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Hearthstone May Be On Phones, But You Shouldn’t Play It There

Hearthstone May Be On Phones, But You Shouldn’t Play It There

Your friends all disappeared, didn’t they? It’s okay. The world isn’t ending. The zombies won’t invade until after the dragons resurface in 2023. No, it just so happened that Blizzard went ahead and released Hearthstone on iPhones and Android phones. The time sink has gone even more mobile and people are capitalizing on that. It’s kind of great, but also not.

This isn’t about whether or not Hearthstone is a great game, though it is a pretty wonderful timesink. It’s about the right and wrong way to experience it. Even though it’s designed with portable play in mind, you don’t really want to play this on your phones. I mean, you could, but it’s less than optimal.

Hearthstone is a game that needs the extra space. You want to be sure you grab and use the right cards, attack the right targets, and make the best decisions. One wrong move can ruin an entire game. Having a larger surface is crucial to ensuring accuracy.

It’s also about getting to enjoy the art. Hearthstone has some really pretty pieces. You don’t get to appreciate that on smaller screens. It still looks nice, but a bit of the nuance is lost in the transition. It isn’t a big issue, but if you’re all about the details and getting into collecting extra special cards, you’re going to want to appreciate them in all their glory.

Hearthstone May Be On Phones, But You Shouldn’t Play It There

There’s also the timesink issue to consider. Playing Hearthstone on an Android tablet or iPad is fine, because those are dedicated entertainment devices. iPhones and Android smartphones are vital to communication. And frankly? Hearthstone is going to sap those batteries. It’s a “one more round” kind of game. Combine that with the need to always be online and animations, and you’re going to find yourself in the red when you need your phone the most.

Not that you shouldn’t give it a try. I mean, there’s a free Classic card pack waiting for you, should you log into Hearthstone on your phone for the first time. You have to take advantage of that. Maybe play one or two rounds. But remember that this is a momentary convenience, and if you really want the best Hearthstone experience, you’ve got to have a slightly bigger screen to take it all in.

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