The next masterpiece in the Witcher franchise.
Gwent will be a familiar word for Witcher fans, but for those that haven’t played the games or read the books simply put: Gwent is a highly popular card game among the denizens of the world of the Witcher.
The game is currently in beta, and available on PC and Xbox only. You will need to register for the beta via CDPR’s website and hope you are selected. Unfortunately Playstation players will have to wait for the full game to be released, however the PC version doesn’t require demanding specs, and runs smoothly on laptops.
Gwent was first released as a mini-game within the Witcher 3, but since then CDPR have also released physical versions of the decks via the Witcher 3 DLC bonus content packs, thanks to it’s popularity. The rules are simple: the first player to win 2 rounds wins the match. There are hundreds of different cards in the game, each with their own strengths and abilities. It’s these strength values which contribute towards your score and ultimately help you win rounds.
It’s worth noting that the new Gwent standalone game is significantly different to that version played within the Witcher 3. CDPR have truly enriched the game, adding in vastly more cards and tweaking the abilities of others to achieve a much more balanced game which can be played online. Long-standing Witcher fans will be pleased to see classic characters from the novels return in this version, with the beautiful art work style and fun abilities.
Winning rounds and matches earns you experience and card ‘kegs’ which unlock new cards. These kegs can also be purchased using in-game coins earned from winning matches, or by paying actual money. Winning games, levelling up, and receiving positive feedback from other players also awards you ‘scraps’. These can be used to craft your own cards to add to your collection, and once you reach Level 3 you can begin milling unwanted cards into scraps, to use for crafting others. Whilst this is an effective way to build up a collection, the best ‘gold’ cards are better earned through match wins and from card kegs - so you’ll need to get playing!
Don’t worry if you struggle to win matches, as long as you participate you will earn experience and winning a single round within a match also helps unlock rewards. You will find that in most matches both players usually win at least one round each. This is because players hold back their strong cards to play at the right moments. Others decks (such as Skellige) also have abilities which benefit you playing a longer game and making it through to the third round.
In short, CDPR have impressed again with this latest installment which is sure to please both existing fans and newcomers alike. I’m really looking forward to the final touches being made, and for the full version to be released on Playstation 4.
