Parents' Guide to Hex: Shards of Fate

Hex: Shards of Fate is a digital card game, akin to Magic: The Gathering Online and Hearthstone. The basic mechanics are quick to pick up and play, thanks in no small part to some detailed tutorials and in-game tips. After learning the basics, though, players are left on their own to come up with strategically built decks to take on the computer or online opponents in one-on-one matches. Hex is built on its solid gameplay, and visually, it does a great job of recreating a tabletop experience. Of course, normal trading-card games lack the laser-light fireworks show that Hex brings to remind players that this is a computer game.

Though the game is currently still in beta, even in its current form Hex is filled to the brim with content, with hundreds of cards available to add to your virtual collection via the in-game store. Though it's understandable given the game's free-to-play structure, Hex's focus on different transactions (buying items from the store, buying and selling in auctions, and so on) tends to make the experience feel a little less about community and more about economy. But overall, Hex provides a great digital alternative to the traditional card-based game, one that hard-core trading-card-game players and newcomers can enjoy.