Hex: Shards of Fate

 PC
User Score
6.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 111 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 64 out of 111
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 111
  3. Negative: 37 out of 111

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  1. ShivanDarkeyes
    Feb 2, 2016
    10
    This game is outstanding! No other trading card game on the market is as playable without spending money. The game has a robust combination of TCG elements as well as RPG and puzzle elements. It has an active tournament scene and allows pro players to win lots of money from the $100,000 tournament.

    Ultimately, the best part of the game is the melding of RPG and TCG elements. You get    This game is outstanding! No other trading card game on the market is as playable without spending money. The game has a robust combination of TCG elements as well as RPG and puzzle elements. It has an active tournament scene and allows pro players to win lots of money from the $100,000 tournament.

    Ultimately, the best part of the game is the melding of RPG and TCG elements. You get to build a character with a talent tree that effects your deck. You also have sockets in your cards that change what the cards can do which is very innovative and interesting. Your champion can equip items that change what your cards do and improve them. There are dungeons that you can run for free that give you cards you get to keep. As you play through the game you level up and gain access to more talents and a wider variety of strategies.

    HEX is an amazing game if you like deep strategy trading card games, in addition to the RPG elements one of the major ways it distinguishes itself from other digital card games is that your cards have real value. HEX has a fully functional auction house that allows you to sell and trade with other players freely unlike Hearthstone which requires all cards to be acquired through grinding dust or getting lucky in packs.

    The other advantage of HEX over other digital card games is that the community is really helpful. Most new players are able to get cards without a problem from helpful members of the community. Even if a player wanted to play "solo" the game offers wonderful opportunities to grind for gold and cards totally free.

    10/10    … Expand
  2. Goth
    Feb 13, 2016
    10
    Hex is a full tcg with some advanced techniques, a price that is accessible and because it is relative new it has limited card pool. With this pool by now the game reach a depth no card game on the Pc has so far and I will say if its successful no other card game will reach it afterwards. I played more than 1000 hours, games like hearthstone have no chance in complexity, art, tournamentHex is a full tcg with some advanced techniques, a price that is accessible and because it is relative new it has limited card pool. With this pool by now the game reach a depth no card game on the Pc has so far and I will say if its successful no other card game will reach it afterwards. I played more than 1000 hours, games like hearthstone have no chance in complexity, art, tournament play and pve, only in accessibility it shines against this one. I have to thank the designers for such a good game.… Expand
  3. funktion
    Feb 9, 2016
    10
    Disclaimer: I am drinking the cool-aid, though I can still write a fair review!

    Hex has had growing pains there is no doubt about that. I've been a TCG player for most of my life at this point and if you don't have regularly released new content you don't have a TCG. This is Hex's biggest mark against it, and luckily this is also something which is seeing improvement (albeit slowly).    Disclaimer: I am drinking the cool-aid, though I can still write a fair review!

    Hex has had growing pains there is no doubt about that. I've been a TCG player for most of my life at this point and if you don't have regularly released new content you don't have a TCG. This is Hex's biggest mark against it, and luckily this is also something which is seeing improvement (albeit slowly).

    *If you are not already a TCG player, the game has a lot of potential to have a steep learning curve, you should probably know this going into it and it will make things much more palpable. Luckily the game has an amazing community which would be happy to help out.*

    With that aside, let's get down to the good stuff:
    -The community for this game is like none other, I've never been part of a gaming community which was so positive and so welcoming. It might take you some time to warm up to folks; however, if part of what you're looking for is interaction with other PEOPLE then you're in the right spot.
    -The game design itself is stellar! The mechanics they've come up with are very clean and innovative. They fit! Any TCG fan could come up with mechanics that seem interesting or new, but whether they actually work, aren't clumsy and fit within the context of the rest of the set is a whole different thing. [In a digital environment this is even more so the case, things need to be as seamlessly fluid as possible, and in this regards Hex could probably still gain some ground]
    -Hex is built on a strong foundation. There are similarities to Magic, mostly when it comes to the core "rules engine" of the game, but the same could be said for many if not most tcg's out there. Having a solid rules engine is important for the longevity of the game. Outside of that, Hex is exploring new ground that could only ever be covered in a digital-only environment. While many posters on the internet seem to see this as a negative I don't understand where that mentality comes from. Just because some things are similar does not make either of the games any worse, there are TONS of other games from all genres that bear similarities to one another. Iteration is one of the keys to strong game design!

    I could go on a bit longer, but ultimately what I would say is this: If you think you might like Hex then try it out. Just like any other game, it might be the game for you or it might not. If it seems like there's something off or that you might be missing something just take a breather and ask around on the forums / reddit / twitch and someone can probably point you in the right direction.    … Expand
  4. bootlace
    Feb 11, 2016
    10
    I'm a former MTGO and Hearthstone player and pretty much quit those games to play this. The core gameplay has the strategic depth of a game like MTG and the digital bells and whistles of a game like Hearthstone, and adds on top of it a comprehensive RPG campaign (with loot you earn and everything) not found anywhere else.

    Beyond that there's things like gems to socket in your cards,    I'm a former MTGO and Hearthstone player and pretty much quit those games to play this. The core gameplay has the strategic depth of a game like MTG and the digital bells and whistles of a game like Hearthstone, and adds on top of it a comprehensive RPG campaign (with loot you earn and everything) not found anywhere else.

    Beyond that there's things like gems to socket in your cards, equipment for each card you can use to upgrade the way it work, and champions and their abilities which give birth to entirely new strategies.

    Oh and unlike Hearthstone it's also a full blown TCG where your cards have real world value, where you can buy and sell anything on an Auction House and you're actually investing in the game instead of throwing money into a blackhole you will never see again.

    The core of the game is now in and there are a ton of great new features in the horizon (they come a bit slow, but they don't sacrifice on quality to release them). Raids, guilds, crafting, multiplayer and a ton of other stuff is in the works so if you're looking to sink your teeth into a meaty digital card game, look no further, this is THE digital card game to get into.    … Expand
  5. BrynhildrTCG
    Feb 11, 2016
    8
    Hex is a stellar Trading Card Game blending in elements of MMOs and RPGs in a formula that simply works. Whether you are a competitive player or a neophyte taking baby steps in your first trading card game, you will find there is something for everyone to enjoy. At its core, Hex takes much of its gameplay from card games established over the past few decades (Such as Magic, WoW:TCG,Hex is a stellar Trading Card Game blending in elements of MMOs and RPGs in a formula that simply works. Whether you are a competitive player or a neophyte taking baby steps in your first trading card game, you will find there is something for everyone to enjoy. At its core, Hex takes much of its gameplay from card games established over the past few decades (Such as Magic, WoW:TCG, ETC), and combines the best parts of each into a fantastic package. Similar to other online card games, new players are given a stipend of 200 standard cards, enough to give the player the ability to create a basic deck for whichever character they choose to make. Players have the option to expand their collection either through purchasing PvP booster packs, or adventuring in the game's free PvE campaign to earn adventure zone packs.

    With $7 Drafts, an extremely rich PvE system with talent points and equipment that changes your cards, and a wonderful community, Hex is definitely worth a look to TCG enthusiasts.    … Expand
  6. Saeijou
    Feb 13, 2016
    10
    I backed the game via Kickstarter and it is worth every penny...
    i play every spare second i have and it is, after all these years in beta, still the best game i ever had.
  7. zz_tophat
    Feb 14, 2016
    10
    There are few games out there that actually make me think, fewer still that actually made me keep doing so once I had "learned the basics", HEX is one of those gems that had me theory crafting for hours on end, building, tearing apart, rebuilding decks as I constantly shifted things around trying to improve and discovering new combos.

    As it is such a massive timesink for me I have to    There are few games out there that actually make me think, fewer still that actually made me keep doing so once I had "learned the basics", HEX is one of those gems that had me theory crafting for hours on end, building, tearing apart, rebuilding decks as I constantly shifted things around trying to improve and discovering new combos.

    As it is such a massive timesink for me I have to rate it highly, however I have got to knock off a few points for the lack of technical polish and the fact that as of right now, the PvE campaign is very short, practically just the starting area (and who wants to be stuck in the starting area of an MMO)? I will no doubt revisit this review later, once things get ironed out and content is added.    … Expand
  8. Quariq
    Mar 8, 2016
    10
    I have been playing this game since early alpha and it is hands down the best card game I have ever had the opportunity to play. The game offers both a casual approach via the pve campaign and more complexity in the pvp tournaments. There is tons of fun to be had playing around with different card combinations and new ideas whether it is against friends in the proving grounds or againstI have been playing this game since early alpha and it is hands down the best card game I have ever had the opportunity to play. The game offers both a casual approach via the pve campaign and more complexity in the pvp tournaments. There is tons of fun to be had playing around with different card combinations and new ideas whether it is against friends in the proving grounds or against opponents in tournaments. The community is friendly and there are regular community run tournaments aimed at new players. The only negative thing I have to say about Hex is that you will always want more content....come to think of it that can also be seen as a positive.… Expand
  9. NaryaDPhoenix
    Feb 6, 2016
    10
    TCGs are one of the most satisfying games to play in the word. Yet one of the hardest genres to get into because of high cost barriers or very steep learning curves. After Hearthstone managed to appeal to the masses via simplicity, HEX now finally manages to unite complexity, long term investment as well as easy access to the game. You can start free to play without any traditionalTCGs are one of the most satisfying games to play in the word. Yet one of the hardest genres to get into because of high cost barriers or very steep learning curves. After Hearthstone managed to appeal to the masses via simplicity, HEX now finally manages to unite complexity, long term investment as well as easy access to the game. You can start free to play without any traditional "payment traps" and learn the game in a fun PvE environment and either stay in that fantastic part of the game or start to invest slowly and join the competitive PvP side of things. Its not quite finished yet and lots of things are to come, but there is no better time to get into this game than now!… Expand
  10. Firgus
    Feb 5, 2016
    9
    Hex is a diamond in the rough. It's Magic: The Gathering but designed from the ground up to be a computer games. There's a lot of unique mechanics that couldn't be done in a pen and paper game. Mostly deck manipulation (ie: creating a ton of spider eggs that you put into your opponent's deck that are basically booby traps when drawn).
    The game has an auction house which makes it really    Hex is a diamond in the rough. It's Magic: The Gathering but designed from the ground up to be a computer games. There's a lot of unique mechanics that couldn't be done in a pen and paper game. Mostly deck manipulation (ie: creating a ton of spider eggs that you put into your opponent's deck that are basically booby traps when drawn).
    The game has an auction house which makes it really easy to sell/trade cards. This is a feature MTGO is still lacking today after more than 10 years.
    The game looses a point for all the bugs. Expect some visual glitches once in a while.    … Expand
  11. Ogodei
    Feb 2, 2016
    8
    Great way to get your TCG fix if you're bored with Hearthstone or unsatisfied with the digital versions of Magic: the Gathering. The new PvE campaign further explores the possibilities of digital TCGs and takes the genre to the next level (about time!) – while making it a lot easier for beginners to enjoy the game without investing any money.

    If you like competitive play it offers a    Great way to get your TCG fix if you're bored with Hearthstone or unsatisfied with the digital versions of Magic: the Gathering. The new PvE campaign further explores the possibilities of digital TCGs and takes the genre to the next level (about time!) – while making it a lot easier for beginners to enjoy the game without investing any money.

    If you like competitive play it offers a wide range of PvP options as well, like Sealed & Draft tournaments. While I understand the philosophy of PvP cards having actual value, in my opinion the required booster packs are still too expensive ($2) for a purely digital card game (thus only 8/10).    … Expand
  12. flotos
    Feb 6, 2016
    10
    I have always wanted to play MTG on my computer, but i couldn't feel the UI. With hex, it's not only the UI and step phases that is improved, but also the some rules that couldn't happen on real magic, such as Prophecy : we boost the next creature on our deck.
  13. Svenn
    Feb 2, 2016
    10
    This game is amazing. They've managed to combine an RPG with a TCG in an amazing way. On top of that, the PvP component is fantastic. I've spent hundreds of hours doing drafts and I'm still not bored of it.

    The pricing model is fantastic. It's free to get in and play the PvE part. There is no charge at all for any of the PvE, start to finish. You can pay to buy PvP cards (which can be    This game is amazing. They've managed to combine an RPG with a TCG in an amazing way. On top of that, the PvP component is fantastic. I've spent hundreds of hours doing drafts and I'm still not bored of it.

    The pricing model is fantastic. It's free to get in and play the PvE part. There is no charge at all for any of the PvE, start to finish. You can pay to buy PvP cards (which can be used in PvE), or earn some of the commons in PvE. You can convert PvE rewards into the PvP part of the game. On top of that, there's a healthy third party market where you can cash out any time.

    If you have any interest in TCGs (or even if you don't!) then you owe it to yourself to check out this game.    … Expand
  14. Stuie_
    Feb 6, 2016
    10
    I find the game to be simply amazing (more so if you like TCGs/CCGs). The art work, the music, the gameplay... it all provides a really immersive experience. The writing could be improved but it is passable as far as in-game fantasy writing goes. They've created something over the last few years that MTGO hasn't been able to come even close to in the 13+ years it's been around, and the newI find the game to be simply amazing (more so if you like TCGs/CCGs). The art work, the music, the gameplay... it all provides a really immersive experience. The writing could be improved but it is passable as far as in-game fantasy writing goes. They've created something over the last few years that MTGO hasn't been able to come even close to in the 13+ years it's been around, and the new campaign takes it to a whole new level.

    I have been playing Hex since Alpha, and some of the later (albeit "optional") encounters are downright brutal. They require an understanding of what the enemy is doing and then deck tweaking to counter that specific line of play. One welcome addition would be the ability to save multiple decks so that it is easier to get back to your regular build after tweaking for encounters like this.

    All in all, I have played through the first chapter of the campaign multiple times now, and I'm still enjoying it and planning more characters builds, and look forward to additional content.    … Expand
  15. Necroa
    Feb 6, 2016
    8
    The revolutionary MMOTCG, HEX: Shards of Fate combined both elements of a RPG and a TCG to make an amazing game for fans of MMOs and TCGs to enjoy. It caters to both the casual and the competitive player in the form of PvE and PvP and has excellent balance. It's a lot of fun. Those are the pros to this game. The cons of this game, however, lie with PvE campaign. The game has releasedThe revolutionary MMOTCG, HEX: Shards of Fate combined both elements of a RPG and a TCG to make an amazing game for fans of MMOs and TCGs to enjoy. It caters to both the casual and the competitive player in the form of PvE and PvP and has excellent balance. It's a lot of fun. Those are the pros to this game. The cons of this game, however, lie with PvE campaign. The game has released campaign mode as we all know and has dropped the beta tag that was on it for so long. In campaign mode, you get to create your own champion and each of those champions have different skills that you can use your skill points on. The cons of this game are the quests for each of your characters. They are the same quests with a slightly different telling of the story depending on your race. It gets quite repetitive if you hop onto other characters because you end up having to do the same thing over and over again. It also gets quite tiresome at some points, almost to the point where I have to stop for a bit and do something else. Despite all of this, the game is very addicting and fun to play. I give it a 8/10. Give it a try.… Expand
  16. Rodick90
    Mar 5, 2016
    10
    Great game and only in digital market that have TRADING involved. Playing for long time now and i love it. Thou dev team should make spectate mode and co-op mode to play with friends! And soon!
  17. zachario
    Mar 6, 2016
    10
    Hey I just want to say I love this game. It has so much potential. True, the release of new content could be more frequently and like others said, it's a diamond in the rough but when you consider the indie developers there's already a lot of content. So let's all join in, support, and make this game great!
  18. Corran
    Mar 7, 2016
    10
    Backed this game a some years ago.. was just a TCG then. Had some nice features, but now, with the update it is actually a RPG as well. I enjoyed the campaign a lot
  19. Varranis
    Dec 13, 2016
    10
    With over 1,000 hours played, I can safely says Hex is one of my most played games of all time. Hex offers an excellent mix of Magic: the Gathering's complexity and Hearthstone's polish.
  20. DravenHavok
    Feb 6, 2016
    9
    It's been a while since I had so much fun with a TCG. It has great depth, and the new PvE content patch shows great promise in the story aspect of why we're here. I play casually with friends and so far we've had a lot of fun mixing random cards for strange decks. I am looking forward to official release, after which I will probably increase my score and edit my review of this game.
  21. Efnita
    Feb 2, 2016
    10
    Wonderful game. While the game isn't perfect there is no other game that has managed to grab my attention like this since the original Everquest and the paper based Star Wars CCG.

    PVE is fun but where the game really shines is in PVP. There are several modes including draft and a gauntlet, which is a mode that lets you build a deck from 6 packs and then play games against other players    Wonderful game. While the game isn't perfect there is no other game that has managed to grab my attention like this since the original Everquest and the paper based Star Wars CCG.

    PVE is fun but where the game really shines is in PVP. There are several modes including draft and a gauntlet, which is a mode that lets you build a deck from 6 packs and then play games against other players in your own time---you can play 5 matches in a row or one match now and another a few days from now). While PVE costs money (packs are USD2, signup fee for Draft is USD1, Gauntlet is USD2) it is easy enough to win enough packs to have the drafts pay for themselves if you are a somewhat decent player. (I probably spent about USD750 on the game over the past 2 years, my rares and legendaries are worth USD2500 at current prices)

    Would advise anyone who likes deep strategy games or TCGs to download Hex now and check it out.    … Expand
  22. Taqo
    Apr 9, 2016
    10
    I'm a former magic player and since I discovered Hex I haven't played magic and have sold off all my magic cards. Hex is a lot like magic but much much much better. Hex is the future of tcgs, Magic is in the past!
  23. icecon
    Apr 10, 2016
    10
    Hex pushes the boundaries of what a trading card game is and can be.

    If you are a Hearthstone player but feel like you are just going through the motions, then Hex will allow you to explore many more different decks and strategies that you could ever dream of. If you are a Magic player, then you will be amazed by Hex's beauty and innovative mechanics. Or if you just love games, you will    Hex pushes the boundaries of what a trading card game is and can be.

    If you are a Hearthstone player but feel like you are just going through the motions, then Hex will allow you to explore many more different decks and strategies that you could ever dream of. If you are a Magic player, then you will be amazed by Hex's beauty and innovative mechanics. Or if you just love games, you will find in Hex an incredibly friendly community as well as a fun game that allows you to both build a collection for the future as well as casually play some games with friends or online.

    Here are just a few examples of what Hex does as digital card game that are either impractical or impossible for physical card games:
    - Card customization - in between games you can actually a card's functionality
    - Cards that change into other cards while in your hand
    - Cards that generate and add cards into your own or your opponent's deck

    I give the game a 9.5 out of 10, because it is still at only 95% of its potential which it is expected to realize in the next year. Install Hex, you will never look back. Good luck and have fun!    … Expand
  24. Kyutaru
    Apr 21, 2016
    10
    This is the true godsend TCG we've been waiting for. Magic has never released anything like HEX before to the online universe, though the PVE campaign is similar to their ancient singleplayer game Shandalar.

    Every digital card game that exists owes it to Magic yet only HEX carries the same tradition forward with innovations, complexity, and strategic depth. If you played games like    This is the true godsend TCG we've been waiting for. Magic has never released anything like HEX before to the online universe, though the PVE campaign is similar to their ancient singleplayer game Shandalar.

    Every digital card game that exists owes it to Magic yet only HEX carries the same tradition forward with innovations, complexity, and strategic depth. If you played games like Hearthstone and found them to be TOO SIMPLE then give HEX a spin. It's going to blow your mind.

    Please ignore the 0 rating review trolls. Haters gonna hate and Hasbro can afford a lot of haters.    … Expand
  25. Largashbur
    Feb 5, 2016
    10
    Are you someone that looks for challenges in games? Someone that loves complexity in games? Someone that doesn't mind high learning curves? Someone that likes to trade/barter ingame items that actually have real-world value? Someone that prefers playing slow-paced games over fast-paced games at leisure time? Someone that likes trading card games? Someone that likes PvE and PvP alike? ThenAre you someone that looks for challenges in games? Someone that loves complexity in games? Someone that doesn't mind high learning curves? Someone that likes to trade/barter ingame items that actually have real-world value? Someone that prefers playing slow-paced games over fast-paced games at leisure time? Someone that likes trading card games? Someone that likes PvE and PvP alike? Then this game is for you.

    Path of Exile players, EVE Online players, Magic players, this is your kind of game.

    This is a free-to-enter trading card game where all cards are tradeable and many have real-world value! This differentiates Hex from CCGs such as Hearthstone, Duelyst, Solforge where you may just shrug when you get a legendary you cannot use. Sell it to other players and buy cards you like from the currency! The PvE part (with quality lore!) is completely free but you can earn cards items in PvE that you can sell for ingame currency to other players. The PvP part requires currency (because you can keep all cards that you use to play in PvP with the chance of super-rare cards that sell for thrice the money you used to enter the PvP game!) that can either be earned from PvE, from successful trading of cards (you can earn currency as a "broker"!) or from paying real money. This is what makes PvP games so exciting! You will sweat, shed tears and shudder all over your body over each your PvP decisions in your first matches because you are playing over something that has real value!

    What makes this game truly complex is that the cards have complex mechanisms and millions of possible interactions. Cards can be socketed with gems that give them special powers! You can put equipment on your hero (Head, Torso, Boots, Gloves....) that make specific cards stronger! At the moment the game has more than 1000(!) different cards. Once to twice a year, the developers release a new set containing an additional ~250-300 cards! Moreover, once to twice a year, the developers also aim to release a "PvE" expansion which expands the PvE possibilities with additional campaigns.

    While the game still has a few bugs, the developer team is very dedicated to fix those and the support willingly reimburses you for any gamebreaking bugs you experience in PvP! So you don't have to worry about any losses as long as you report the bug to support!

    The most exciting part of this game is that it is just a mere beginning. The developers are dedicated and repeatedly add more features. What is going to come in the future? Co-op play! Raids! 2vs2! Guilds that can share cards!

    Not convinced yet? Head to Twitch.tv and watch people playing to grasp the concept of this game!    … Expand
  26. anggadaz
    Jul 19, 2016
    8
    This game is trading card game online. The game featured with role playing scenario. You can play multiplayer online with your friends. This game has several class and character for different card that can pick.
  27. Faldo
    Mar 19, 2017
    10
    I play it As an FTP and it takes time definitely but if i would play any other MM game i would still farm more than a month to get to an good level.

    Hex is a really good MMTCG and if you play it enogh you can definily get good cards if you do it inteligent
  28. bizznach
    Sep 11, 2016
    8
    Really fun game which for me is the important part.
    Love it!
    similar to MTGO but better at the digital part, and a lot cheaper. things to do for free and things to spend cash on when i feel like it. Will revisit my rating once multi play coop is added (they still have a ton of content they are developing on the pve side) some of these neg reviews are really funny tho... did HEX    Really fun game which for me is the important part.
    Love it!
    similar to MTGO but better at the digital part, and a lot cheaper.

    things to do for free and things to spend cash on when i feel like it.
    Will revisit my rating once multi play coop is added (they still have a ton of content they are developing on the pve side)
    some of these neg reviews are really funny tho...

    did HEX kill your mother or something?    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Best PC Game of 2016
61
#61 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. MMORPG.com
    Jul 18, 2016
    84
    Hex: Shards of Fate is unquestionably a brilliant card game that’s complex, rewarding and addictive. I often feel confused, out of my depth and in desperate need of help and yet I wouldn’t want it any other way. Cryptozoic Entertainment have masterfully blended two genres with finesse and polish, to the point where PvE and PvP offer serious longevity.
    Read full review
  2. Everyeye.it
    May 4, 2016
    78
    Hex doesn't want to make a revolution in the TCG world. It's a classic but valid experience, and, as a free-to-play, offers a great number -and quality- of content, becoming one of the best TCG-online together with Magic The Gathering.
    Read full review
  3. Vandal
    Mar 16, 2016
    85
    We all know the ingredients, but we've never seen a recipe like this. HEX is a great game, fun, deep and with a very promising future in the competitive scene.
    Read full review
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