Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is a free-to-play online collectible card video game developed

and published by Blizzard Entertainment, released worldwide on March 11, 2014. Hearthstone builds
upon the lore of theWarcraft series, using characters, creatures, and relics from the series. Initially
released for Microsoft Windows and OS X personal computers, Hearthstone also
supports iOS and Android devices, and features cross-platform play, allowing users on any device to
compete with each other, restricted only by geographical region account limits.
The game is a turn-based card game between two opponents, using constructed decks of thirty
cards along with a selected hero with a unique power. Players use mana points to cast spells or
summon minions to attack the opponent, with the goal to reduce the opponent's health to zero.
Winning matches can earn in-game gold, rewards in the form of new cards, and other in-game
prizes. Players can then purchase new cards through gold or microtransactions and use these cards
to customize and improve their decks. The game features several modes of play, including casual
and ranked matches, as well as daily quests and weekly challenges to help earn additional gold and
cards. New content for the game involves the addition of new card sets and gameplay, taking the
form of either expansion packs or single-player adventures that reward the player with collectible
cards upon completion.
In contrast to other games developed at Blizzard, Hearthstone was developed by a smaller team as
to develop an experimental game based on the general appreciation of collectable card games at
the company. The game was developed to avoid pitfalls of other digital collectable card games
through a number of elements, such as 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.
The game has been favorably reviewed by critics and proven successful for Blizzard. By April 2016,
Blizzard has reported more than 50 million Hearthstone players. The game has become popular as
an eSport with cash-prize tournaments hosted by Blizzard and other parties.