Item: Dresden Files Co-op Card Game
Rating: 87
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

87/100

As a fan of Jim Butcher's novels, I was worried about how the complex lore of the Dresden Files would translate to a card game, but Hidden Achievement has done a fantastic job. The game captures the 'what-if' nature of Harry’s adventures perfectly. It’s a cooperative experience that actually requires cooperation—you share a pool of Fate points, and every move Harry makes affects his allies like Murphy and Michael. The tension is high because you are always balancing the need to solve cases against the ticking clock of the foes on the board.

The digital adaptation is smooth and faithful to the tabletop original. The art style reflects the moody, urban fantasy vibe of Chicago, and the soundtrack varies by book, which is a wonderful touch for immersion. It can be quite challenging, especially on the later novel decks, but the random scenario generator ('Side Jobs') adds immense replay value. It’s a must-play for fans of the series and anyone who enjoys high-stakes, strategic card games.

Reviewed on: Mon Nov 25 2024

Dinsun Review

Dinsun. I've read a few of Butcher's novels, so I appreciate the thematic accuracy here. This isn't your typical easy card game; it's a 'puzzle' disguised as a card game. You have a limited hand and a shared pool of resources, and you have to be incredibly efficient. I like the tactical 'weight' of every move. However, the UI is a bit clunky on a phone—it’s clearly designed for a tablet or a physical table. It’s also quite stingy with the base game content, pushing you toward IAPs for more cases. It's a cerebral, slow-paced experience that respects your time but asks for your full concentration.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Strong thematic tie-ins
Satisfying tactical difficulty
Great for solo or co-op play

Cramped UI on smaller screens
Many scenarios locked behind IAP
Steep learning curve

Technical Report

Performance: Very stable; text-heavy nature makes it best for iPad usage.

Accessibility:

Subtitles

Audience Fit

Buy if: You love the Dresden Files novels and tactical board games.

Skip if: You want a fast-paced card battler like Hearthstone.

Similar Games:

Sentinels of the Multiverse
Aeon's End

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun
Hardware: iPad Pro (M2)
Playtime: 12 hours
Status: Solved all base game cases

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

1112435806

$6.99 9+★4.4 46 reviews

Author : Hidden Achievement LLC

Pubish Date : Sun Jan 07 2018

Last Update Date : Wed Nov 26 2025

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 2.1.4Wed Nov 26 2025

Updated engine version to address a security issue.
FIxed a bug allowing cards highlighted to show they are the reason an action can't be played to be selected as action targets.
Decreased the font size slightly on the book synopsis to avoid scrolling.
The selection indicator now shows up properly in all cases when prompted to select a target card.
Play Harry Dresden and his friends as they take on the cases from the bestselling Dresden Files novels in the ultimate what-if scenario—what if Harry was on the scene with allies who weren’t there in the original story? The core game includes Harry, Murphy, Susan, Michael, and the Alphas and plays through the first five novels as well as Side Jobs, a random scenario generator based on the short story collection of the same name. Designs are already well underway for expansions featuring more series characters and more novels.
Game Information
Number of players: 1-5
Length: 30 minutes
Type of Game: Cooperative
This is the officially licensed version of the tabletop game by Evil Hat.
The Dresden Files Cooperative Card Game, the Fate logo, and related images are trademarks of Evil Hat and are ©2016 Evil Hat Productions, LLC. Based upon the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. All rights reserved.
Requires iOS 12.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Play Harry Dresden and his friends as they take on the cases from the bestselling Dresden Files novels in the ultimate what-if scenario—what if Harry was on the scene with allies who weren’t there in the original story? The core game includes Harry, Murphy, Susan, Michael, and the Alphas and plays through the first five novels as well as Side Jobs, a random scenario generator based on the short story collection of the same name. Designs are already well underway for expansions featuring more series characters and more novels.
Game Information
Number of players: 1-5
Length: 30 minutes
Type of Game: Cooperative
This is the officially licensed version of the tabletop game by Evil Hat.
The Dresden Files Cooperative Card Game, the Fate logo, and related images are trademarks of Evil Hat and are ©2016 Evil Hat Productions, LLC. Based upon the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. All rights reserved.

Ratings & Reviews

4.4 out of 5 with 46 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 9+

Step into the shoes of Harry Dresden and his friends in the official digital version of the hit tabletop game. This cooperative card game lets you play through the first five novels of the series plus a random scenario generator. Use shared Fate points to take actions, solve cases, and defeat foes. With unique character decks and varying difficulty, every game is a new puzzle in the world of urban fantasy.

Features

Play through the first 5 Dresden Files novels

Includes Harry, Murphy, Susan, Michael, and the Alphas

Cooperative multiplayer for up to 5 players

Side Jobs random scenario generator

Variable difficulty levels for all skill sets

Tips

Managing Fate Points

Fate points are your team's most valuable resource. Discard cards from your hand to generate Fate points for the group, allowing others to perform powerful actions.