GWENT: The Witcher Card Game

Months after the final release, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game is still going strong. The minigame-turned-esport continually goes through iterations and patches, shedding skins and morphing into a real beast of a card game. It has a wistful past, a solid present, and a bright future.

72%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

grinding, monetization

86% User Score Based on 7,490 reviews

Critic Score 85%Based on 2 reviews

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"GWENT: The Witcher Card Game is a free, fantasy-themed digital card game set in the Witcher universe. It features multiplayer PvP duels with bluffing and strategic deck-building, allowing players to collect iconic characters, spells, and abilities. The game offers a fair progression system and various modes, including classic, seasonal, and Arena."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,492 reviews

gameplay295 positive mentions

grinding102 negative mentions

gameplay
754 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
60%
1%
Gwent's gameplay is characterized by its strategic depth and unique mechanics, offering a blend of accessibility for newcomers and complexity for seasoned players. The game features a two-row system that encourages tactical decision-making, with diverse factions and card interactions that keep matches engaging and fresh. While some players appreciate the game's artistic presentation and generous free-to-play model, others express concerns about balance issues and the impact of pay-to-win mechanics on competitive play.
- “The gameplay is easy to pick up but difficult to master, offering depth and plenty of tactical choices.”
- “Drawing from the rich lore of the Witcher universe, Gwent delivers a unique gameplay experience that combines strategic depth with accessibility, making it enjoyable for both seasoned players and newcomers alike.”
- “Gwent's gameplay offers a sophisticated mix of strategic depth, innovative row mechanics, and dynamic card interactions, ensuring each match is a fresh and intellectually stimulating experience.”
- “They basically took everything you loved about that Gwent, threw it out, and replaced it with a bunch of pay-to-win nonsense mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is completely unique and it is very tragic to see CDPR not take care of the game the way it deserved.”
- “This game just has microtransactions, but you never ever have to pay a dime to get everything you want or need to help improve gameplay.”
graphics
451 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
30%
2%
The graphics of Gwent are widely praised for their stunning artwork and immersive animations, effectively bringing the Witcher universe to life. Many players highlight the beautiful card designs and the overall aesthetic appeal, although some find the flashy visuals distracting or resource-intensive, particularly on older hardware. Overall, the game is noted for its exceptional visual quality, making it stand out in the digital card game genre.
- “The visuals are stunning, with beautiful art and animations that bring the cards to life.”
- “Featuring stunning hand-drawn artwork and captivating effects, every card and battlefield contributes to the immersive experience, bringing the Witcher universe to life.”
- “The artwork and presentation of Gwent are simply breathtaking.”
- “The graphics are too flashy and distracting, making it harder to tell what was happening, harder to identify the cards, and harder to take in the field of play.”
- “Graphics are meh, game uses more resources than it should, 0 voice acting on cards, also too much complexity making it difficult and time-consuming to learn, very little information outside of a completely useless tutorial.”
- “But the graphics engine is pretty different, it looks more like Caesar 4 (which is not a compliment) than the Gwent in Witcher 3.”
story
224 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
79%
4%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for lacking a traditional narrative, with many players noting that it does not feature a dedicated story mode or campaign. However, it is set within the rich lore of the Witcher universe, with cards and characters that provide context and depth for fans. While some players appreciate the ongoing quests and events that add a layer of storytelling, others express a desire for a more structured narrative experience akin to the single-player campaign found in "Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales."
- “While Gwent doesn't have a traditional storyline, it's deeply rooted in the Witcher universe. Each card and character brings a slice of the Witcher's story to the table, enriching the game experience for fans of the series.”
- “The way they manage to expand the Witcher lore is sublime; every journey has an interesting story attached to it, and many cards tell stories of their own.”
- “Thronebreaker is a fully fledged single-player Gwent campaign with a great story.”
- “Story: there is no real story but, the game is set in the Witcher universe and features characters and lore from the books and video games.”
- “I ended up dropping it; I didn't like the style, it was like it was made by other people not connected to the story of the Witcher.”
- “Crap matchmaking and no PvE mode (outside of 'training', which doesn't let you do quests or progress, so it's pointless).”
music
142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
32%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its high quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, drawing heavily from the beloved soundtracks of the Witcher series. Players appreciate the stunning orchestral compositions and immersive sound design, which complement the beautiful artwork and intricate lore, creating a captivating experience. While some express a desire for more variety in the soundtrack, the consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The music is fantastic and the art is absolutely breathtaking.”
- “Gwent has exquisite art and outstanding music - if you like the Witcher universe, it's not hard to find yourself looking up the soundtrack and wallpaper arts on the internet soon enough.”
- “Beautiful animated artwork, beautiful soundtrack, beloved universe, minimal amount of grinding required to build a viable deck, that on top of the game already being free to play.”
- “Music and UI is awful.”
- “I was excited to play this after playing Gwent in Witcher 3, but I don't know, man, this version is kinda boring and the music is not as epic as Witcher 3.”
- “For the most part, you will hear the same song over and over again, which is a shame considering the Witcher 3 soundtrack.”
grinding
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
7%
90%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it can be tedious and time-consuming, it is generally more manageable compared to other free-to-play card games. Some players appreciate the ability to progress without spending money, highlighting that grinding can lead to rewarding gameplay experiences, while others find the amount of grinding required to build competitive decks overwhelming and frustrating. Overall, the game is seen as generous in its rewards, but players should be prepared for a significant time investment if they wish to fully enjoy its content.
- “Not too grindy for free-to-play players like myself, with many nice cosmetics for people who want to support this free game.”
- “Rounds are not tedious and not too short.”
- “The game is not grindy as many others tend to be; you're rewarded quite a lot just by playing.”
- “The amount of grinding required to start putting together a themed deck is otherworldly, enough to scare the worst of the Chinese sweatshops.”
- “Once you have played for a long time, you will keep running into players who have decks filled with overpowered cards which you will have no hope of matching unless you either spend a lot of money or put literally hundreds of hours into grinding.”
- “It's a very, very, very grindy game that's just going to be frustrating and hopeless for people that don't want to spend hours and hours every day trying to get every card.”
monetization
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
64%
22%
The monetization in the game is primarily focused on cosmetic microtransactions, which do not impact gameplay, allowing players to enjoy the game without spending money. While some users express concerns about the increasing number of microtransactions and potential pay-to-win elements, many agree that the game offers a generous free-to-play model with ample opportunities to earn resources through gameplay. Overall, the monetization system is seen as fair and optional, with no aggressive push for in-game purchases.
- “My favorite thing is that in-game purchases are truly optional.”
- “There are in-game purchases, which are all optional and purely cosmetic (leader skins, card boards, music, etc.) with no pay-to-win elements whatsoever.”
- “The game is free to play with microtransactions, and while yes, microtransactions are usually bad, compared to other CCGs on the market, this one is very generous, with the only one I can think of that outdoes this game in generosity being Legends of Runeterra.”
- “This standalone game, however, feels like an opportunistic cash grab.”
- “While I enjoy Gwent and Witcher, this is nothing but a cash grab and pay-to-win.”
- “This is a pay-to-win system with microtransactions to build better card decks and get better cards.”
atmosphere
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
26%
10%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning art direction and immersive sound design, which effectively capture the essence of the Witcher universe. Players appreciate the richly illustrated cards, detailed game boards, and evocative music that together create a deeply engaging experience, making each match feel like a sensory feast. Overall, the game's dark fantasy setting and thematic elements resonate strongly with fans, enhancing the overall enjoyment and immersion.
- “The art direction beautifully captures the essence of the Witcher universe, with richly illustrated cards and atmospheric animations that bring the game to life.”
- “The audio design, with its evocative sound effects and thematic music, further enhances the atmosphere, immersing players in the rich world of the Witcher series.”
- “The beautifully illustrated cards, the detailed game boards, and the atmospheric sound design create an immersive and visually stunning experience.”
- “Game is based on a mini-game from one of the best RPGs ever created, but it's very different from the original and offers a much more interesting experience - you can see balanced gameplay and feel the dark and cruel atmosphere of the Witcher universe.”
- “Finally, the music and overall atmosphere of the game has been hit on the head of the nail, and, myself along with most of the community expected no less from CD Projekt Red.”
- “If you like the world of the Witcher, the atmosphere, setting, and lore will enhance your experience.”
humor
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Gwent is often described as both entertaining and frustrating, with players finding amusement in the game's quirky mechanics and references to the Witcher universe, despite its balancing issues. Many reviews highlight the game's potential for meme-worthy decks and funny moments, though some express that the unbalanced nature of the game can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, while the humor adds a layer of charm, it is frequently overshadowed by gameplay frustrations.
- “Like a drunken dwarf at a feast, Gwent is confusing but hilariously entertaining!”
- “Especially if you are a fan of the Witcher universe, you will be surprised when you see some very funny cards that reference the books and the video games.”
- “A deceptively deep and witty experience, you truly have lots of ways to find your favorite playstyle; what's more, if you enjoyed the Witcher series or even if you are new to the universe, the art and narrative quotes are humorous and quite endearing.”
stability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of persistent bugs, glitches, and freezing issues across both PC and mobile versions. Players have expressed frustration over the frequency of these problems, especially given the game's late release date, and many have noted that updates often introduce new bugs rather than resolve existing ones. Overall, the game's stability is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the overall experience.
- “A lot of the time, there isn't troubleshooting involved, or it's very niche to the user.”
- “Runs great on Linux.”
- “And this doesn't even touch on the not infrequent bugs/glitches (which, this late after release, shouldn't still be a thing)”
- “Awful, I loved The Witcher 3 and loved playing Gwent, this is really poorly executed, it's buggy as hell (you have to disable generic controller support just to be able to use your mouse), the game doesn't explain anything at all, it's a complete mess and forces you to play against human opponents rather than AI or just going at your own pace, it's really poor, I wanted to love it as I love original Gwent and was looking forward to playing it, but it's just a confusing buggy mess that forces you to play online to unlock anything.”
- “Buggy mess, every time a new update comes out, it comes with many more bugs and glitches that take at least a week or more for CDPR to fix.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
38%
19%
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its variety of factions, strategic depth, and a rewarding system that encourages experimentation and grinding. Players appreciate the constant updates and balance improvements, which keep the experience fresh and engaging. However, some users noted issues with the tutorial that could hinder initial enjoyment.
- “This variety not only enhances replayability but also ensures that the game remains fresh and exciting.”
- “Experimenting with different faction combinations and strategies adds a sense of discovery and endless replayability.”
- “Solid game mechanics, high replay value, fun as hell, good rewards system to encourage grinding, strategic thinking, quick matches.”
- “However, the badly broken (and seemingly un-replayable) tutorial coupled with a skip turn function that didn't seem to work at all; forcing me to play all cards in the 1st round!?”
- “What I feel now is Gwent is way more playable than the first homecoming, so I can enjoy this game again.”
- “Prestige mechanic makes this game replayable.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
38%
23%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its strong performance across various platforms, particularly on gaming PCs, with many users noting excellent graphics and gameplay. However, some players have reported performance issues on laptops and phones, indicating that optimization may not be consistent for all devices. Despite these concerns, the game is generally considered well-optimized, with only occasional bugs that are quickly addressed.
- “Very good graphics, fun gameplay, very well optimized.”
- “Just a very well optimized multiplayer version of that minigame from The Witcher 3 everyone loved.”
- “Coupled with an amazing soundtrack and brilliant art pieces from numerous talented artists, its well-thought game design and optimized technical performance for all platforms (including mobile) makes it deserving of your time.”
- “I have also experienced some performance issues on my laptop and phone when not playing on my gaming PC.”
- “Poorly optimized, and I needed to use an FPS limiter to prevent my computer from crashing.”
- “I discovered from the Gwent forum that this issue had been going on since 2018, and this is already 2020, and it looks like it won't be fixed anytime soon.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players describe the game as an emotional roller coaster, particularly during intense moments like winning or losing by a narrow margin. While some note a decline in fun and wholesomeness, others appreciate the beautiful art and the heartfelt connection to familiar characters, contributing to a mix of emotions throughout the gameplay experience.
- “The art in the game is beautiful as well and this game can be an emotional roller coaster when winning or losing by 1 point in the final round.”
- “It's heartwarming to see those characters you know so well faithfully illustrated.”
- “This game is an emotional roller-coaster.”