Mesmerized by 'Hearthstone'

"Mario Kart 8," a gorgeous racing game for Nintendo's Wii U, has been a blast of fresh air in the video-game world. But the game many really can't stop playing is "Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft," an online collectible card battle game from the evil geniuses behind "World of Warcraft." It's available on the computer, but its most dangerous format is the iPad, where it can become addictive as an on-the-go game you might never want to stop playing. It's free (unless you engage in optional Arena battles or buy extra cards). It has that Blizzard Entertainment polish that's tough to resist. Play "Hearthstone" with caution, as you might lose hours of your life if you're not careful. us.battle.net/hearthstone

Austin American-Statesman