5 Games Like Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

Hearthstone-like card games for iOS and Android

By
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Writer
  • University of Texas at Arlington
Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on May 4, 2020

One of the most popular collectible card games for iPad, Hearthstone combines an easy-to-understand ruleset with subtle tactics, resulting in a strategy game with surprising depth. For those looking for more of the same, there are plenty of great games like Hearthstone available on Steam, Google Play, and the Apple App Store.

These games are available for PC, Android, and iOS devices including the iPad and iPhone.

01
of 05

Best RPG Card Game: BattleHand

BattleHand for iPad
What We Like

  • Detailed graphics and animations.

  • Exciting RPG elements.

What We Don't Like

  • Menus are difficult to navigate.

  • A lot to keep track of.

BattleHand manages to mix the collectible card game and role-playing genres, resulting in one of the best strategy games for iOS and Android. As the defender of your kingdom, you must fight off invaders by participating in card duels. After each victory, more cards will be added to your deck, which you can use in PvP battles with your friends. While there is a story behind BattleHand, the game doesn't take itself too seriously.

Download For:

02
of 05

Best PvP Battles: Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer

Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer for iPad
What We Like

  • Fast paced card battles.

  • Beautiful hand-drawn cards.

What We Don't Like

  • Limited strategic depth.

  • Solo play isn't as fun as PvP.

Ascension offers an interesting twist on the deck-building aspect of collectible card games. Rather than earning new cards between games, you must purchase them. This is done by playing cards that give you runes, which you can then use to buy new cards. However, victory is ultimately determined by who has the most honor, and honor is acquired through killing monsters. You must balance your desire to buy new cards by playing cards that give you power, which you can then use to kill monsters and gain honor.

Download For:

03
of 05

Most Complex Card Game: Pathfinder Adventures

Pathfinder Adventures for iPad
What We Like

  • Similar to Dungeons and Dragons.

  • Lots of play options.

  • Free to play.

What We Don't Like

  • Battles are slow paced and require careful strategic consideration.

  • Steep learning curve.

If you're ready for a big departure from the standard offline card games, Pathfinder Adventures will not disappoint. It features many elements of classic pen-and-paper role-playing games including multi-character parties, dice rolling, and deep gameplay. As a free-to-play title, Pathfinder Adventures is definitely worth checking out.

Download For:

04
of 05

Best Board Game: D&D Lords of Waterdeep

Screenshot of the game 'Lords of Waterdeep'
What We Like

  • Lots of variety from game to game.

  • Fun and easy to learn.

What We Don't Like

  • Mandatory quests are bothersome.

  • Might be too easy for seasoned gamers.

Lords of Waterdeep is essentially a board game with some card game aspects. Through eight rounds, you must collect resources like thieves and warriors to complete quests and gain points, which will ultimately decide who will be the ruler of Waterdeep. You can force mandatory quests on your opponent, steal their resources, or just concentrate on your own quests. Each game gives you a new patron, and each patron favors a different type of quest, so the experience is a little different each time.

Download For:

05
of 05

Best Card Game for iPad: Heroic - Magic Duel

Magic Duel for iPad
What We Like

  • Intense card battles where every move counts.

  • Challenging but accessible to newcomers.

What We Don't Like

  • Cards can be difficult to read.

  • Complicated tutorials.

  • Not available for Android.

It's difficult to mention Hearthstone and not draw immediate comparisons to Magic: The Gathering. The latter defined the card battle genre for over a decade, having popularized the idea of collectible card games in the early 90s. Heroic - Magic Duel is the latest incarnation of Magic: The Gathering on the iPad, and it may very well be the best. If you love Hearthstone but are looking for something more in-depth, Magic Duels will push your tactical prowess to the limit.  

Download For:

Was this page helpful?