The Witcher Adventure Game
- November 27, 2014
- CD PROJEKT RED
- 3h median play time
The Witcher Adventure Game places up to four players, using the four named characters mentioned above, on a board detailing the world of the Witcher novels.
"The Witcher Adventure Game" is a digital adaptation of a board game set in the brutal fantasy world of Geralt of Rivia. Play as four different characters, completing quests involving monster hunting and ancient mysteries. Update 1.2.5 offers performance fixes and various gameplay improvements.
Reviews
- The game captures the essence of the Witcher universe with great visuals and music, making it enjoyable for fans.
- The mechanics are engaging, with a mix of strategy and luck that keeps gameplay interesting.
- Playing with friends enhances the experience, making it more fun and interactive.
- The AI is poorly designed, making single-player games feel dull and unchallenging.
- There are significant balance issues between characters, particularly with Geralt being overpowered compared to others.
- The online multiplayer experience is lacking due to a small player base and frequent disconnects.
- story88 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 88 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is generally viewed as lacking depth and engagement, with many players feeling that it fails to capture the rich narrative of the Witcher universe. While some quests are tied to the lore and provide a familiar atmosphere, the gameplay often feels linear and repetitive, reducing the overall storytelling experience to a series of basic objectives rather than a cohesive narrative. Players noted that the game could benefit from more character interaction and a stronger emphasis on story development to enhance immersion.
“The quests are based on the famous lore of The Witcher, so it's very immersive.”
“I enjoy the Witcher franchise, and this board game captures the essence of the story nicely.”
“It's meant to be role-played; you have to read the quests to feel any kind of depth.”
“The game doesn't build a story; it just stops when someone has completed enough quests.”
“In addition, the atmosphere is as removed from the Witcher games and books as possible; the characters are only pawns, and the missions and 'episodes' you stumble upon are extremely linear, basic, and poor in details.”
“This game is a farce... it is horribly boring and has no real depth; lacking in both content, character/story development, and relevancy... the 'adventure' isn't really all that different each time you play.”
- gameplay67 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth, variety, and engaging mechanics, while others criticize it for being convoluted, poorly balanced, and occasionally repetitive. Many appreciate the unique character mechanics and strategic elements, but some find the AI lacking and the overall experience can feel punishing or confusing at times. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable moments and solid visuals, potential players are advised to watch gameplay videos to determine if it aligns with their preferences.
“The game is awesome and in every match, you discover different mechanics and strategies ... I love it!”
“Gameplay itself is straightforward, but there's a lot of depth and strategy involved.”
“Deep and varied gameplay makes for a whole lot of experimentation.”
“Not my genre, but as a regular board game player, this title has poorly constructed mechanics and round system.”
“Many of the mechanics here (exchange rates on lead tokens, asymmetric characters, too many action types, overly complicated event cards, 'side quests' of uncertain value, etc.) felt convoluted, arduous, meaningless, and frankly boring.”
“The gameplay is confusing at times (why are certain things greyed out? Who knows!), and the UI is poor in minor ways-- for example, some of the buttons that you click aren't animated, so you really have no idea when you've pressed them.”
- music35 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the immersive atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its connection to the original Gwent soundtrack. However, some players have expressed frustration over limited volume control options and occasional audio glitches, which detract from the overall experience. While the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, its repetitiveness and technical issues have led to mixed feelings among users.
“Just an amazing game, great music and atmosphere.”
“Music provides an entrancing ambience.”
“The music is exceptional, and the graphics quite vibrant; if you zoom in a bit then you can see various animations such as weather effects on the board.”
“No one is playing it online, gets boring fast (not much content), and wow the music is awful, many sounds/effects play over each other until your ears can't handle it.”
“Really, nothing happens, the effects aren't impressive, the music puts everyone to sleep.”
“If I have any complaints at all, it's that longer games can feel a little slow and the soundtrack is fairly limited.”
- graphics28 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive a mixed reception, with many praising the beautiful artwork, vibrant visuals, and immersive atmosphere that enhance the overall experience. However, some users find the visuals unimpressive or lacking in innovation, suggesting that while the art style is appealing, it may not stand out significantly. Overall, the game's graphics are generally well-regarded, contributing positively to the gameplay and thematic elements.
“Absolutely life-changing story, fantastic visuals, and lovable characters.”
“The music is exceptional, and the graphics quite vibrant; if you zoom in a bit then you can see various animations such as weather effects on the board.”
“Detailed and impressive artwork can be found from its map to the monster cards.”
“The visuals aren't too impressive.”
“I have an A6 with 12 GB of RAM and a 2 GB graphics card (Radeon Sapphire) and have had no problems with all of my other games, but for whatever reason, this game refuses to run well.”
“Blends in with the top of the background graphic.”
- stability10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players enjoy smooth gameplay and minimal technical issues, others report significant bugs, particularly in online play, including random disconnects and game freezes. Many minor glitches affect gameplay, such as issues with scoring and card visibility, but these do not universally detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game requires further refinement to address its stability concerns.
“The game runs great and is always fun for people who love the Witcher series.”
“No glitches or technical problems.”
“Game is buggy, specifically with the winning condition; it doesn't give everyone one more turn once the 3rd quest is completed.”
“I only have a few hours on record because I attempted to play about seven games, all of which were ended short because of random disconnects or game freezes.”
“Unfortunately, this game is extremely buggy.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and lifeless, with achievements requiring excessive effort and gameplay often feeling slow and solitary. The lack of a comprehensive tutorial contributes to the frustration, as players frequently resort to reading rules instead of engaging with the game, leading to a diminished sense of interaction and enjoyment. Overall, the experience is marked by a sense of regret for both personal purchases and gifts.
“Achievements require a lot of grinding.”
“The dice rolls are lifeless, slow, and tedious, smashing replayability to bits.”
“It feels dead and tedious to play, and I regret not only buying a copy for myself but also gifting a copy to a friend before I knew what hassle the multiplayer would be.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive setting, stunning graphics, and engaging music, creating a captivating experience for players. However, some critiques highlight a disconnect from the source material, noting that the linear and simplistic missions detract from the overall depth of the atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully draws players in with its aesthetic appeal and enjoyable encounters.
“Also awesome graphics and atmosphere.”
“An immersive setting, atmosphere, graphics, and music.”
“Just an amazing game, great music and atmosphere.”
“In addition, the atmosphere is as removed from the Witcher games and books as possible; obviously, since the characters are only pawns, they simply have the name and face of the characters we know, but also the missions and 'episodes' you stumble upon are extremely linear, basic, and poor in details.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it high due to diverse character playstyles and choices, others note that the experience can become predictable and tedious after several playthroughs, particularly due to weaknesses in AI strategy. Additionally, the game offers a flexible quest system that can extend gameplay duration, but the enjoyment may diminish with familiarity.
“The game's replay value is very high, and is a lot of fun to play with friends both locally and online.”
“Each character plays differently and there are plenty of choices to make, so there is lots of replayability.”
“The system has been developed competently enough to offer more than an average amount of replayability, with gameplay duration lasting somewhere between 70-120 minutes depending on how many main quests are necessary to win the game.”
“The replayability is low as after the first few games you have everything figured out.”
“The dice rolls are lifeless, slow, and tedious, smashing replayability to itty-bittys.”
“After some playthroughs, weaknesses in the AI choices and strategy become apparent, and the replay value suffers somewhat from that.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as quirky and appealing to those with a unique sense of humor, often likened to the experience of hanging out with an eccentric friend. While the quests can become repetitive, the random elements introduce amusing scenarios that enhance the overall enjoyment, making it more suitable for solo play rather than group gatherings.
“I'm not a 'Mr. Read the Manual First' guy; I'm more like 'Mr. DIY Then Screwed Up Guy'. So yeah, I figured out how this game works by trial and error, countless times in last place, one time runner-up, and one time 3rd place. I finally found the 'joy' factor of this game, and I think it's like having a friend with a boring and weird sense of humor, but you still hang out with him anyway.”
“The quests are interesting; they may get a little repetitive, but the RNG elements add some interesting scenarios to the game that can be quite funny.”
“Funny thing is that this adventuring witcher game is more suitable for the PC than for gatherings like a gaming party with good friends.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a generally positive experience with optimization, noting no crashing or performance issues, particularly with the Mac version being surprisingly well-optimized. However, some players find the 30fps cap to be a minor annoyance.
“The Mac version is surprisingly well optimized.”
“The 30fps cap is kind of annoying, even though I haven't experienced any crashing or performance problems like many other reviews mention.”
“The optimization feels lacking, as the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate during intense moments.”
“I often encounter long loading times and stuttering, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for its lackluster advertisements, suggesting that the promotional efforts may not effectively engage or attract players.
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“I find the in-game purchases to be overpriced and not worth the value they provide.”
“The constant push for microtransactions makes it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the game's pacing, feeling that the slow turn-based mechanics detract from emotional engagement. The prolonged waiting for AI actions creates a sense of disconnection, leading to a lack of enjoyment and immersion in the experience. Overall, the emotional impact is diminished by the game's deliberate pacing and the player's awareness of time spent waiting.
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is engaging, as players often find themselves sidetracked by various tasks that enhance their understanding and connection to the characters, enriching the overall experience beyond the main quest.
“As you try to finish the main quest, you get sidetracked with tasks and character development, allowing for a more immersive experience.”
“The character development is rich and engaging, making each decision feel impactful.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and relationships deepening as you progress.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression throughout the game.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, making it hard to connect with them.”
“Despite the potential for rich storytelling, the character development is rushed and fails to explore deeper motivations.”
Critic Reviews
The Witcher Adventure Game Review
The Witcher Adventure Game is a virtual tabletop experience saddled with simple, repetitive objectives.
69%The Witcher Adventure Game Review
Maybe the problem with The Witcher Adventure Game is that it’s just too much like the board game which was meant to be played with four friends together in a room, narrating their actions to each other while making inappropriate jokes about Triss. Playing this version just feels too solitary and mildly tedious. For fans of the board game only.
65%Geralt goes rolling along -- The Witcher Adventure Game
For all of its faults, The Witcher: Adventure game for PC has an undeniable allure. The artwork is nice and evocative, and the focus on questing is appropriate to the theme. However, there are other games that come immediately to mind which accomplish the feeling of Witcher adventures and plot development better than this does. If you are a fan of the franchise, by all means, consider adding this game to your collection, as it will let you slide into the shoes of some of your favorite characters. For all others, look elsewhere for your adventuring and competitive needs.
65%