# Hearthstone vs Abalon

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Abalon at 84% against Hearthstone's 36%. Abalon also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly). Hearthstone's advantage is ratings volume (122K vs 994) and chart position (#49 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hearthstone sells 21 one-off in-app purchases and Abalon sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Abalon holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hearthstone has 122K ratings behind it against 994, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Hearthstone's written reviews are positive against 84% of Abalon's.

Hearthstone ships an update fortnightly, Abalon every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hearthstone | Abalon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (122K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hearthstone/id625257520/reviews) | **[4.8 (994 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abalon/id1235934798/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **122K** | 994 |
| Positive reviews | 35.8% of reviews | **84.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#49** | — |
| Size | 855 MB | 117 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/306862900) | [D20Studios, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/516465511) |

## What reviewers say

### Hearthstone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hearthstone/id625257520)

**Currently charting:** #49 Top Grossing · Card, #55 Top Grossing · Strategy (US App Store)

Engage in a strategic card battle game where you collect powerful cards, build custom decks, and outwit opponents. Explore various game modes, from competitive PvP to solo adventures, all within the iconic Warcraft universe.

**Highlights:** Collectible battle cards, Deck building and customization, Strategic card battles, Multiple game modes (Standard, Wild, Battlegrounds), PvP and PvE challenges, Warcraft universe integration

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arena Admission | $1.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 2 Classic Packs | $2.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Bundle of 10 Classic Packs + Classic Legendary Card | $4.99 | one-time |
| 500 Runestones | $4.99 | one-time |
| Hero Skin | $6.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 7 Grand Tournament Packs | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 7 Classic Packs | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 7 "Whispers of the Old Gods" Packs | $9.99 | one-time |
| Hero Skin Bundle | $9.99 | one-time |
| Packs Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| BG Season Pass | $14.99 | one-time |
| Tavern Pass | $19.99 | one-time |
| BG Season Pass | $19.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 15 Classic Packs | $19.99 | one-time |
| Bundle: All 4 League of Explorers Wings | $19.99 | one-time |
| Packs Bundle | $24.99 | one-time |
| Packs Bundle | $39.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 40 Classic Packs | $49.99 | one-time |
| Packs Bundle | $59.99 | one-time |
| Hero Skin Bundle | $89.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 🎨 Stunning visuals and animations
- 🕹️ Engaging strategic gameplay
- 🎁 Generous free-to-play model
- 🕰️ Endless replayability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive to stay competitive
- 🔁 Repetitive meta decks
- 🎲 Excessive RNG elements
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🕰️ Slow progression for free players

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes during gameplay
- Connectivity issues after updates
- Reward system not working as intended
- Unresponsive UI on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Improved matchmaking system
- More cooperative game modes
- Ability to trade or disenchant unwanted cards
- Reduced cost of new expansions
- Faster gold/dust earning for free players


### Abalon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abalon/id1235934798)

Engage in tactical turn-based combat and deck-building strategy in a tabletop-inspired world. Command units, cast spells, and outwit opponents with creative combos and strategic positioning. Explore diverse biomes, collect cards, and build the perfect deck to become a legend.

**Highlights:** Turn-based tactical combat, Deck building strategy, Top-down battlefield control, Over 500 unique cards, Character-based abilities, Creative combo system, Procedurally generated world exploration

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Animal Gear | $3.99 | one-time |
| Angels & Demons | $7.99 | one-time |
| Dark Legion | $7.99 | one-time |
| Mean & Green | $7.99 | one-time |
| Space & Time | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fantastic strategy game
- 👍 Fun game
- 👍 Highly recommended
- 👍 Great for busy RPG parents
- 👍 Way better than expected

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Not recommended at the moment
- 🐛 Very unbalanced and costs $30
- 🐛 Game crashes after loading
- 🐛 Koumpounophobia (fear of buttons)
- 🐛 Controlling units is frustrating

**Reported bugs**

- Bugs in second chapter dungeon
- Unable to use satchel items

**Requested features**

- Controller support for Backbone and other third party controllers
- More variation in encounter types
- Dark mode option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hearthstone free?

Hearthstone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Abalon free?

Abalon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Hearthstone or Abalon?

Abalon is rated higher. Hearthstone averages 4.1 out of 5 from 122K ratings, while Abalon averages 4.8 from 994 ratings.

### Do Hearthstone or Abalon have ads?

Neither Hearthstone nor Abalon shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hearthstone or Abalon?

Hearthstone ships an update fortnightly, and Abalon every 2 days. Most recently, Hearthstone was updated on October 2, 2026 and Abalon on September 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*