Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

 PC
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 2373 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,045 out of 2373
  2. Mixed: 527 out of 2373
  3. Negative: 801 out of 2373

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  1. CrafTricks
    Mar 12, 2014
    10
    Hearthstone is casual at first glance but I am unsurprisingly terrible at it, as it has depth that isn't that noticeable at first. It is extremely fun though, even losing is enjoyable to me and I can't wait for Blizzard to start expanding upon the game.

    For what it is now, I give it a 10/10 for being a well balanced and extremely fun game with enough depth to last for quite a while.
  2. dinksmallwood
    Apr 24, 2015
    9
    Hearthstone is fun. Unquestionably the best free game I have ever played on a cellphone. I have been playing for a few days now and I haven't encountered anything that I've really hated yet, in terms of balancing issues. And I haven't paid for a single thing.

    I played a little Magic (my friends always kicked my ass through the wall), but Hearthstone -- which lacks some of the complexity    Hearthstone is fun. Unquestionably the best free game I have ever played on a cellphone. I have been playing for a few days now and I haven't encountered anything that I've really hated yet, in terms of balancing issues. And I haven't paid for a single thing.

    I played a little Magic (my friends always kicked my ass through the wall), but Hearthstone -- which lacks some of the complexity and therefore fun of Magic -- is definitely friendlier to new players. Unlike Magic, you build your decks to a character class instead of a land type, which is actually a great twist. (I miss accounting for land in my deck builds though -- it's a little simple this way). Playing a rogue feels rogue-y, thanks to the special, class specific cards and abilities you have, like backstab and a card called "run" which lets you draw 7 (!) cards at once which can absolutely change the end of a match. Mages can do ridiculous nuke damage. Priests get crazy heals. It will probably feel familiar to World of Warcraft players. And -- this is a particular stroke of genius on Blizzard's part -- these class specific cards are easily some of the most powerful cards in the game.

    Using only the starting decks, I've won about 60%+ of my games, and even though the game requires that you win 30 matches (you get 10 coins every three matches you win) to be able to buy a pack of five cards using in game money, there are three things that really make this okay: 1.) You can earn 10 starter packs of five cards each (with at least one rare card of better than average attributes) just by playing all the classes in the game until you get all their starter cards and beating all the computer opponents and playing online -- where you don't even have to win to get the cards 2.) there are daily challenges that only take a couple of games sometimes if you can win and will net you at least 40 gold 3.) The Arena.

    (I've only gotten a few of the booster packs, too, since I was just having fun. And I still win a lot -- you have to remember though, a lot of this game is luck. It's like playing poker or something, in addition to understanding how the cards work together and when to play what. Needless to say, it's a ridiculously good game to play every day.)

    The arena is -- for a free game, again -- absolutely nuts. It's so f'ng brilliant because what it does is it gives everyone access to the entire breadth of the games possible cards and therefore complexity and depth of gameplay while only requiring 150 gold (again, a booster pack costs 100 gold, or 30 matches won, and the arena is free the first time, too.) Everybody enters the arena under the same conditions: choose from one of three random classes -- so, not really for casual players, since there are 10 classes and they all do play very differently, when you play to their strengths -- then choose 30 cards by choosing one each from randomly presented sets of 3 cards. Then fight and win as many matches as you can before getting a reward based on how far you got.

    You also get three lives, and you don't have to decide to "cash out" or play another hand and risk losing your rewards, which is nice. You just get as far as you can.

    I only won one hand in the arena, but the game still gave me a booster pack and 40 gold. (I don't know how frequently you get booster packs this way though, it looked like the prizes are random too.) So it's worth playing and you won't feel like you're getting crushed by "pay to win" players. If you're decent at hearthstone, you can get a lot of play out of it without really paying anything.

    Which is why it's a great game. You can either spend money, or you can play better. But I often win against people with plenty of rare cards, and I've only been playing a few days and don't have anything special. You can even do fine with Blizzard's pre-built decks (just make sure to finish winning against the computer or other players to get all of a class's special cards like the ones I mentioned earlier). And building decks is enjoyable.

    It would be fun to have rare cards, but it doesn't stop me from having fun -- or winning. Which is how it should be. Good job Blizzard...

    9/10 free to play cellphone game
    8/10 overall game, due to some needed complexity.

    Also, uh, good job Wizards of the Coast. Haha.    … Expand
  3. zombiechan
    May 28, 2014
    8
    Great game, haven't play a CCG since Magic the Gathering. I almost enjoy this game more than Magic the Gathering, I love designing new decks and new strategy. I do wish the amount of decks you can have would increase.
  4. suede88
    Nov 7, 2018
    8
    + great gameplay
    + warcraft lore
    + superb art and sounds + not p2w, it´s possible to earn 2000 - 4000 dust per month without spending real money, good deck cost about 3000 - 5000 dust..it´s not so bad... + if you love card games, you will love HS, for sure...I´m veteran Magic The Gathering player... - single player is so hard...even for skilled players - sometimes is game bit    + great gameplay
    + warcraft lore
    + superb art and sounds
    + not p2w, it´s possible to earn 2000 - 4000 dust per month without spending real money, good deck cost about 3000 - 5000 dust..it´s not so bad...
    + if you love card games, you will love HS, for sure...I´m veteran Magic The Gathering player...

    - single player is so hard...even for skilled players
    - sometimes is game bit frustrating because of very hard ladder climbing, especially on highest ranks
    - it´s important to check the meta sometimes, new strategies and it´s good to see some pro players how they think about game situations and what decks they builds...so, the game is easy to play, but hard to master. If you´re not so much into card games, then this maybe the reason why not play this game and try f.e. Clash Royale which is much easier to master    … Expand
  5. joglow
    May 16, 2022
    8
    It did not fail me to entertain. What else can we expect from this game? You did not marry it, did you?
  6. kdx
    Sep 14, 2022
    8
    If you have extra money and your goal is to kill time, then this timekiller CCG is for you. Random is present in absolutely all moments, and donation does not affect the gameplay only in some branches of the adventure. In other cases, the donation decides. There is nothing to demand from it, because it is built according to the free-to-play scheme. Blizzard uses absolutely the right gameIf you have extra money and your goal is to kill time, then this timekiller CCG is for you. Random is present in absolutely all moments, and donation does not affect the gameplay only in some branches of the adventure. In other cases, the donation decides. There is nothing to demand from it, because it is built according to the free-to-play scheme. Blizzard uses absolutely the right game promotion strategy to make more money.… Expand
  7. Sholman
    Jul 29, 2014
    9
    Before posting my review, I read dozens of other user-submitted reviews and felt that the majority of those who gave Hearthstone ridiculously low ratings either did not have enough time to practice the game, had a negative view of the game because they had trouble winning, or simply disliked the game due to the lack of violence, intense action or a gripping, movie-like storyline. MyBefore posting my review, I read dozens of other user-submitted reviews and felt that the majority of those who gave Hearthstone ridiculously low ratings either did not have enough time to practice the game, had a negative view of the game because they had trouble winning, or simply disliked the game due to the lack of violence, intense action or a gripping, movie-like storyline. My counter to these views, to be frank, is to remember that this is a strategic card game that is based off of the Warcraft series. I understand that this genre does not have the same appeal as violent or action-packed games, but if you play with an open mind, practice different strategies, experiment with hundreds of thousands of possible card combinations, and learn from your mistakes, you will find Hearthstone to be a very deep and creative gameplay experience that is complex enough to be extremely entertaining, while also being simple enough for those who practice to win. All of the angry reviews that say that you have to pay to win in Hearthstone are the biased opinions of those who do not have the patience to practice getting better and do not have the money to satisfy their impatience. Even when I had only played Hearthstone for one or two months of somewhat regular gameplay I could easily win the majority of my matches in casual mode and more than half of the matches in ranked mode with a deck full of basic (free, given) cards. For those people who complain that Hearthstone isn't deep because of its lack of a storyline, I would recommend that they try out any of the Warcraft games or World of Warcraft to satisfy their desire for a deep, detailed and engrossing fantasy storyline. All of the cards and characters in Hearthstone are directly taken from those games, after all. I think that the biggest problem that angry Hearthstone reviewers are experiencing is that they do not play Hearthstone with an open mind. I understand that different people have different opinions, but the fact that there are so many uninformed and, quite frankly, untrue complaints about Hearthstone, I feel that it does the game justice to urge more people to play the game without any untrue beliefs, and to form an informed opinion of the game based on actual gameplay.… Expand
  8. isg1983
    Mar 27, 2014
    8
    A good mix of casual and serious aspects. Everybody should give it a go whether if you're a fan of card games or not, this game should be a good starter for everyone who wants to enter the sweet geeky card game universe.
  9. vunacar
    Mar 15, 2014
    10
    I will be frank, I never really liked WoW. I loved Warcraft 3, and tried to like WoW because it was a continuation of story, but the game was boring and I never played it more than a month.
    With that said, Hearthstone is an exact opposite. I got into beta in november and still love the game. Each match is unique and fun, and the game constantly rewards you with new cards which alter your    I will be frank, I never really liked WoW. I loved Warcraft 3, and tried to like WoW because it was a continuation of story, but the game was boring and I never played it more than a month.
    With that said, Hearthstone is an exact opposite. I got into beta in november and still love the game. Each match is unique and fun, and the game constantly rewards you with new cards which alter your experience.
    The best part of the game is that it is totally playable without spending a cent. In my 5 months of occasional play to complete quests I have unlocked all common cards, 70% of rares, 30% of epics and I have 6 legendary cards. I repeat, I never spent a cent.
    For this fact alone, this game is a 10 in my book. Yes, it is a little light on features, but that will be changed in time. Yes, it has some bugs, it will also be changed in time. What will not change time is an amazing attention to detail, beautiful animations and aesthetics, great balance and a smile on my face when I turn around an already lost match...    … Expand
  10. Swimming_Steve
    May 10, 2014
    9
    I HATED card games, but now i have seen this, i am astounded, it is based on the world of Warcraft genre. Even if you don't like world of Warcraft this game will not be a disappointment. A free, 2GB game packed with action, many players, and engrossing graphics and atmosphere. You can either play casual, or ranked. Choose to buy packs, or play for free. The choice is yours. But, what i canI HATED card games, but now i have seen this, i am astounded, it is based on the world of Warcraft genre. Even if you don't like world of Warcraft this game will not be a disappointment. A free, 2GB game packed with action, many players, and engrossing graphics and atmosphere. You can either play casual, or ranked. Choose to buy packs, or play for free. The choice is yours. But, what i can promise, is that this game is "Easy to learn, hard to master."… Expand
  11. Trystanm
    Mar 31, 2015
    9
    I swear all of these people who are calling this pay to win obviously haven't played more than a couple ranked games. Of course you aren't going to know the strategies, or what cards to play (which are good or bad) when you start. I remember thinking certain cards were OP until realizing they were trash. This game has an amazing community, with several streamers and tutorials. If youI swear all of these people who are calling this pay to win obviously haven't played more than a couple ranked games. Of course you aren't going to know the strategies, or what cards to play (which are good or bad) when you start. I remember thinking certain cards were OP until realizing they were trash. This game has an amazing community, with several streamers and tutorials. If you give this game a chance you will realize its not a game about endless grinding or paying to win.… Expand
  12. VladiMiagk
    May 15, 2018
    10
    Лучшая на данный момент карточная игра! Все очень красиво и интересно. Соревнования очень увлекающие!
  13. Fany000
    Nov 4, 2018
    9
    I played HS till its release but after two years the game was not fun anymore. I came back to the hearthstone before six months, found out a very different game, with new mechanics, plenty of new cards and now I think it is more suitable for begginers. Blizzard take care about HS as much as they can and they are doing just grest. The best card game nowadays.
  14. TwisterRK
    Mar 14, 2014
    9
    Don't pay attention to the negative reviews. This game is amazing. If you're any good at it. The thing is, the community is terrible. In the Beta, things have been nerfed that didn't deserve nerfing because all the bad players didn't know how to counter them. This will probable still go on forever. Don't pay attention to complaints about RNG, it's a Card Game, there is always gonna be RNG.Don't pay attention to the negative reviews. This game is amazing. If you're any good at it. The thing is, the community is terrible. In the Beta, things have been nerfed that didn't deserve nerfing because all the bad players didn't know how to counter them. This will probable still go on forever. Don't pay attention to complaints about RNG, it's a Card Game, there is always gonna be RNG. Bottom line; this game is a perfectly executed with great potential for expansions and more. Too bad the community are pretty mindless at times.… Expand
  15. demonphoenix
    Apr 18, 2014
    9
    I've played since closed beta and I have to say Hearthstone is a very good game. You can play it casually or very in depth, but luck still plays a huge factor.
    Some say it's pay to win. This is not true, people went to rank 1 without spending any money. And every big card can be shut down with basic cards.
    Some say some classes are overpowered. This is also not true, it's only because    I've played since closed beta and I have to say Hearthstone is a very good game. You can play it casually or very in depth, but luck still plays a huge factor.
    Some say it's pay to win. This is not true, people went to rank 1 without spending any money. And every big card can be shut down with basic cards.
    Some say some classes are overpowered. This is also not true, it's only because how the metagame is shifting. Every class has been called overpowered.
    Some say blizzard changes the game too much. In beta they changed a lot, yes. That's because it was a beta.
    Some say it's weird you can't trade cards. Well, it's a card game, not a Trading card game. They put in a feature that allows you to create cards, which has a lot of bonuses in itself.
    Also, their arena mode is very solid. You have interesting matches and the reward almost always pays for the arena cost. The only time you really need to spend money is if you want to buy tons of cards. But it stays your choice. You could spend a lot of money and be unlucky with the opening of packs or spend nothing and be very lucky and get the cards you want.    … Expand
  16. ethanwelborn
    Jul 30, 2014
    9
    Hearthstone is a great experience for someone who enjoys the Warcraft universe. It really is a casual way to get yourself into the universe, if WoW feels too heavy. The sound engineering is fantastic, the graphics are light and fun, and the game play is engaging.

    They recently released Curse of Naxxramas, which to me was fun, but slightly underwhelming, which is why I gave it a 9    Hearthstone is a great experience for someone who enjoys the Warcraft universe. It really is a casual way to get yourself into the universe, if WoW feels too heavy. The sound engineering is fantastic, the graphics are light and fun, and the game play is engaging.

    They recently released Curse of Naxxramas, which to me was fun, but slightly underwhelming, which is why I gave it a 9 instead of a 10.

    Overall, it's a great game, and worth giving a shot. I've built probably 4 or 5 decks for my Pally, and finally come across a deck that works for my play style. A game that is that flexible and contains that amount of depth deserves a look or two.    … Expand
  17. JohnJackson
    Mar 14, 2014
    10
    I never played a digital CCG before, and i have to say i am having a blast. It is like most Blizz titles easy to learn, but hard to master. I was hesitant to try it out, when open beta started, but i did, and i'm glad i did it. It is the game i spent the most time playing this year, and it's free! The graphics are beautiful for a card game, and the gameplay is nothing but fun. And theI never played a digital CCG before, and i have to say i am having a blast. It is like most Blizz titles easy to learn, but hard to master. I was hesitant to try it out, when open beta started, but i did, and i'm glad i did it. It is the game i spent the most time playing this year, and it's free! The graphics are beautiful for a card game, and the gameplay is nothing but fun. And the best thing is, you don't have to spend any money on it. Various players have proven, that it is possible to reach even the highest rank with absolutely no money spent.

    Go and try it out, you have nothing to lose, but be warned, it is highly addictive!    … Expand
  18. RealmCopier
    Mar 14, 2014
    10
    Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft was not a game I first expected to enjoy, since I have not enjoyed any of Blizzard's other games. However, Hearthstone was an immensely fun game and I put at least 20 hours in during my first week of play. I really like the uniqueness of the cards as well as the way your plays get better each turn.

    Over all I give it 10/10 because it is an incredibly fun    Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft was not a game I first expected to enjoy, since I have not enjoyed any of Blizzard's other games. However, Hearthstone was an immensely fun game and I put at least 20 hours in during my first week of play. I really like the uniqueness of the cards as well as the way your plays get better each turn.

    Over all I give it 10/10 because it is an incredibly fun game, and adds a certain uniqueness, never achieved before, to the CCG Genre.    … Expand
  19. Alturis
    Apr 1, 2014
    10
    Frankly I don't see how this game could be any better. When compared to any other digital card game it just puts everything else to shame. It's not Magic, it's not Call of Duty, but it is simply the best digital collectible card game you will find anywhere. Give it time to expand and it will give Magic a run for its money.
  20. Raidriar
    Apr 5, 2014
    10
    Hearthstone is the best online CCG currently available on the market. It's a game that's VERY easy to get into yet as you get more cards it gradually builds upon it's self.

    First off I would like to point out that anyone who is calling this game pay to win is someone you should not listen too. It is entirely possible to get every card in the game without paying a single cent. And it is    Hearthstone is the best online CCG currently available on the market. It's a game that's VERY easy to get into yet as you get more cards it gradually builds upon it's self.

    First off I would like to point out that anyone who is calling this game pay to win is someone you should not listen too. It is entirely possible to get every card in the game without paying a single cent. And it is entirely possible to get to legendary rank using free cards. Now many people will claim that you can just buy a bunch of packs and get a bunch of legendaries. But pretty much every legendary is highly situational, so just having 10 legendaries doesn't actually help you, and in fact it's rather counter productive.

    Now that that's out of the way we can get to the rest of the game. I would like to first start off by saying that Hearthstone just oozes polish. Everything about the impact of a high attack creature slamming into an enemy hero to the glorious effects of the spells. You can just see the effort that was put into the game.
    The next thing I would like to commend the game on is it's resource system. Instead of having manna cards that you draw in a game like magic, you simply get one manna per turn until you reach 10. This get's rid of some of the RNG that plagues many card games, but of course it still has some RNG...because well...it's a card game. But it's still a great improvement. Hearthstone also has a very deep meta. As I stated hearthstone starts off relatively simple and then gradually becomes more complex. Due to the unique play style of all the classes you see a lot of diversity and meta shifting which adds a lot to the game's longevity. And with more cards coming i our future, I see Hearthstone being around for a while.

    All in all hearthstone is fantastic and I highly recommend giving it a download. And even if you end up not liking it for whatever reason, it's free! So there's no reason to not give it a try.    … Expand
  21. The_Ommadawn
    Jun 7, 2014
    10
    Simple, fun, time vampire, complex, well made, highly entertaining and this from a card game virgin. I cannot fault this game at all and see much future potential. It's something (for me) very different from the usual games I play. Yes there's a shop and yes it's expensive, but no one has to buy anything! As you play you earn in game currency which can be used to buy card packs. IfSimple, fun, time vampire, complex, well made, highly entertaining and this from a card game virgin. I cannot fault this game at all and see much future potential. It's something (for me) very different from the usual games I play. Yes there's a shop and yes it's expensive, but no one has to buy anything! As you play you earn in game currency which can be used to buy card packs. If you have the time, it's a simple trade off. There's zero grind as the game is fun to play and you're learning as you go. Oh, and it's FREE to play!!!… Expand
  22. wishanem
    Feb 18, 2015
    9
    I've never loved collectible card games, but I've always dabbled with them. My frustration with Magic: The Gathering was always the cost and the way that matches could drag on interminably. Hearthstone addresses both of those issues very well.

    It is an easy game to learn and play, with enough randomness to keep the matches from feeling too one-sided. It takes longer than I'd like to    I've never loved collectible card games, but I've always dabbled with them. My frustration with Magic: The Gathering was always the cost and the way that matches could drag on interminably. Hearthstone addresses both of those issues very well.

    It is an easy game to learn and play, with enough randomness to keep the matches from feeling too one-sided. It takes longer than I'd like to unlock new cards if one isn't spending money on the game, and there's no mechanism for trading cards with other players.

    My favorite thing about the game is that is gives the a new "quest" every day (up to 3 simultaneously), which sets an arbitrary goal of some kind (winning matches with a particular class, playing a set number of expensive cards, etc.) and provides a reward for completing it. This encourages occasional play, and the player has the option to scrap a quest and free up a slot for a new one if they get one they don't like. I really enjoy having little goals and markers for when I might want to stop playing.    … Expand
  23. LpSilent
    May 3, 2014
    8
    Hearthstone is casual at best and will drive you into its hands, it's a slightly addictive game that'll make you play for hours & hours on hand and you'll most likely never get bored of it, blizzard's turn in a card game has attracted more then enough attention for it to be called ''A classic''.. the game deserves more then enough attention for it to be an outstanding game, but.. for me toHearthstone is casual at best and will drive you into its hands, it's a slightly addictive game that'll make you play for hours & hours on hand and you'll most likely never get bored of it, blizzard's turn in a card game has attracted more then enough attention for it to be called ''A classic''.. the game deserves more then enough attention for it to be an outstanding game, but.. for me to write a review like this you'll probably think ''Oh, you're one of those lovers that'll protect blizzard'', well I'm here to tell you that you're completely wrong, I'm here to speak the truth and that's that, I'll rate games based on the ''Score'' they deserve and I'll stand by it.

    Now I'm on to the problems with this game.. ''ARENA'', its completely unbalanced and will mash you in with the highest leveled people you'll find in the game, mainly Priests who will constantly heal themselves and not even give you a sporting chance (Even knowing none of that happens), its an annoying issue which disappoints me and others I'm sure, which lowers the current score from an '8' to a '7', it could have done better, but there're issues that Blizzard won't bother to fix..    … Expand
  24. IHadASega32x
    Feb 25, 2015
    10
    I've been playing Hearthstone for almost a year and a half now, with almost the same passion I had for it when I first started playing the beta. The game has continued to stay fresh, with the additions of new cards and expansions that have added more to the experience. The added ability to be mobile with it on an iPad has provided levity to the boring parts of my life like sitting at theI've been playing Hearthstone for almost a year and a half now, with almost the same passion I had for it when I first started playing the beta. The game has continued to stay fresh, with the additions of new cards and expansions that have added more to the experience. The added ability to be mobile with it on an iPad has provided levity to the boring parts of my life like sitting at the airport waiting for a delayed flight, or using the bathroom! (yeah, i went there)

    Reading through some of the user reviews, I don't really understand the negativity towards the in-game purchases for this game. I look at this game with the same eyes i used to play Magic: The gathering with. Growing up i was never able to play Magic for free and to be able to play this game for free is AMAZING. Kicking down money into something I enjoy not only helps my decks but it helps the developers that made the game. I don't see a problem with that. In fact I think it's a great model for a game like this. Growing up I spent hundreds on booster packs for magic without the ability to work towards "free packs." On Hearthstone I can, and that's infinity better for my wallet :)

    Hearthstone is a great game. It's provided me with countless hours of fun, and it's worth every penny I've put into it since beta (which includes another $20 I just put into it last night). It's crazy to me that a game this polished, and this well rounded could be given away for FREE and still have to deal with unwarranted negativity.

    Congrats to Blizzard. They make good games, Hearthstone is by far my favorite.    … Expand
  25. Sn0r
    Oct 5, 2016
    10
    There is definetely no other game that still keeps me entertained after years. You can just play a few rounds for half an hour whenever you like. Its casual and its fun. What else would you want more from a videogame ?
  26. Avadon
    Mar 14, 2014
    8
    As a recreational MtG player for the last 14 years, I find Hearthstone a welcome distraction. It's cute, colorful, not very complex (which means you can play it well enough while sleep deprived or intoxicated) and very, very fast (an average ranked game between experienced players probably won't last more than 4 minutes). It features tiny 30-card decks, which is fine if the game is builtAs a recreational MtG player for the last 14 years, I find Hearthstone a welcome distraction. It's cute, colorful, not very complex (which means you can play it well enough while sleep deprived or intoxicated) and very, very fast (an average ranked game between experienced players probably won't last more than 4 minutes). It features tiny 30-card decks, which is fine if the game is built around them, and it also means you can suddenly have a deck concept and proceed to build it and test it within seconds. It also feels amazing to be able to disenchant cards that you don't need and turn them into ones that you do need.

    Is it pay-to-win? Well, assuming 2 players of equal skill and experience, the guy who has spent 200$ will of course be able to make more powerful and varied decks and will win a higher percentage of games than the guy who has spent 0$. However, as opposed to MtG, you don't really have to do that in Hearthstone. Starting out as a new player can be a bit bumpy, but paying 50$ once will give you enough cards and dust to be able to make several good decks. Alternatively, if you don't want to pay anything, you can play Paladin or Mage, who have strong basic decks, and farm some money to do Arenas. I was able to get to about rank 10 in constructed with a basic Paladin late-curve deck, which is pretty amazing.

    Is it "balanced"? Well, card games are never really "surgically" balanced, because the luck factor tends to considerably influence the win rates. However, in Hearthstone the luck factor is significantly lower than in MtG, mostly because you can mulligan without consequences. In constructed the game seems to be in a good place to my experience. There are decks from all classes that can (and have) done well if played properly. Druids are probably a little too versatile and don't have any striking weaknesses, but that's all. As for arena, things obviously vary wildly according to your draft and your ability to make the best plays with it, and it's also really hard to play around cards as you would in constructed. Mages definitely seem too strong due to basic/common rarity hard removals and board wipes, which are often impossible to play around, so make sure you play them yourself when you get the chance.

    All in all, for a launch product, Hearthstone is really good, and as all card games it will get much better as more cards and features are added to it. It's definitely worth installing, and keeping it installed for a very long time.    … Expand
  27. Kryptoxin
    Apr 30, 2014
    10
    I don't usually play virtual games, but this one is really casual yet enjoyable.

    It is really easy to catch on the way people play Hearthstone. 250 dollars and 200 expert packs later, I imitated the decks most professionals use together and their playstyles on reddit, giving me a smooth sail up the ranks. After a point, the game is simply a coin flip as most decks and playstyles are    I don't usually play virtual games, but this one is really casual yet enjoyable.

    It is really easy to catch on the way people play Hearthstone. 250 dollars and 200 expert packs later, I imitated the decks most professionals use together and their playstyles on reddit, giving me a smooth sail up the ranks. After a point, the game is simply a coin flip as most decks and playstyles are similar, making it more based on luck. However, I still enjoy playing with professional gamers and having the game recognize me as one of their kind.

    All in all, if you'd like to excel in games without spending too much time, this is highly recommended.    … Expand
  28. Mudget
    Apr 5, 2014
    10
    Every 5 years or so a game comes along that addicts me in a way I find both exciting and scary. Hearthstone is currently that game for me. I should say that I was already a big CCG (computer card game) fan, having eaten through hours of the various incarnations of Magic: The Gathering, Spectromancer, M&M Duel of Champions, and the like. I'd always gotten at least a little addicted toEvery 5 years or so a game comes along that addicts me in a way I find both exciting and scary. Hearthstone is currently that game for me. I should say that I was already a big CCG (computer card game) fan, having eaten through hours of the various incarnations of Magic: The Gathering, Spectromancer, M&M Duel of Champions, and the like. I'd always gotten at least a little addicted to most of those, so I figured I should try this one out, despite not exactly being a WoW fan for many years. What I first noticed in beta was how clean and crisp the game was - a real looker - and coupled with the gameplay itself, I discovered a super highly-polished game, the likes we've come to expect from Blizzard.

    I do think this is the CCG that can make people not familiar with the genre fans. It's less complex and much more user-friendly and intuitive than any of its counterparts, with a good tutorial that eases the player into the experience. By the time you've been eased, you're likely to be hooked, and that's when it's time to take the fight to other real online players.

    This is where I think the game shines. In a way, players are somewhat disconnected from each other. There's no chatting unless you're already friends, and there are a limited number of emote choices ("Greetings", "Sorry", "Well Played", etc.). This means you're not instantly assailed by trolls out smear themselves across a good experience - you just have to play and play your best, and I appreciate this being the focus, rather than a social experience. There are plenty of other venues and games for that.

    Gameplay is fairly straightforward, and in this Hearthstone lacks the depth found in other CCGs. But what it has that other CCGs don't are sounds and animated visuals for each of the cards' unique abilities. There are several 'tiers' of cards, too, so unlocking (by winning arena battles and acquiring new decks, or buying them in the store) rare and legendary cards is fun not just because they add a new layer of strategy to your game, but bring along with them interesting sounds and visuals unique to those specific cards.

    The WoW universe is very present here, and most of those audio and visual cues are taken straight from it, of course. The characters are all pulled from the MMORPG and each deck matches one of nine playable character classes from that game (Cleric, Paladin, Rogue, Warrior, Warlock, Shaman, Priest, Mage, Druid). Each has its own set of special cards reserved only for that particular class, and each of the classes seems pretty well-balanced.

    In the end, this is a casual time-waster and you could do SO much worse for a free-to-play game. In fact, I'd argue it's the best FTP game I've played in ages, maybe ever. The pay-for-decks aspect isn't in your face at all, and you can earn decks just by playing arena battles (battles where you and your opponent are given a random selection of cards from the start). So a player could certainly climb the ranks and earn levels and decks endlessly without ever spending a dime. Those folks who do spend cash for cards don't particularly have an advantage, either. This is still a card game, after all, so even though someone else may have several amazing legendary cards in their decks, it certainly doesn't guarantee them a victory. And in time, you'll be getting those epic cards without spending money in any case because of the reward system, and being able to spend gold for new decks, or arcane dust to purchase individual cards. Once you've been playing a while and start getting the maximum two cards of each type, you can turn those excess and unnecessary cards into arcane dust. Once you have enough dust you can actually craft even the most legendary of cards. It's not a quick process, getting to that point, but it's a really rewarding one.

    All in all Hearthstone is a fantastic FTP CCG, as polished as any Blizzard game, and as addicting as any CCG. It might lack a bit of the depth or breadth of a longstanding game like Magic the Gathering, but it's a refreshing new spin and one that will likely be more appealing to a larger number of people. Final word: It's 100% free to play. Give it a spin.    … Expand
  29. Wodenborn
    Mar 14, 2014
    10
    A masterclass in game design, Hearthstone creates endless hours of top level competitive strategy gaming for the everyone to enjoy. Every time I have sat down to play a competitive game, I have always been frustrated by the natural barrier created by manual dexterity, reaction times, and age. I will never be a world warrior in Street Fighter, no one will ever call me "gosu" in Starcraft,A masterclass in game design, Hearthstone creates endless hours of top level competitive strategy gaming for the everyone to enjoy. Every time I have sat down to play a competitive game, I have always been frustrated by the natural barrier created by manual dexterity, reaction times, and age. I will never be a world warrior in Street Fighter, no one will ever call me "gosu" in Starcraft, and I'll never get a quintuple kill in DOTA2, but at least when I loose in Hearthstone, I know for a fact that the only thing holding me back from tournament level greatness is my intellect, the one thing I am tirelessly interested in improving, no matter what I do.

    The rules of the game couldn't be simpler, and yet the tiniest choices you make in building your deck or playing your cards have tremendous importance and consequences. Great players are able to realize all the effects of class choice, board position, deck style and composition, and how to make calculated risks or punish careless opponents. It is the most meticulously balanced competitive game I've ever played and the more you learn, the better you are. It's as simple as that. Hearthstone is not only a great game - it makes me want to be a better gamer.    … Expand
  30. mijxero
    Mar 15, 2014
    9
    I used to be an avid Magic the Gathering player so when I played Hearthstone I was amazed at how fun, strategic and most of all quick the matches can be. I can win or lose a match in 5 minutes or less and that makes it really fun. The sounds, visuals, and overall play style is just very fun and somewhat casual with a deeper strategy hiding beneath. Their free to play model is very goodI used to be an avid Magic the Gathering player so when I played Hearthstone I was amazed at how fun, strategic and most of all quick the matches can be. I can win or lose a match in 5 minutes or less and that makes it really fun. The sounds, visuals, and overall play style is just very fun and somewhat casual with a deeper strategy hiding beneath. Their free to play model is very good as well. You can earn a pack of cards by playing 2-3 days worth of simple quests like "Win 2 matches" or "kill 20 minions". You can spend real money to get more cards but I wouldn't say its pay to win really. Highly suggest.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best PC Game of 2014
7
#7 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014
41
#41 Most Shared PC Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 42 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 42
  3. Negative: 0 out of 42
  1. Hardcore Gamer
    Jul 6, 2014
    90
    When Blizzard announced they were making a digital CCG, we all expected it to look and sound beautiful, and there was little doubt that it would be well-balanced, but I don’t think anyone anticipated this level of sophistication and subtle brilliance.
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  2. CD-Action
    Jun 28, 2014
    85
    Simple rules, high production values, low system requirements and huge tactical freedom make Hearthstone one of the best card games available. And if you take into account the free-to-play model – it’s the best one. [05/2014, p.62]
  3. GameOver.gr
    Jun 7, 2014
    85
    A fine example of a great free-to-play game. Hearthstone is not only an addictive and well designed card game, but absolutely fair with gamers that do not wish to spend money on it.
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