World of Warcraft studio’s free card game Hearthstone comes to iPad

By Adam Rosenberg Published April 16, 2014

smaller screen bigger audience hearthstone heads iphone android phones 2015 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is officially out worldwide in the iOS App Store, following a soft launch during which the game was only available in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The collectible card game is a free-to-play offering from Blizzard Entertainment, the same folks behind World of Warcraft.

The game was first released for Mac/Windows in March 2014 following an extended beta period that kicked off in January. This new release is iPad-only (iPad 2 or higher), and an Android version is also in development, though no release date is set.

Like other games of this sort, Hearthstone is all about building decks and engaging in battles — against another player or the CPU — in a never-ending pursuit for more XP and more cards, as well as crafting materials to make cards. There are some distinctly Warcraft-y twists, but card battles are the heart of the game.

All progress transfers between platforms, since Hearthstone connects to your Battle.net account. Unfortunately, that also means this is an online-only game, though it’s worth mentioning that Blizzard revealed plans to release a single player take at some point. Those that download the app now will nab themselves a free card pack. Give it a try, especially if you’ve ever found yourself enjoying a game of Magic: The Gathering.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

Mobile

The best iOS games you can play offline on your iPhone and iPad

Best iOS games you can play offline

When you’re bored while waiting for an appointment or while riding public transit where the signal might be spotty, but you don’t want to use up your data, why not enjoy a game you can play without an internet connection?

There are plenty of options available on iOS in nearly any genre you prefer. This list is a rundown of the best offline iOS games, with both paid and free options to enjoy on your iPhone or iPad -- anytime, anywhere.
Into the Dead 2

Mobile

The best simulation games for the iPhone

A player holding a Razer Kishi.

Whether you're a fan of simulation games -- games where you pretend to do things you could do in real life, from driving a truck to managing an ice cream stall -- or not, there's no denying they're the perfect escape. Score points by flinging a goat around, become a long-haul trucker, or develop and run a farm -- all from the comfort of your couch.

There's a plethora of simulation games out there to choose from, so how do you choose between the downright awesome games and those that are not so great ? We know download regret is real, so we've picked some of the best simulation games for the iPhone, which means you don't have to waste time browsing the app store. There's something for everyone on our list, from animal-themed sims to games that let you experience what life's really like inside Fallout's Vaults.

Gaming

Ubisoft confirms Assassin’s Creed remakes are in the works

Basim perched on a ledge overlooking Baghdad

In a company interview with CEO Yves Guillemot posted on the Ubisoft website Thursday, the executive reveals that there are remakes of Assassin's Creed games in the works, although he doesn't specify which ones.

"Players can be excited about some remakes, which will allow us to revisit some of the games we've created in the past and modernize them," he says, implying that it could pertain to games made before Odyssey. "There are worlds in some of our older Assassin's Creed games that are still extremely rich."