Hearthstone is a free-to-play online digital collectible card game created by Blizzard Entertainment in 2014. Originally called Heroes of Warcraft, Hearthstone uses characters, items, and stories from the Warcraft series. The game is available on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices, allowing players to compete across different platforms. It has been widely praised and has attracted over 100 million players by November 2018. Hearthstone has also become a popular competitive game, with cash prize tournaments organized by Blizzard and other groups.

In Hearthstone, two players use custom decks of 30 cards and choose a hero with special abilities. Players take turns using limited resources called mana crystals to play cards, summon characters, or use abilities to attack the opponent. The goal is to defeat the opponent’s hero. Players earn in-game rewards like gold and new cards by winning matches or completing tasks. These rewards can be used to purchase new card packs, which help players improve their decks. The game includes different ways to play, such as casual matches, ranked battles, arena challenges, and single-player stories. New content is added through expansion packs that introduce new cards and game features.

Unlike other Blizzard games, Hearthstone was developed by a smaller team and designed to improve upon common issues in digital card games. It prevents opponents from taking actions during a player’s turn and mimics the experience of a physical card game through its interface. Many of its ideas and artwork were inspired by the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, a physical card game released earlier.

Gameplay

Hearthstone is a digital-only, turn-based collectible card game set in the Warcraft universe. It is played between two opponents who take turns using cards from their collection. Each player chooses a hero from one of eleven classes. Every class has unique cards and abilities called hero powers that help define how each class plays. The goal of the game is to reduce the opponent’s health to zero.

There are five types of cards: minions, spells, weapons, hero cards, and locations. Cards are ranked by rarity, with Legendary cards being the rarest, followed by Epic, Rare, Common, and Free. Blizzard adds new cards every four months through expansions and smaller sets called mini-sets. These updates increase the variety of cards available in the game. Hearthstone uses a freemium model, meaning players can play for free or pay to get more cards or content.

Unlike games like Magic: The Gathering, Hearthstone speeds up gameplay by removing the need for players to react manually during their opponent’s turn. Each player has a timer for their turn. Players use "mana," a resource that increases by one each turn, up to a maximum of ten. Cards require different amounts of mana to play, which requires players to plan ahead and think strategically.

Most cards are either minions or spells. Minions are placed on the board when played and may have special effects, such as Charge (letting them attack immediately) or Deathrattle (doing something when they die). Spells have unique effects that change the game in different ways.

Cards can be obtained by opening packs or by crafting them using arcane dust. Arcane dust is earned by destroying unwanted cards or by playing in the Arena.

The main gameplay mode is one-on-one matches against randomly chosen opponents. In Standard format, players use decks limited to cards from the Core set and the last two years of expansions. Wild format allows any card to be used, as long as it follows deck rules. Twist format changes regularly and may include special rules or card pools. Both Standard and Wild formats have Casual and Ranked modes. Ranked mode lets players earn ranks based on performance, while Casual mode is more relaxed. At the end of each month, Ranked mode ends, and players receive rewards based on their results.

Other multiplayer modes include:

• Arena: Players build a deck of 30 cards by choosing from three options in each round. They use this deck until they win or lose a set number of matches. Rewards are given based on their performance.
• Tavern Brawls: Weekly challenges with unique deck-building rules.
• Battlegrounds: A mode where eight players compete by recruiting minions. Players are paired randomly, and minions fight automatically. The goal is to be the last hero standing.
• Mercenaries: A mode where players form parties of six minions to complete quests. Minions have color-based strengths and weaknesses, and players use these to win battles. Players can improve minions or recruit new ones. This mode no longer receives updates but remains in the game.

Some modes have been removed:

• Classic mode was available from March 2021 to June 2023. It used cards from the game’s original 2014 release, ignoring later changes.
• Duels was available from October 2020 to April 2024. It was a multiplayer version of Hearthstone’s single-player "Dungeon Run" mode. Players built decks and competed against others, earning rewards based on their record.

Solo adventures are also available. These are special challenges designed to test players in different ways.

Hearthstone expands with new content through Expansions and Adventures. Expansions are large sets with 100–200 new cards, while Adventures include smaller sets with about 30 cards earned by completing story-based challenges. By 2017, Blizzard focused only on Expansions because Adventure cards were commonly used in gameplay. Starting in 2021, smaller mini-sets were added to replace Adventures, each centered on a specific theme.

To manage the number of cards and prevent imbalances, Blizzard introduced a "Year" system in 2018. This system rotates cards in and out of the Standard format, allowing only cards from the current and previous year to be used. Since 2021, the Core set has also been updated to remove older cards and include new ones from expansions.

Development

Hearthstone was created by Blizzard Team 5 and released by Blizzard Entertainment. The game was inspired by two ideas: Blizzard wanted to make something more creative with a smaller team, and many employees loved collectible card games. In 2008, Blizzard leaders noticed that most of their money came from three big game series (Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo). They saw smaller companies making successful games, which changed how video games were made. To try this new idea, Blizzard formed Team 5, named after being their fifth development team. The team started with 12 to 15 members, much smaller than other Blizzard teams that had over 60 members. By 2015, Team 5 had 47 members.

Team 5 explored many game types but focused on collectible card games because many team members and Blizzard employees had played these games before. They chose to build the game around Warcraft’s story because Warcraft was already popular, and its characters and settings made it easy to create cards. They hoped new players would enjoy Hearthstone and then try other Warcraft games.

The team used ideas and artwork from the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, first made in 2006. In 2013, Blizzard ended its partnership with the company that published the trading cards to focus on Hearthstone. Adding heroes, a feature from the trading cards, helped players connect with the game and find strong card combinations.

After about a year, Team 5 made a prototype using Adobe Flash. This version showed the game’s basic rules and heroes. Some team members were temporarily moved to work on StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. This time helped the team improve Hearthstone quickly. Designers Eric Dodds and Ben Brode stayed on Hearthstone and used the prototype and physical cards to test ideas. Team members who worked on StarCraft II returned with ideas from its gameplay to balance heroes and make each one unique.

The game’s interface was designed to be easy to learn and fun. They used Unity as the game engine because it made the game run faster and smoother. The rules are handled by the server, which sends updates to players. Dodds said players should not need to spend time learning rules at first, and the game gets more complex as they play. Features like pre-made decks, help with building decks, and visual hints helped new players understand the game. Card descriptions were written so players could quickly understand what each card does.

Hearthstone was made to be played online and feel like a real card game. Dodds said other companies had tried to digitize card games but missed some parts. Hearthstone avoided letting opponents act during a player’s turn, making the game faster.

The game’s design included effects that mimic a physical game. Players open a box at the start, cards move in their hands, and cards slam down when played. When attacking, cards jump to hit targets, and the screen shakes during big attacks. When a powerful creature appears, the audience seems to gasp. Interactive boards let players pet a dragon, but this has no effect on the game. This idea came from the movie Jumanji and how players often play with their cards while waiting.

Unlike physical card games, Hearthstone had no trading system from the start. Hamilton Chu, the game’s producer, said focusing on playing was important. Trading could cause problems like unfair prices, cheating, and unauthorized sales. Blizzard wanted to keep profits from the game for the company.

The name Hearthstone was chosen to represent friends gathering around a fire, which is what the team wanted players to feel. The idea of a pub’s hearth as the game’s theme came halfway through development. Chayes, a team leader, said this fit their goals and felt charming. To keep the game friendly, heroes could say kind messages to opponents.

The soundtrack was made by Peter McConnell, with trailer music by Jason Hayes. They wanted the music to match the tavern setting but not overpower it. McConnell mixed Celtic music with blues rock, imagining what bands like ZZ Top might sound like in the Middle Ages. Hayes and Glenn Stafford created short musical pieces for when players summon powerful cards.

During beta testing, the team adjusted card strengths and made sure no hero or deck was too strong. As Hearthstone was released in March 2014, Blizzard found it hard to get people to try the game. Many people said they were not interested. To fix this, Blizzard made Hearthstone free to play. Players could earn in-game money by winning matches or completing tasks, and use it to buy card packs.

Release

Hearthstone was first introduced with the subtitle Heroes of Warcraft at the Penny Arcade Expo in March 2013 for Windows, Mac, and iPad. The game was expected to be released in the same year. Testing of the game inside Blizzard began in 2012. In August 2013, the game entered closed beta testing, with more than one million players invited by November 8, 2013. Plans were made to begin open beta testing in December. Blizzard continued closed beta testing until mid-January 2014, even though they had originally planned to stop earlier. Open beta testing was announced for North America on January 21, 2014, for Europe on January 22, 2014, and for all regions on January 23, 2014.

The game was officially released on March 11, 2014, and was available on Microsoft Windows and macOS operating systems. By the end of March 2014, the game had more than 10 million registered player accounts worldwide. On April 2, 2014, the game was released for iPad in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. On April 14, 2014, it became available on iOS and Android mobile devices. On April 16, 2014, it was released globally for iPads. On August 6, 2014, support for Windows 8 touchscreen devices was added, but not for Windows RT devices. On December 15, 2014, the game was released for Android tablets 6 inches or larger in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. On December 16, 2014, it was widely released for Android tablets. On April 14, 2015, the game was released for iPhone and Android smartphones worldwide. The smartphone version includes new interface features, such as placing the player’s hand on the bottom right corner of the screen, partially visible. Players must tap their hand to zoom in and play cards. Single cards can also be viewed full screen by tapping and holding on a specific card, which helps players read card details on a smartphone display.

To celebrate the release of Hearthstone, Blizzard gave World of Warcraft players a special mount called Hearthsteed. Players earn this mount by winning three games in Arena or Play mode. This promotion was widely advertised on World of Warcraft websites and encouraged players to try Hearthstone. It was the first major crossover between Blizzard games. Later, similar promotions were added to other Blizzard titles, such as Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, Heroes of the Storm, StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void, and Overwatch.

An alternate hero for Shaman, Morgl the Oracle, became available through Hearthstone’s "Recruit A Friend" program after the recruited friend reached level 20. Players who linked their Amazon Prime subscription to Twitch Prime in late 2016 received the alternate Priest hero, Tyrande Whisperwind. Other Twitch Prime promotions included a golden pack (a Classic card pack with only golden cards), two exclusive card backs, and two Kobolds & Catacombs packs.

Since the Blackrock Mountain adventure, every expansion and adventure has included an exclusive card back for players who pre-ordered it. The Boomsday Project, Rastakhan’s Rumble, Rise of Shadows, Saviors of Uldum, Descent of Dragons, Ashes of Outland, Scholomance Academy, Madness at the Darkmoon Faire, and Forged in the Barrens expansions each offered an alternate hero portrait as a bonus for ordering the largest preorder bundle. These included Mecha-Jaraxxus for Warlock, King Rastakhan for Shaman, Madame Lazul for Priest, Elise Starseeker for Druid, Deathwing for Warrior, Lady Vashj for Shaman, Kel’Thuzad for Mage, N’Zoth for Warlock, and Hamuul Runetotem for Druid.

To promote the Journey to Un’Goro set, Blizzard created a web series called Wonders of Un’Goro, featuring an adventurer exploring the area. Before releasing the Knights of the Frozen Throne set, Blizzard partnered with Dark Horse Comics to publish a three-issue comic book series based on the set’s Death Knight theme. To promote the Kobolds & Catacombs set, Blizzard released The Light Candle, a live-action short film that mimics movies from the 1980s by Jim Henson, as characters explore a dungeon.

Esports

Hearthstone has been part of many tournaments due to its focus on accessibility and fast-paced gameplay. In November 2013, Blizzard hosted a special tournament called "The Innkeeper's Invitational," which featured three decks from different classes. Well-known gamers such as Dan "Artosis" Stemkoski, Octavian "Kripparrian" Morosan, Jeffrey "TrumpSC" Shih, and Byron "Reckful" Bernstein participated. Artosis won the best-of-five tournament. During Hearthstone's closed beta, other tournaments were held by Major League Gaming and ESL. In March 2014, Tespa announced the Collegiate Hearthstone Open, a free-to-enter event for North American college students offering $5,000 in scholarships. Major League Gaming, ESL, and the ZOTAC Cup continue to host smaller Hearthstone leagues in North America and Europe with limited or no prize money for everyday players. Blizzard staff were surprised by the game's success as an esport during its closed beta.

In April 2014, Blizzard announced the first Hearthstone World Championship, which took place at BlizzCon on November 7–8. The tournament included players from four regions, each holding its own qualifying event. The Americas and Europe qualifiers had 160 players each, with half of the participants selected based on their in-game performance during the April–August seasons. Four top players from each region advanced to the World Championship, totaling 16 players. The 2014 World Championship had a prize pool of $250,000, with American player James "Firebat" Kostesich winning $100,000.

The second Hearthstone World Championship occurred at BlizzCon 2015 on November 7. Players were selected similarly to the previous year, and the tournament used a best-of-five conquest format. Swedish player Sebastian "Ostkaka" Engwall won $100,000. The third World Championship took place at BlizzCon 2016 on November 5. Russian player Pavel Beltiukov won $250,000, and the event used a Swiss-system format where one class could be banned by opponents. The fourth World Championship had a $1 million prize pool and was held in Amsterdam in January 2018. The event was moved to January to align with the Standard mode's yearly rotation. Taiwanese player Chen "tom60229" Wei Lin won $250,000. The fifth World Championship occurred in April 2019 in Taipei, with Norwegian player Casper "Hunterace" Notto winning $250,000. The first Hearthstone Grandmasters Global Finals was held at BlizzCon 2019. Chinese player Xiaomeng "VKLiooon" Li won $200,000 and became the first woman to win the Hearthstone World Championship and any BlizzCon tournament. The seventh Hearthstone World Championship was won by Japanese player Kenta "Glory" Sato, who received $200,000.

Hearthstone has also been included in several esports demonstration events at international competitions, such as the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games and the 2018 Asian Games.

Reception

Hearthstone received "universal acclaim" on iOS and "generally favorable" reviews for PC, according to Metacritic. The game was praised for its simplicity, gameplay pace, and attention to detail, as well as being free-to-play. However, the lack of actual card trading between players and any tournament mode was noted as major shortcomings.

Eurogamer gave Hearthstone a perfect score of 10, stating the game is "overflowing with character and imagination" and "feeds off and fuels a vibrant community of players and performers." Eurogamer also noted that the game will improve as Blizzard adds new features, an iPad version, and expansions.

IGN and Game Informer both gave Hearthstone a slightly lower grade of 9/10. IGN’s Justin Davis praised the game for its "elegant simplicity of rules" and "impressive attention to detail and personality." He also noted that the game’s free-to-play nature makes it easy to enjoy and get lost in its strategic possibilities.

GameSpot scored Hearthstone 8/10, praising its depth and complexity. The main drawback was the "absence of extra features," which may reduce long-term appeal.

Later Hearthstone expansions were also well received. Game Informer rated the Curse of Naxxramas expansion 9/10, calling it an "excellent addition" to the core game and noting it added new content that influenced how players approach the game. PC Gamer gave Curse of Naxxramas a 78/100 score, calling it a "much-needed and fun refresher" but stating future expansions need to be larger. Game Informer also praised the Goblins vs Gnomes expansion with a 9.25/10 score, calling it a "major step forward" for the game. Eurogamer scored Goblins vs Gnomes 8/10, noting that while the expansion added new content, it may have strengthened certain deck types that did not need improvement.

Some commentators have pointed out that Hearthstone includes "pay to win" mechanics. Players who spend money on cards and packs may have an advantage, though success is still possible without spending money. With newer expansions, some players may need to spend about $50 to $100 to build strong decks in the Standard format, which contrasts with the game’s free-to-play nature. In 2017, Daniel Friedman of Polygon estimated that maintaining a complete card collection could cost about $400 per year in booster pack purchases. Friedman noted that the need to stay current for hard-core players is made harder by "power creep," where newer expansions make older cards less effective. He also said that it is still possible to rank well without spending money. In May 2022, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Blizzard, claiming Hearthstone encourages minors to spend non-refundable money on card packs to get rare cards, which violates the California Family Code.

By September 2014, Hearthstone had more than 20 million registered players. By January 2015, the number had grown to over 25 million. In June 2015, there were about 8 million active PC players and 9 million mobile players, with some overlap between the groups. Blizzard reported 30 million players in May 2015, 40 million in November 2015, and 50 million in April 2016. In May 2016, Blizzard reported 70 million unique players, and during the launch of the Journey to Un'Goro expansion in April 2017, the game saw record numbers of simultaneous players. By November 2018, Hearthstone had achieved over 100 million players. In the November 2021 Year of the Phoenix Review, Blizzard reported that there were over 20 million active players in 2020.

On May 6, 2015, Activision Blizzard announced that Hearthstone and Destiny generated nearly $1 billion in revenue for the company. In June 2015, Hearthstone generated about $20 million in revenue that month. As of July 2019, KeyBanc Capital Markets estimated Hearthstone’s annual revenue worldwide to be $600 million.

Hearthstone has been popular on streaming platforms like Twitch. In September 2015, Hearthstone-based streams overtook Dota 2 streams to become the third-most watched game on the platform. By April 2016, Hearthstone was the fourth-most watched game, nearly matching Dota 2’s viewing hours. In March 2017, Hearthstone remained the fourth-most watched game.

On January 23, 2023, players in China lost access to Blizzard’s games because the company’s license agreement with NetEase servers expired. In July 2024, at the ChinaJoy 2024 event, Executive Producer Nathan Lyons-Smith announced that Hearthstone would return to China on September 25, 2024. Returning players in China received golden copies of all 2023 cards for free, along with other in-game rewards.

Forbes named Hearthstone the "Best Digital Card Game" of 2013. At The Game Awards 2014, Hearthstone won "Best Mobile/Handheld Game" and was nominated for "Best Online Experience" and "Game of the Year." In December 2014, GameSpot awarded Hearthstone "Mobile Game of the Year." GameTrailers gave Hearthstone "Multiplayer Game of the Year" and "Best Overall Game of 2014." At the 18th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, Hearthstone won "Mobile Game of the Year" and "Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year," and was nominated for "Game of the Year," "Outstanding Achievement in Game Design," "Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay," and "Outstanding Innovation in Gaming." Hearthstone was nominated for "Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay" again in the following years. At the 11th British Academy Video Games Awards, Hearthstone won "Best Multiplayer" and was nominated for "Best Mobile & Handheld" and "Best Game Design." At the 2014 NAVGTR Awards, Hearthstone won the "Game, Strategy" (Dan Elggren) award. The One Night in Karazhan expansion pack won awards for "Best Handheld Audio" and "Best Sound Design in a Casual/Social Game" at the 15th Annual Game Audio Network Guild Awards. In 2018, the Kobolds & Catacombs expansion was nominated for "Best Sound Design in