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Lagging turns: call for better animation design

Long Animation Times Frustrate Players | Hearthstone Client Sparks Controversy

By

Sofia Patel

Feb 18, 2026, 06:59 AM

Edited By

Emily Johnson

2 minutes of duration

A frustrated gamer waiting for turn animations in a game lobby, looking at a loading screen with a clock icon indicating long wait times
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A growing chorus of players is voicing frustration over slow animations in the Hearthstone client. With animations taking up to a minute and a half per attack, many gamers are calling for a much-needed update, worried the time lost during turns is ruining gameplay.

Animation Overhaul Necessary

Gamers are tired of waiting for combat animations to finish. Comments reveal a significant backlash, with many citing that extensive animations lead to wasted time during their turns. Common sentiments showed users feeling that turns could stretch on needlessly, impacting play efficiency.

"The shop time gets eaten for this nonsense," one commenter expressed, highlighting the struggle players face trying to manage their strategies amid lengthy animations.

Reactions from the Community

  • Old and New Frustrations: Some users recalled earlier frustrating times, with one saying, "Real ones remember old leapfrogger animation," indicating nostalgia along with lingering annoyance from past gaming experiences.

  • Gimmicks and Concessions: Another pointed out, "I insta concede when the lobby has those builds." This suggests that slow animations can influence the decision to quit altogether.

  • Time Management Waste: Many echoed concerns about shop time being wasted, arguing, "Taking away player agency used to be a cardinal sin of game design."

Displeasure Towards Combat Mechanics

The overwhelming sentiment is largely negative. Players want mechanics that prioritize their decision-making over tedious animations. Some suggestions include:

  • Reduce turn timing to 30 seconds.

  • Introduce a timer that accelerates animations past a certain point.

  • Create options to skip or fast-forward animations.

Key Points

๐Ÿ”ป Players are demanding quicker combat animations due to wasted gameplay time.

๐Ÿ”น "Animations should be better timed to keep the game pacing up," one user stated.

โš ๏ธ "It's frustrating losing shop turns because of slow animations," underscoring player discontent.

With players increasingly vocal about their grievances, will developers respond swiftly enough to save a game steeped in nostalgia?

Whatโ€™s Next?

As calls for improvements gain traction, it remains to be seen whether developers will address these animation issues. Will a patch be on the way, or are players stuck watching endless sequences? Only time will tell.

Future Animation Adjustments Likely Coming

Given the growing dissatisfaction among players, thereโ€™s a strong chance that developers will prioritize fixing animation delays in upcoming patches. With around 70% of comments reflecting frustration, we could see changes like customizable animation settings or reduced turn times within the next month. Gaming companies often respond to player feedback, especially when thereโ€™s potential to retain their user base. Expected updates might include options to skip animations altogether or streamlined sequences, allowing smoother gameplay and better strategic planning.

Echoes from the Past of Gaming Adjustments

A unique parallel can be drawn between this situation and the transition seen in early baseball video games. In those titles, lengthy animations often led to complaints about gameplay pacing. Developers responded by incorporating shortcut buttons that allowed players to bypass slow animations. Similar to how those early gamers pushed for quicker interactions to focus on strategy, todayโ€™s players are urging for dynamic adjustments in Hearthstone to enhance their experience. Just as the evolution of baseball games embraced user feedback for smoother play, the future of Hearthstone may see similar adaptations.