Nobody can deny that Hearthstone has had a huge impact on OC digital card games. Collectible Card Games (CCGs) are fantastic products in every way, and it’s influenced many a game that’s come after it- games that will likely never experience the same kind of success as Hearthstone. Unfortunately, some of these games were discarded as poor Hearthstone substitutes without ever really being given a chance.
When it comes to CCGs, however, Hearthstone is clearly the leader of the pack. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some awesome games that have been inspired by it. Most of the following games offer some very generous free play elements as a means of encouraging new players to jump on board. Each is also great fun and offers something different than Hearthstone. While not everyone has been quick to acknowledge it, we’re living in the golden age of PC CCGs, and there are some great games out there to try.
Hearthstone Combines with Another Classic Game
One such game is Duelyst, which is basically a combination of two games: Final Fantasy Tactics and Hearthstone. The game’s card and combo mechanics bear much similarity with the latter the game is easy to grasp, with the board providing an enormous amount of decision-making and choice. Its intriguing ‘replace’ mechanic affords you one card from your hand each turn, which when combined with the 39 decks and allowing three of each card, means that you can more consistently draw what you want.
A Global CCG Phenomenon
Next up is the card game Teen Patti with millions of players each day. This massively popular game is well worth a try, although the rules are a bit strange as a beginner. Normally you can find the game at an online casino india. Teen Patti attracts mullions of placers around the world, and you can play it in either 2D or 3D view with friends, Facebook friends, or real players. It’s also known by numerous other names, such as Flush in Asia, Flash Flash Flash, and Indian Poker.
A Faster-Paced CCG
Another game like Hearthstone, Infinity Wars offers similar combat mechanics. The added depth of the ability to swap units in different zones, however, is a big plus point. The CCG is also faster paced, as players simultaneously take their turns, which means you won’t be waiting around as long while the rope burns down. The voice acting might not be Oscar-worthy, but the theme and art style is a nice mix of fantasy and science-fiction.
Playing with a Blank Board
Faeria isn’t dissimilar to Duelyst in that minions are placed onto a board before being moved to fight your battles for you. With Faeria, however, the hex-based board starts out completely blank. With each turn, a player can place down tiles to build out land, so you’re fighting to gain a foothold that will assist you in killing off your opponent. Some land tiles contain special terrain, such as forests and lakes. This highly unique game manages to feel just like a deep CCG.
A Unique Game with Japanese Roots
This is likely the closest entry on the list to Hearthstone, but at the same time, it’s very much its own game. Its style and theming are possibly the biggest sign that the game’s roots lie in Japan. It also features certain mechanics that Hearthstone lacks. Its ‘Evolve’ system, allows you to buff and transform your very own minions per game, which not only makes them stronger, but also changes their art to something more intense. Every Shadowverse faction includes unique systems you’d struggle to find anywhere with any other game.
Not Quite Hearthstone, But a Classic All the Same
Gwent bears the least similarity to Hearthstone compared with the previous entries on the list. In fact, it’s based on Magic: The Gathering. There’s no combat, mana, or health, and when you start, you have almost all the cards you’ll draw during any given match. Gwent is built around timing and bluffing. Each match is won on a best-of-three-rounds basis. At the end of a round, the person with the highest number of points is named the winner. It isn’t as straightforward as playing all the big numbers, however, as cards are able to interact, and you’re free to mess around with your opponent’s side of the board. And while the game is a complex one, it’s also somewhat approachable, and occupies an intriguing role with the ever-popular CCG genre.
These days, there’s a seemingly endless supply of CCGs vying for the title of the best in the business. The best are both approachable and playable over and over again, just like every game mentioned above. The genre continues to grow from strength to strength, as creatures combine rogue-like mechanics and card battling in a bid to come up with the next Hearthstone.
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