Hearthstone

Hearthstone, originally Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, is a free-to-play online collectible card video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. Having been released worldwide on March 11, 2014, Hearthstone builds upon the already existing lore of the Warcraft series by using the same elements, characters, and relics. It was first released for Microsoft Windows and macOS, with support for iOS and Android devices being added later. The game features cross-platform play, allowing players on any supported device to compete with each other, restricted only by geographical region account limits.

Hearthstone
HearthStone logo 2016.png
Developer(s)
Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher(s)
Blizzard Entertainment
Director(s)
Ben Brode
Jason Chayes
Eric Dodds
Designer(s)
Derek Sakamoto
Mike Donais
Composer(s)
Peter McConnell
Series
Warcraft
Engine
Unity
Platform(s)
Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Release
Windows, macOS
WW: March 11, 2014
iOS
WW: April 16, 2014
Android
WW: December 15, 2014
Genre(s)
Collectible card game
Mode(s)
Single-player, multiplayer
The game is a turn-based card game between two opponents, using constructed decks of 30 cards along with a selected hero with a unique power. Players use their limited mana crystals to play abilities or summon minions to attack the opponent, with the goal of reducing the opponent's health to zero. Winning matches and completing quests earn in-game gold, rewards in the form of new cards, and other in-game prizes. Players can then buy packs of new cards through gold or microtransactions to customize and improve their decks. The game features several modes of play, including casual and ranked matches, as well as single-player adventures. New content for the game involves the addition of new card sets and gameplay, taking the form of either expansion packs or adventures that reward the player with collectible cards upon completion.

In contrast to other games developed by Blizzard, Hearthstone was an experimental game developed by a smaller team based on the appreciation of collectible card games at the company. The game was designed to avoid pitfalls of other digital collectible card games by eliminating any possible plays from an opponent during a player's turn and by replicating the feel of a physical card game within the game's user interface. Many of the concepts as well as art assets were based on those previously published in the physical World of Warcraft Trading Card Game.

The game has been favorably reviewed by critics and is financially successful for Blizzard, making as much as $40 million per month as of August 2017.[1] As of May 2017, Blizzard has reported more than 70 million Hearthstone players. The game has become popular as an eSport, with cash prize tournaments hosted by Blizzard and other organizers.