The hydrogenation of carbon dioxide towards methane and water is evaluated on different types of iron catalysts. The catalysts refer to different structural concepts implying a bare iron oxide, a silica-supported and a core-shell system. Highest CO2 conversion of about 20 % is achieved with the bulk catalysts and the supported material. However, although revealing reduced CH4 formation rate, the core-shell catalyst exhibits pronounced resistance against coke formation as well as thermal sintering and particle attrition upon syngas reaction.