Hearthstone vs KARDS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hearthstone
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.
- Collectible battle cards
- Deck building and customization
- Strategic card battles
- Multiple game modes (Standard, Wild, Battlegrounds)
- PvP and PvE challenges
- Warcraft universe integration
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Battle as legendary Warcraft heroes in Hearthstone®, Blizzard Entertainment's award-winning free-to-play* strategy card game. Build powerful decks, collect iconic cards, discover game-changing combos, and outsmart opponents in epic card battles! ONE GAME. COUNTLESS WAYS TO PLAY. Whether you're new to collectible card games (CCG) or a seasoned strategist, Hearthstone offers an experience for every kind of player. Challenge friends, test your skills against opponents from around the world, or enjoy solo adventures at your own pace. Every match is packed with opportunities to learn, experiment, and sharpen your skills. Develop strategies that fit your playstyle, craft Legendary cards, and discover new possibilities as your collection grows. Easy to learn and rewarding to master, Hearthstone offers fresh challenges with every game. Play online across mobile and PC with your Hearthstone collection and progress synced between devices. Whether you have a few minutes for a quick match or you're ready to climb the competitive ladder, your next match is always within reach. Collect. Build. Play. CLIMB TO LEGEND • Battle players from around the world in strategic online PvP duels. • Build winning decks, evolve your strategy, and climb all the way to Legend. • Earn seasonal rewards and prove your mastery every month. HONE YOUR CRAFT • Take on solo adventures, complete quests, and discover new mechanics at your own pace. • Draft a unique deck in Arena from a changing selection of cards, then test your strategy against other players. • Returning player? Wild mode lets you play with all your cards! OUTSMART RIVALS • Recruit powerful minions, build your warband, and compete against seven other players in Hearthstone's signature Battlegrounds auto-battler mode. • Adapt every turn, discover powerful synergies, and be the last player standing. • No two matches play the same. EMBRACE THE CHAOS • Jump into Tavern Brawl, where unique rules, unexpected twists, and special rewards keep every Brawl fresh. CHOOSE YOUR HERO • Battle as legendary Warcraft heroes across 11 distinct classes. • Each class features its own Hero Power, signature mechanics, and unique strategies. • Whether you prefer aggressive attacks, careful planning, or clever combos, there's a class for you. Complete quests, earn rewards, and discover new cards with every expansion. Regular balance updates, seasonal events, major expansions, and limited-time experiences keep Hearthstone fresh for newcomers and veterans alike. Experience the magic, mischief, and mayhem in this epic fantasy CCG. Battle friends, challenge online opponents, and join millions of players around the hearth. Play Hearthstone today! *In-game purchases are optional. ©/TM/® 2026 Blizzard Entertainment, Inc
KARDS
Engage in strategic card battles set during World War II. Command historical nations and utilize innovative mechanics inspired by real battlefield tactics. Earn all cards through gameplay, missions, and achievements.
- World War II theme
- Collectible card game (CCG) gameplay
- Innovative frontline mechanics
- Real battlefield tactics
- Ground, air, and sea warfare
- Multiple playable nations
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Card Game meets World War II KARDS, The WW2 Card Game, combines traditional CCG gameplay with innovative mechanics inspired by classic strategy games and real battlefield tactics. Take command and challenge other players in grand-scale warfare on the ground, air, or seas. KARDS is completely free to play with all features available from the start. You can earn all cards through regular gameplay, daily missions and an extensive achievement system. KARDS blends familiar trading card gameplay that make it easy to learn and are combined with innovative mechanics that provide strategic depth and tactical diversity. Innovative frontline mechanics allows you to better protect your support assets and take the battle to your enemy. Rush your enemies with Blitzkrieg tactics, gain air superiority or dig in for bitter defensive warfare until you outproduce and outgun your enemies WW2 nations in KARDS: BRITAIN - Lords of the skies and the oceans The vast empire was caught off guard when the WW2 broke out, but adapted quickly to new types of warfare. With their formidable fleet, advanced aircraft and incredible stubbornness, the British forces never gave an inch without a fight. USA - Outproduce, outgun and bring hell from the skies Although joining the WW2 later than the other major powers, the USA had been preparing their production lines and supporting their allies for years. Completely outproducing their Axis enemies, the Americans were eventually able to launch offensive operations of epic proportions in all theaters. THE SOVIET UNION - The mighty red army At the outbreak of WW2, although large on paper, the forces of the Soviet Union were badly equipped, trained and organized. This would change fast. Forged through fire and blood during the Great Patriotic War, the Red Army would soon become the mightiest war machine the world had ever seen. JAPAN - Sunrise in the east Completely underestimated by the Allies in the WW2, the Japanese Imperial Army and Navy swept across South-Asia and the Pacific in a lightning war of their own. Initially the Japanese had complete air superiority in the area and a fearsome navy which included the heaviest battleships ever constructed. GERMANY - Pioneers of blitzkrieg Crushing their enemies with Blitzkrieg tactics, hard pressing armoured units and mechanised formations, the German Wehrmacht was at its best on the offensive in WW2. Battle of annihilation would be their favourite doctrine. Compared to the Allies, Germany did not have a lot of ships but in the depths of the oceans roamed fearsome packs of wolves... ready to strike at the their prey. FRANCE / The flame of the French resistance Before WW2 many believed that the French had the most powerful military in Europe, but they were not prepared for the German Blitzkrieg advance. Although defeated, they did not give up the fight. The Free French Forces continued the fight against the Axis on foreign soil while The French Resistance disrupted and demoralised the German occupation forces at home. ITALY - Restoration of the Roman empire While not ready for a long lasting conflict at the outbreak of the WW2, Italy tried to seize the opportunity believing that the British Empire was about to collapse from the German offensive. With ambitions to restore Italy to the status of the old Roman Empire, the Italian forces were concentrated on major offensives in the Africa and the Middle East. POLAND - Fight from exile! Before and during WW2, Polish intelligence gathering and crypto-analysis experts contributed significantly to cracking the famous Enigma code. Their exiled forces fought fiercely during the Battle of Britain and other campaigns alongside their allies in WW2-Europe.IGRS Rating 13+
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: KARDS at 76% against Hearthstone's 36%. KARDS also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.1). Hearthstone's advantage is ratings volume (122K vs 6.9K) and chart position (#47 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Hearthstone sells 21 one-off in-app purchases and KARDS sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
KARDS holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hearthstone has 122K ratings behind it against 6.9K, 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 76% of KARDS's.
Hearthstone ships an update fortnightly, KARDS every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Hearthstone | KARDS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (122K ratings) | 4.5 (6.9K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 35.9% of reviews | 76.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 122K — better | 6.9K |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #47 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 855 MB | 1.3 GB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. | 1939 Games ehf |
Customer experience
Hearthstone
KARDS
User reviews
Hearthstone
From 122K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 🎨 Stunning visuals and animations
- 🕹️ Engaging strategic gameplay
- 🎁 Generous free-to-play model
- 🕰️ Endless replayability
Room to improve
- 💰 Expensive to stay competitive
- 🔁 Repetitive meta decks
- 🎲 Excessive RNG elements
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🕰️ Slow progression for free players
KARDS
From 6.9K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 🎨 Excellent art and visuals
- 🎮 Engaging and strategic gameplay
- 📚 Informative historical details
- 🎶 Immersive soundtrack
Room to improve
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🤖 Unbalanced matchmaking
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- ⏱️ Slow progression for free players
- 🤯 Frustrating meta decks
Bugs and requests
Hearthstone
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes during gameplay
- Connectivity issues after updates
- Reward system not working as intended
- Unresponsive UI on certain devices
Requested features
5 requests- 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
KARDS
Reported bugs
3 issues- Disconnects during matches
- Inability to move cards during turn
- Incorrect card behavior or interactions
Requested features
6 requests- More game modes and content
- Improved matchmaking system
- Ability to replay tutorial missions
- More ways to earn in-game currency
- Chat functionality with opponents
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Expanded faction and card selection
In-app purchases
Hearthstone
- Arena Admission$1.99
- Bundle of 2 Classic Packs$2.99
- Welcome Bundle$4.99
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- Welcome Bundle of 10 Classic Packs + Classic Legendary Card$4.99
- 500 Runestones$4.99
- Hero Skin2 variants$6.99
- Bundle of 7 Grand Tournament Packs$9.99
- Bundle of 7 Classic Packs$9.99
- Bundle of 7 "Whispers of the Old Gods" Packs$9.99
- Hero Skin Bundle$9.99
- Packs Bundle$14.99
- BG Season Pass$14.99
- Tavern Pass5 variants$19.99
- BG Season Pass5 variants$19.99
- Bundle of 15 Classic Packs$19.99
- Bundle: All 4 League of Explorers Wings$19.99
- Packs Bundle$24.99
- Packs Bundle$39.99
- Bundle of 40 Classic Packs$49.99
- Packs Bundle2 variants$59.99
- Hero Skin Bundle2 variants$89.99
KARDS
- Welcome Offer$1.99
- Supply Drop$2.69
- Bunch of Diamonds$4.99
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Starter Pack$4.99
- Box of Diamonds$9.99
- Battle Pass$11.99
- Pouch of Diamonds$19.99
- Cup of Diamonds$34.99
- Helmet of Diamonds$49.99
- Crate of Diamonds$99.99








