Hearthstone and Addiction – A Personal Reflection and a Plea for Solidarity
Written by: Jake Beatrice
I’ve been playing Hearthstone almost every day for the past two years. Even though the portable collectible card game has become such a big part of my life, I often fail to name it when people ask what games I’m into. It has solidified as a daily routine, and fully severed itself from the realms of fun and mental exercise. I’m no expert on addiction; I can only provide my own experiences. That said, I am completely and totally, hopelessly addicted to Hearthstone. I don’t even like it that much. Please help.
“Lifestyle game” is a hot new term in the industry. Games with the label often have players feeling obligated to log in on a regular basis to achieve optimal progression. Most commonly found on mobile platforms, these games have been heavily criticized for their reliance on long-term player retention rather than moment-to-moment entertainment. In other words, they target addicts. Hearthstone arguably fits into this category because of its daily quests and drip-feed card pack rewards. It’s not the most malicious example available, but it’s the only free-to-play “lifestyle game” that has ever successfully sunken its claws into me. While money-hungry mobile games are notorious for their gambling mechanisms, Hearthstone gets a pass because of the Blizzard Entertainment seal of quality and defense. Beautiful card art, charming sound design, and a colorful personality obscure the sinister cash grab underneath.
Throughout each seasonal expansion, I travel through a consistent “arc” of enjoyment. With 2018’s first big update, The Witchwood, I’m finding myself once again having genuine fun with Hearthstone. I’ve already unpacked all the prettiest cards and put together several fun (although far from competitive) decks. This is the most harmless and “purest” stage in the cycle. However, after only a few weeks of play, the meta-game tends to get stale. I get bored. I get frustrated. My placement in ranked mode dwindles. I tell myself, “You know what would be fun? I’m going to spend more money and forge my favorite decks in GOLD! The shiny variants of the cards are gorgeous! I mean, I’ve already unpacked a few golden cards randomly. Why not spend a few bucks to craft the rest of this deck in premium gold? Uh oh, looks like I’m bored again. Oh, look! A new expansion in just a few weeks! Better save up my money for more packs! Those cards I crafted a few seasons ago no longer work, so it’s time to start the fun all over again.” Man, oh man, what a lifestyle!
“The real problem is me.”
While I’m often very critical of the monetization of Hearthstone, I’d like to emphasize that it would be futile for me to idly complain and expect the game to change. The real problem here is me. I need to be able to put the game down and do something else. I need to stop throwing cash at the game out of sheer boredom. I need to separate myself from the empty desire to collect just one more card to complete my perfect golden set. Though I’ve recently written about portable gaming helping to ease social anxiety, I think Hearthstone has become a personal exception. It’s less of a mobile safety net and more of an emotional and monetary ball and chain. “Jake, put the phone down and enjoy dinner with us.” “Yeah, sure, after I finish this match,” I say as I queue up for a new game to reclaim my lost rank.
If I have any goal in writing this, it’s to seek some solidarity within the matter of force-of-habit games. To all readers: Has game addiction ever been a problem for any of you? Has anyone out there ever felt like they had to keep playing a game for some indiscernible reason? Or maybe you’d like to share an experience outside of gaming? Let’s start a discussion on habitual gaming, or addiction in general. It may seem insurmountable, but I know we can conquer the “dopaminic beasts” within all of us! Someday, I swear I’m gonna put down Hearthstone and play The Witcher 3, goddammit!
