Summary
Hearthstonehas long been the black sheep of Blizzard games, but it’s always embraced its lighthearted, rebellious spirit. This is most evident in its artwork, boards, and card mechanics, all of which try to bring theWarcraftuniverse to life, if only on a tiny scale. Although the fundamental features of the game have remained unchanged throughout its 10 years, there has been a notable shift toward more cosmetic options.
The number of hero skins, exclusive card appearances, and fancy spell effects has exploded in later years. However, one developer’s blog post has hinted at adding something entirely new. Pets have always been a beloved staple ofWorld of Warcraftand similar RPGs, but their possible introduction inHearthstonewould be a true first. The fantasy card game has always playfully bounced around inWoW’s footsteps, and this trend seems to be reaching new heights.
How Hearthstone Can Implement Pets As Cosmetics
Since cards areHearthstone’s only real win-or-lose aspect, there’s plenty of room for cosmetics. Longtime players will have accumulated loads of card backs and hero skins, using both in-game gold and real money. If pets wereintroduced toHearthstone, they would likely be a cosmetic option to make things more interesting and incentivize varied or challenging gameplay. Naturally, fancier pets could be more difficult to obtain, and hopefully, enemy players could see them as well.
Thebest way to integrate pets intoHearthstonewould be as small animated companions that players can interact with, perhaps to keep them entertained when waiting for an enemy to end their turn. For example, a pet could climb around and play on the game’s various boards while players duel, and could even have specific fun or cute interactions when certain cards are played.
The Key to Hearthstone’s Success Will Be Attention to Detail
To make the most of these pets, they must feel as real and impactful as any other cool cosmetic. They mustn’t affect the actual gameplay, of course, but they could really spice upHearthstone’s game boardsor waiting screens. There’s been a real lack of diversity with game boards and the iconic role they play, so adding some new flavor of interaction would be most welcome.
A Perilous Paradise Indeed
Hearthstonefaced something of a controversy with their newest expansion,Perils in Paradise, as no new game boardwas released with it. Players have felt for some time that the game hasn’t been delivering on its former integrity and attention to detail. The delight of the player should always be the priority, and pets could be an excellent gift of goodwill to stir excitement and anticipation.
Collecting pets could become an entire mini-game in and of itself,like inWorld of Warcraft, but it’s unlikely they’ll battle one another as they do in the MMO. At most, they might provide an interesting distraction, endearing themselves to players through their bright designs and personalities. Each player might have their pets sitting on either end of the board, cheering their owners on and reacting to their triumphs or losses.
Pets Can Be a Force for Good or for Evil
There’s no limit to thekinds of petsHearthstonecould have, from dragons and monkeys to tiny ghouls or cobras and everything in between. Nonetheless, it would be interesting to attempt to match the pets to the expansions as they come. Perils in Paradise revolves around a beach vacation setting, so the game could bring pet crabs, fish, seagulls, or even a baby sea monster with it.
Theonly thingHearthstoneneedsto be careful of is more micro-transactions, as players tend to bristle when they feel taken advantage of. Even if some remain behind a paywall, plenty more should be available through simple effort or limited-time events. Pets could be an incredible addition to the game, and if the developer’s intentional hint proves true, the future ofHearthstonecould soar.
Hearthstone
WHERE TO PLAY
Deceptively simple, insanely fun. Sheathe your sword, draw your deck, and get ready for Hearthstone—the fast-paced strategy card game that’s easy to learn and massively fun. You’ll play your cards to sling spells, summon creatures, and command the heroes of Warcraft in duels of epic strategy. Did we mention it’s free to play? Get Packed for Paradise with Hearthstone’s newest expansion, Perils in Paradise.Play on your own schedule—most games take less than 10 minutes whether you’re battling your friends or the AI. Hearthstone’s easy to learn and extremely accessible gameplay is available for Windows, Mac, and iPad.Your deck is centered around a legendary hero and composed of minions, spells, items, and abilities from the epic Warcraft universe. While you play, the sights, sounds, and other details packed into Hearthstone bring the Warcraft universe to life in a way you’ve never experienced before.
