Trading card games have a bit of an odd reputation in the gaming world. They often require a lot more of a financial investment to truly break into. Meaning that, despite their popularity, they have often remained one of the more niche hobbies in the gaming world. That was until we entered the digital age.
We are now blessed with amazing digital versions of some of the most popular trading card games. Allowing players to dive into the hobby without having to invest a significant amount of money. There is no doubt that Magic The Gathering is the most popular trading card game on the planet. But within the digital world there are two main titles that are constantly competing for the top spot. Hearthstone and Arena.
Arena is the digital version of Magic The Gathering. It isn’t the first digital Magic game we have seen. But it is the main one now being supported by Wizards Of The Coast. Whereas Hearthstone is a Blizzard title. A trading card game set within the Warcraft series. Both games are distinct enough to make them worth your time. But which title reigns supreme?
Hearthstone
If you’re a fan of Warcraft then you are already going to love Hearthstone. But what makes Hearthstone truly special is the unique Hero mechanic. When you build a deck you assign a hero to it. Each hero has their own unique power that can shift the tide of battle. If you’re a Magic player you can think of this hero as your commander.
Hearthstone has a lot of unique events and different ways to play. Including an autobattler mode which has become massively popular in recent years. There are different campaigns too that let you play through a unique narrative series of battles. And reward you with themed cards and powerful new heroes to utilise.
The ranked scene isn’t as active as most people would like. But it is still lively enough that skilled players can easily rise through the ranks. Unlocking new cards can be quite a slog in Hearthstone. The monetisation aspects are a bit more intense than Arena. Which is why I prefer to get a boost to play Hearthstone to help me get a head start in the ranked scene and unlock a host of new cards for a fraction of the cost.
Hearthstone is extremely visually appealing too. It oozes charm. Everything from the UI to the arenas you face off in are painstakingly crafted to immerse you within the world of Warcraft. The multiplayer functionality is smooth and we have never encountered any issues when trying to play against or with friends.
Arena
Magic: The Gathering is a truly iconic brand within the gaming world. And in recent years we have seen them soar to new heights with their Universes Beyond range. Incorporating some of the most popular franchises into the world of Magic. Doctor Who, Fallout, Final Fantasy, Spiderman.
For the longest time, Magic Online was the only multiplayer digital Magic title out there. But the UI is very outdated and cumbersome. Which is why Arena was met with such raucous applause upon release. It takes the entire Magic experience and backs it up with a beautiful UI and seamless gameplay.
Over the years Arena has had numerous updates. Every new mainline set that is released makes it onto Arena. And they have been adding a lot of the most popular sets from the past onto the platform as well. Ensuring that fans from every generation of Magic are catered for.
Arena allows players to engage in nearly all of the most popular Magic formats. Drafting, standard, modern, brawl. It has yet to add commander functionality though which is a huge point against it. Acquiring cards in Arena isn’t as slow as it is in Hearthstone. But you will have to sink some money into the title if you want to play the draft format.
The Winner?
Both titles have their strengths and weaknesses. But we would have to say that Arena is the superior title due to the fact that it is far easier to acquire cards and jump into the game. Hearthstone requires a lot more of a time and financial commitment than Arena. And that can be quite off-putting for more casual players.
