Games like Hearthstone, but an MMORPG: card battles in a big world

Hearthstone taught millions of people to love card duels: mana crystals that grow every turn, a hero power, the coin for the player who goes second. But sooner or later many players catch themselves thinking: “What if this table sat in a big world — with a hero who grows, dungeons and friends?” Games like that exist. Here’s what Zarhold and Hearthstone have in common, how they differ, and who will enjoy a card MMORPG.

What a Hearthstone player will recognise

Sit down for your first fight in Zarhold and a lot will feel familiar:

• Crystals grow every turn: 1 on your first turn, then one more each turn, up to 10. Whatever you don’t spend is lost.
• A hero power you can use once per turn. In Zarhold it’s called the Class Power and costs 1 crystal.
• The coin — whoever goes second gets an extra crystal on their first turn.
• Fatigue — in PvP, once your deck runs out you take 1 damage, then 2, then 3 and so on.
• A mulligan — before your first turn you can swap the cards you don’t want.

So the mana curve you know from collectible card games works in Zarhold too.

How Zarhold is different

| | Hearthstone | Zarhold | |---|---|---| | Genre | collectible card game | card MMORPG | | Deck | 30 cards you build from your collection | at least 30: every class and talent card, topped up with copies | | Where cards come from | packs and crafting | your class and talents; a few special cards from achievements and the battle pass | | On the board | minions you summon | heroes — you, your allies and enemies; cards are your hero’s abilities | | Hero power | 2 mana | 1 crystal | | Opening hand | smaller, the second player gets the coin | 6 cards, the second player gets the coin | | What grows | your collection | your hero: level, gear, talents | | Around the fights | matches and game modes | a world, quests, dungeons, raids, an arena, professions, guilds |

The biggest difference: there are no minions on the board. Cards in Zarhold are your hero’s abilities: strikes, single-target and area spells, heals, shields, buffs, effects over several turns and stuns. Bosses have “minions” — they summon helpers — while you might have a party of real players or the world’s residents beside you.

A deck you don’t build from packs

In a collectible game, power often comes down to which cards you’ve opened. In Zarhold your deck is your class plus your talents:

• every class has 20–24 cards of its own, all available from level 1;
• talents add 3–6 more cards and change existing ones;
• the deck is topped up to 30 with copies of your own cards, with at most four of the same card;
• respecs are free, and from level 20 you can keep two specialisations — two different decks.

Details: The deck, and every card of every class is in the Spellbook.

A hero who grows

In Hearthstone, power lives in your cards. In Zarhold it lives in your hero: levels 1 to 60, gear and talents. Gear gives you Power, the stat that scales the damage, healing and shields of your cards. There are no critical hits, so every number on a card is predictable. A card you play at level 10 hits much harder by level 60 — because you grew. Details: Hero stats.

Where to play your cards: from duels to raids

• Duels — one on one against any player, with optional stakes. The closest thing to a classic Hearthstone match: Duels in an MMORPG.
• The arena in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 and 5v5 with ratings and seasons — your deck against real opponents.
• Dungeons and raids — co-op: a party of three or five heroes on a shared board against a boss and its minions, with everyone in a role — tank, healer or damage dealer.
• The open world — 26 lands and 312 quests, plus elites and land bosses.

Who will enjoy a card MMORPG

• Players who love the mana curve and planning a turn, but are tired of chasing packs.
• Players who want co-op: in Hearthstone you’re opponents, in a Zarhold raid you’re a team.
• Players who want progress that lasts: your hero, gear and achievements stay with you.
• Players who play in a browser or on a phone: Zarhold runs with no download.

Games like Hearthstone: FAQ

Is there a game like Hearthstone but with hero progression?

Yes — that’s the card RPG and card MMORPG genre. In Zarhold combat is a card duel with crystals from 1 to 10, and around it is a world of quests, dungeons, raids and an arena, with a hero who grows from level 1 to 60.

Do I need to buy card packs?

No. Your deck is made of your class and talent cards. A few special cards come from major achievements and the battle pass.

Is Zarhold connected to Hearthstone?

No. Zarhold is an independent game. Hearthstone is a trademark of Blizzard Entertainment and is mentioned here only to compare genres.

Can I play with friends?

Yes: duels, the team arena, dungeons for three and raids for five, parties of up to five heroes and guilds.

The bottom line

If you love card duels but want a world around the table — a hero who grows, friends in your party and bosses you can’t beat alone — give a card MMORPG a try. Create a hero in Zarhold, and learn more about the genre in Card RPG online for free.