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, allowing for strategic gameplay with different characters, each having unique abilities.
- Playing with friends enhances the experience, making it a fun social activity.
- The AI is poorly designed, making single-player games unchallenging and often frustrating.
- There are significant balance issues between characters, with some being overpowered compared to others.
- The online multiplayer experience is lacking due to a small player base and frequent disconnects, making it hard to find matches.
- story108 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 89 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is described as lacking depth and engagement, often feeling like a series of repetitive tasks rather than a cohesive narrative. While it incorporates elements from the Witcher lore, many players find the quests to be linear and simplistic, with minimal interaction and character development. Overall, the game captures some essence of the Witcher universe but fails to deliver a compelling storytelling experience, often leading to confusion and frustration among players.
“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 completes 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 encounter 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.”
- gameplay65 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of strengths and weaknesses. Many players appreciate the diverse mechanics, character asymmetry, and strategic depth, while others criticize convoluted systems, poor AI, and a lack of multiplayer interaction. Overall, the game offers an engaging experience for those who enjoy board game mechanics, but potential buyers are advised to watch gameplay videos to gauge their interest before purchasing.
“The game mechanics and visuals are very good, no bugs encountered.”
“Each of the four characters has its own mechanics, which makes the game quite diversified.”
“Gameplay itself is straightforward, but there's a lot of depth and strategy involved.”
“Many of the mechanics here (exchange rates on lead tokens, asymmetric characters, too many action types, overly complicated event cards, 'side quests' of uncertain ev, 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.”
“You will have a good few hours of fun with it, but I'm imagining it gets kind of pointless once you've played all the characters a handful of times, simply because the character balance is totally off, the game mechanics have obvious exploits and are somewhat poorly designed, and it lacks diversity and content for longer games.”
- music36 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its immersive qualities and connection to the Gwent series. However, some players have reported issues with the soundtrack being repetitive or cutting out intermittently, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, there are mixed feelings about its variety and consistency.
“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 sound 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.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 77 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game receive a mixed reception, with many praising the beautiful artwork, vibrant visuals, and immersive atmosphere that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some users express disappointment with certain aspects of the visuals, describing them as unimpressive or poorly executed in relation to the game's design. Despite these criticisms, the general consensus highlights the strong artistic elements that contribute positively to the game's setting and overall enjoyment.
“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.”
“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.”
“Also, the visuals aren't too impressive.”
“Last but not least, the artwork is pretty top-notch - and it should be, considering CDPR and FFG have sourced most of their material from the concepts done for the three Witcher games.”
- 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 affecting online play, such as random disconnects and game freezes. Many minor glitches, like disappearing dice rolls and unresponsive AI, have been noted, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the game has potential, it requires further refinement to address these 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.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The reviews present a mixed view on replayability; while some players find it high due to diverse character playstyles and unpredictable matches, others note that the experience can become repetitive after a few games due to predictable strategies and lifeless mechanics. Overall, the game offers a decent replay value, especially in multiplayer settings, but may lose some appeal after multiple playthroughs.
“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.”
“In the whole, it feels like every match is different and unpredictable, giving this game an infinite replayability.”
“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.”
- grinding6 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 unengaging. The lack of a comprehensive tutorial leads to frustration, as players frequently resort to reading rules instead of enjoying the game, resulting in a lack of interaction and excitement during multiplayer sessions. Overall, the grinding experience detracts significantly from the game's replayability and enjoyment.
“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.”
“Just an amazing game, great music and atmosphere.”
“Combat is a blast, the atmosphere draws you in, the UI is clean and aesthetically pleasing; a wonderful game for a rainy afternoon.”
“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.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as quirky and enjoyable, appealing to those who appreciate a mix of trial-and-error gameplay and the comedic misfortunes of friends. Players find the game's stylish presentation and unpredictable scenarios amusing, even if the quests can become repetitive. Overall, it offers a unique blend of humor that resonates well with players who enjoy a lighthearted, albeit sometimes frustrating, gaming experience.
“The game is stylishly beautiful, full of twists and turns, tearing hair out and laughing at your friend's pain.”
“I'm not a 'mr-read-the-manual-first' guy, I'm more like 'mr-d-i-y-then-screwed-up-guy', so yeah, I figured out how this game works by trial and error, countless times on the last place, one time runner-up, and one time 3rd place. So yeah, I finally found the 'joy' factor of this game, and I think this game is like 'if you have a boring and weird sense of humor friend but you still hang with him anyway.'”
“The quests are interesting, may get a little repetitive, but the RNG elements add some interesting scenarios to the game that can be quite funny.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % 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 game's performance on lower-end systems is impressive, showcasing excellent optimization.”
“I appreciate how the developers focused on optimization, making the game run smoothly even on older hardware.”
“The 30fps cap is quite annoying and really hinders the overall experience.”
“Despite not experiencing crashes, the performance issues reported by others make me question the game's optimization.”
“I feel like the game could benefit from better optimization, especially considering the mixed reviews on performance.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized for being underwhelming, with users noting that advertisements are not particularly effective or engaging.
“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, describing it as intentionally slow and tedious, which detracts from the emotional engagement. The prolonged wait times for AI turns create a sense of disconnection, making it difficult for players to immerse themselves fully in the experience. Overall, the emotional impact is diminished by the game's design choices that emphasize waiting over active participation.
- 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 richer gameplay experience.”
“The character development is incredibly engaging, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
“I love how the game allows for deep character growth, with choices that truly shape the narrative and relationships.”
“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 leaves many plot points unresolved.”
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%