Yes. HS is still the most played card game online. Anyway, if we take a closer look at what is played, it is quite clear that BG is the leader. So, the interest in HS is decreasing, BG is what keeps HS up. Again, we can argue that Team 5's work is not that good.
Therefore, without BG, I am not sure if HS is still the most played online card game. My guess is no. If we remove BG which is nearby alone half of HS's share (if not more), HS would be below Runeterra and Magic or at least, all 3 would be close by.
However, what is certainly true is that HS is no longer the undisputed leader of years ago. And that's a good thing, competition increases quality. But also a bad thing, because it can no longer lose all the ground it has lost in the past (otherwise the risk is to go out of the market).
So, my opinion is the same. It is time for big changes, this game will get boring. Interaction with the surroundings, graveyard, interactions in the opponent's turn, pieces of equipment, a lot of things can be done, imagination is the only limit. If Team 5 will sleep, then it may be late.
So, regarding also the Team 5's work. The conclusion based on the charts above for me is obvious. People are interested overall in card games, therefore there is demand. HS is the only card game that is going with this terrible trend. So, Team 5 's work is terrible. They are not able to meet people's expectations and what they want.
They started with an amazing idea (which initially broke the market) and they seem not able to keep it alive with good standards.
There is no doubt that the HS team, in the past, was very creative and they created a very cool game. This time is ended. HS is losing interest for years now and the only real innovative past thing was BG.
I don't know until when it will be played, and I am not saying that it is dying, but for sure it is going very bad and in a scary direction. The main reason in my opinion is exactly the opposite of what you wrote and therefore: Team 5 is not creative at all like now.
The biggest mistake that they are doing is that they keep printing cards without a real direction. This game will not become funnier with more cards that are more or less the same, or past reprints. This game is out since 2014, and now, it is time for big changes in the whole structure of the game, otherwise, the interest in this game will always be more and more asymptotic at 0, until one day it will be 0.
It is time for big changes. I only hope that it is not already too late.
Chart: HS's web search (from 01/01/2014 to 17/05/2021)
Chart: HS's web search compared to the major card games (from 01/01/2014 to 17/05/2021)
Chart: HS's search on Youtube compared to the major card games (from 01/01/2014 to 17/05/2021)
Yes. HS is still the most played card game online. Anyway, if we take a closer look at what is played, it is quite clear that BG is the leader. So, the interest in HS is decreasing, BG is what keeps HS up. Again, we can argue that Team 5's work is not that good.
Therefore, without BG, I am not sure if HS is still the most played online card game. My guess is no. If we remove BG which is nearby alone half of HS's share (if not more), HS would be below Runeterra and Magic or at least, all 3 would be close by.
However, what is certainly true is that HS is no longer the undisputed leader of years ago. And that's a good thing, competition increases quality. But also a bad thing, because it can no longer lose all the ground it has lost in the past (otherwise the risk is to go out of the market).
So, my opinion is the same. It is time for big changes, this game will get boring. Interaction with the surroundings, graveyard, interactions in the opponent's turn, pieces of equipment, a lot of things can be done, imagination is the only limit. If Team 5 will sleep, then it may be late.
So, regarding also the Team 5's work. The conclusion based on the charts above for me is obvious. People are interested overall in card games, therefore there is demand. HS is the only card game that is going with this terrible trend. So, Team 5 's work is terrible. They are not able to meet people's expectations and what they want.
They started with an amazing idea (which initially broke the market) and they seem not able to keep it alive with good standards.
I would like to simply say to you: You're wrong.
There is no doubt that the HS team, in the past, was very creative and they created a very cool game. This time is ended. HS is losing interest for years now and the only real innovative past thing was BG.
I don't know until when it will be played, and I am not saying that it is dying, but for sure it is going very bad and in a scary direction. The main reason in my opinion is exactly the opposite of what you wrote and therefore: Team 5 is not creative at all like now.
The biggest mistake that they are doing is that they keep printing cards without a real direction. This game will not become funnier with more cards that are more or less the same, or past reprints. This game is out since 2014, and now, it is time for big changes in the whole structure of the game, otherwise, the interest in this game will always be more and more asymptotic at 0, until one day it will be 0.
It is time for big changes. I only hope that it is not already too late.