowers.net

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