Hearthstone is still one of the most popular digital card games for its easy-to-learn mechanics and charming art style. The game features elements of strategy and deck building, all set in the Warcraft universe. Players can choose to duel in classic style or try new game modes like Battlegrounds, Mercenaries, or Solo Adventures.
But a lot of similar card games came out since its release in 2014, making it hard to decide which one to play. This article will explore some of the best games like Hearthstone that offer a similar experience but with their own unique twists.
Shadow Deck: Magic Heroes CCG
Shadow Deck: Magic Heroes CCG is quite similar to Hearthstone in terms of art style and overall gameplay. In Shadow Deck, you will be able to build your own decks with the best hero cards that come equipped with unique abilities. You will be able to battle various enemies and bosses in the Battle or Campaign mode, and you can even join a clan with other players once you reach level 4.
There is also a lot of great content to keep you busy such as daily quests, events, and achievements that will offer you amazing rewards. If you are a fan of strategic card battle games like Hearthstone then Shadow Deck is worth checking out.
- Release Date: February 25, 2019
- Developers: NOXGAMES
- Platforms: Android, iOS
Warhammer Combat Cards – 40K
Warhammer Combat Cards – 40K is another great game like Hearthstone, where you can experience the iconic miniatures of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. In this card game, you can collect and upgrade your war cards to build a battle deck that can be used to progress in the campaign mode or challenge other players in PvP battles.
Each character card has its own unique fighting style – you have ranged, melee, and psychic attacks – to create the perfect strategy.
What makes this game unique is that instead of using Mana or other in-game resources to use your cards, you start by placing your cards on the board and each time you avoid a certain type of attack, it will fill up a meter which makes that attack type stronger.
You can also join or create a clan dedicated to your favorite faction, and increase your might as a Warlord to access more powerful cards. Overall, Warhammer Combat Cards – 40K is a fun and tactical turn-based card strategy game that will provide you with hours of entertainment.
- Release Date: August 8, 2019
- Developers: Flaregames
- Platforms: PC, Android, iOS
Black Deck – Card Battle CCG
Black Deck – Card Battle CCG is another excellent game similar to Hearthstone in terms of visuals and card-battling mechanics.
It has a large collection of beautifully designed cards featuring characters from different factions, allowing you to equip hundreds of powerful artifacts. You can fight off the forces of evil in card battles, take on epic bosses, or join the PvP arena to face other players.
What makes this game stand out is its battle mechanics. Your hero card can boost the stats of all other cards on your battle deck, and can only be attacked directly once all allies are defeated.
The health and attack power is represented by a single stat in each card, located in the lower-left corner and the type of card you attack with makes a big difference in the outcome of each battle.
To top it off, Black Deck features a beautiful fantasy world map with hundreds of stages to immerse yourself in. It’s certainly an experience not to be missed!
- Release Date: January 8, 2020
- Developers: SayGames
- Platforms: Android, iOS
Slay the Spire
If Hearthstone is a little too intense or you want to try something similar, Slay the Spire may just be the card-battling game for you. The game has a unique system that reveals what your opponent’s next move is, enabling you to craft strategies and get the most out of the cards you’re dealt.
Knowing what your opponent is planning means you can decide whether to play defensively or offensively or find a balance between the two. Every decision counts too, and with the addition of relics that add further modifiers to fights, you can boost your chances of winning.
If you’re feeling competitive, you can take part in the daily leaderboard and try to beat players from all around the world. No matter whether you play on PC or mobile, Slay The Spire is a fun and rewarding experience.
- Release Date: January 23, 2019
- Developers: Mega Crit Games
- Platforms: PC, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch
Animation Throwdown: Epic CCG
Fox’s Animation Throwdown is a wild card-battling game that allows you to collect cards featuring characters from your popular shows, like Family Guy, Futurama, American Dad, King of the Hill, and Bob’s Burgers.
You can combine cards to create powerful combos with unique abilities like automatically increasing attack or reducing enemy defense. Then you can use these combos to conquer various islands of story levels and duel other players to level up in the Arena.
While the cartoon visuals and sounds are sure to make you laugh, the challenge of discovering new card combinations and upgrading your cards will keep you entertained for hours.
- Release Date: August 18, 2016
- Developers: Kongregate
- Platforms: PC, Android, iOS, Mac
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links is a super fun card battler game for all Yu-Gi-Oh! fans as they can battle out with their favorite characters from the series. All of them have been voiced by the original cast members, and Summoning ace monsters will trigger cool 3D cutscenes that are sure to get any fan excited.
The game also allows you to collect cards and build your own custom deck to take on your opponents. The game also offers a faster dueling experience by utilizing a 3 Zone map instead of the traditional 5 Zone. This allows for duels to last only up to five minutes. We highly recommend it for those who are looking for a card battler as an alternative to Hearthstone.
- Release Date: January 17, 2017
- Developers: KONAMI
- Platforms: PC, Android, iOS, iPad
Magic: The Gathering Arena
Magic: The Gathering Arena is an amazing trading card game that allows you to explore a digital multiverse and battle with players from all over the globe. This game is free to download and provides an easy tutorial for beginners to get started.
You can create your own decks and customize them according to your strategy, and there are different game modes like Brawl and Draft with amazing rewards.
You can also collect pets, and avatars, which adds a nice flair to your experience. All of these elements make Magic: The Gathering Arena an enjoyable card game for any Hearthstone fan.
- Release Date: March 17, 2021
- Developers: Wizards of the Coast
- Platforms: PC, Android, iOS
Marvel Snap
We could not create this list of games similar to Hearthstone without including Marvel Snap from Nuverse. Marvel Snap it’s a fast-paced digital collectible card game featuring an amazing collection of Marvel characters such as Captain America, Iron Man, and many others.
As we mentioned in our list of games like Marvel Snap, the game is easy to learn, and fast-paced matches only take three minutes. Plus, there is the innovative Snap mechanic which allows you to double your rewards when you have a winning hand. There are also numerous locations that can further boost the power of specific characters.
For example with Nova Roma, Medusa gets +2 power and Hawkeye +1, while Wakandan Embassy can double the total power of Ironman and gives +5 to Star-Lord. The only thing we wish the game had is a brief description for each character.
That could help casual players or people that are not familiar with most of the characters, other than the ones highlighted in the movies. Gameplay-wise, Marvel Snap is a great addition to this list and a must-try for anyone looking for Hearthstone alternatives.
- Release Date: October 15, 2022
- Developers: Nuverse
- Platforms: PC, Android, iOS, Mac
Legends of Runeterra
Legends of Runeterra is a fun card game created by Riot Games. The game is quite similar to Hearthstone and offers unique and exciting features. You can choose from multiple regions and combine different cards to create a powerful deck.
Each card you choose shapes your journey and provides unique advantages against your opponents. Legends of Runeterra is great for those who like to experiment with different card combinations and adapt to a changing meta.
Additionally, it allows you to react and counter your opponents’ moves before their turn due to the Mana system, adding an extra level of strategic depth. All in all, it’s a great game for anyone who likes games similar to Hearthstone and is looking for a fun and engaging experience.
- Release Date: April 28, 2020
- Developers: Riot Games
- Platforms: PC, Android, iOS
GWENT: The Witcher Card Game
GWENT: The Witcher Card Game is by far one of the best games like Hearthstone. It’s a free-to-play card game set in the fantasy universe of The Witcher and offers an enjoyable blend of CCG and TCG. You can choose from several factions like Northern Realms, Syndicate, Nilfgaard, Skellige, and Scoia’tael to build a deck from cards that incorporate the lore of both book and game timelines.
With beautiful artwork and visual effects, Gwent’s unique round-based gameplay offers a range of strategic possibilities and plenty of ways to play – from quick online games with friends to PvP challenges or the Arena mode.
Every duel is a joy to watch as you sling cards across two tactically distinct rows, melee and ranged. You can also use neutral cards to spice up your deck with original tactics and create unexpected combos.
- Release Date: March 24, 2020
- Developers: CD PROJEKT S.A.
- Platforms: PC, Android, iOS, Mac, PS4, Xbox One
