Hearthstone is certainly a well-known game to many. However, it is not the only representative of this genre. Some more will be presented to you below. For this reason, here are the 5 best CCGs of this year.
Spellweaver TCG
Spellweaver takes a lot from the competition but also brings its own aspects. The combat system looks very similar to Magic, but the gameplay feels completely different. Creatures have a speed value. Faster units cannot attack or block slower ones. Since high-speed minions are usually weaker than slower ones, you need to think carefully about your priorities when building your deck.
Those who want to attack must make the same decisions. Should I attack the opponent’s creature or hero with my fastest creature or not? If it has attacked, it cannot block during the opponent’s turn. However, thanks to its high speed, it would be well-suited for that.
There is only one phase in which the opponent can intervene in your turn: the combat phase. This makes it a good compromise between a complex game and a pleasant, fluid gameplay.
The release is planned for January 2016, but the Open Beta already plays very well. And as is common with other titles, everything can be earned without spending money.
If you want to learn more about the game, you can read our review of Spellweaver. And for new players, December is a great time to start.
Card Hunter
Card Hunter differs significantly from the classic representatives of this genre. You can already see this in the visuals but also in the fact that it emphasizes the single-player campaign or cooperative mode. The classic PvP gameplay, in which you are usually thrown into a very short tutorial, is not the sole focus of this game. But, of course, it remains an important aspect.
Nevertheless, the aspects that you would expect from a TCG/CCG are present at their core. However, it is presented as an RPG. There are various heroes from which you form your party. Each character has its own deck, which is determined by the items you equip it with. Each item adds several cards. Although you don’t have complete control over deck building, it is still very exciting. You may have to decide between a weapon with 3 weak and 3 normal attacks and one with 4 weak and 2 strong attacks.
The combat system thus plays out like a turn-based RPG. There are no banal slaughters but tactically challenging battles. The item shop is as fair as usual.
Duelyst
Duelyst brings refreshing variety to the genre. For both the player hero and the units are figures on the tiled game board. The goal is thus to kill the opponent’s general and protect your own. At the same time, your general is one of the strongest, at least when upgraded with appropriate cards. Furthermore, some units receive bonuses when near it. This means you actually want to participate actively in the combat with your hero but must be careful not to get surrounded by the opponent.
Additionally, many units have special effects similar to Hearthstone. For example, there are battle cries, or abilities that are triggered upon summoning. And of course, there are traits that would not be possible in Blizzard’s spin-off due to the playing field. Being able to attack in a row or damage bonuses when the attack is executed from behind. All in all, this adds immense tactical depth to the gameplay.
The matches themselves play relatively quickly. The resource system will be familiar to many, as it corresponds to Hearthstone. The difference is that you draw two cards per round and can exchange one.
A deck editor is certainly available, as well as quests and seasons. Due to numerous rewards, the free-to-play system is very fair.
Magic Duels
Every year, a new version of the game appears for the computer. Now with Magic Duels, they want to create something more durable. Fundamentally, it is a very good game. And if you enjoyed the Planeswalker series at all, you will have fun here.
Magic Duels has great potential. With new cards being released regularly for the TCG, the online version would have constant updates. Unfortunately, they are currently released very delayed. And when an edition is added, not all cards are available online.
Quests are also available through which you can earn gold for new boosters. However, you must play with a specific deck type. You are not allowed to use the deck editor but must use a deck-building helper. Anyone who has used the one from Hearthstone can guess that nothing good comes from this. And with these bad decks, you have to complete the quests.
However, these are things that can certainly be improved. And if you look past that, you have a very good game in front of you. The duels are as exciting as usual, and if you want, you can try the two-headed giant mode. In this mode, four players play, two of whom share life points. And since you only draw cards from boosters that you don’t already have in maximum quantity, it offers a nice free-to-play model.
Hearthstone
Of course, Hearthstone cannot be missing here. After all, it made the genre mainstream. Before that, they lived a lonely existence as niche titles.
Fast dynamic duels and simple yet understandable mechanics make the game perfectly suitable for newcomers. Although critics constantly claim otherwise, the game is anything but simple. Many cards have additional abilities and allow for numerous synergies. With control decks, some games resemble a chess match. And yet, it plays at a pleasant pace.
With loving details and visual effects, Hearthstone can also impress graphically. Regular expansions and variety thanks to the card chaos and adventures are guaranteed. And through quest and season rewards, you can also earn a lot without spending money.
