The Witcher 3 had a great open world, amazing quests, and excellent storytelling, but one of my favorite parts about it is still Gwent, the RPG’s in-universe card game. Now, a year after the standalone digital version was shutdown, the awesome mini-game is getting a physical tabletop release.
Canadian board game maker No Loading Games, in partnership with Hachette Boardgames UK, will release a physical version of Gwent in Q3 2025 for $40 a piece. Each set will include 400 cards and a playmat with rule variants for more casual play and tournament settings. The tabletop companies say the physical edition has the “full support” of CD Projekt Red.
The beauty of Gwent was two-fold. First, it was perfectly integrated into the larger world of The Witcher 3. Monster slayer Geralt of Rivia could challenge opponents at the pub or in the royal court and wager money, collecting cards and expanding his reputation, including through a Gwent tournament with important ties to the narrative. Second, the game itself was thoughtful but streamlined, letting players bluff and deploy clever tactics without having to engage in some of the more convoluted TCG mechanics of a Hearthstone or Magic: The Gathering.
The distinct Witcher flavor of the card art and presentation, combined with the unique gameplay mechanics, made CD Projekt Red’s standalone digital spin-off of the mini-game beloved within a small but passionate fandom. While the project eventually spawned a single-player story-based game called Thronebreaker, the card game’s stalled growth and the studio’s other ambitious projects ultimately led it to be abandoned, first on console and then on PC and mobile as well.
What CDPR did do, however, is not let the game simply die, but instead keep the servers online and empower top players to continue tweaking the balance, to support fans who remained even if there was no new content or big update coming. With The Witcher 4 now in full-production alongside remasters and spin-offs, I hope Gwent at least comes back as a mini-game in the sequel. Maybe even with a few twists. In the meantime, it’s nice to know fans can immortalize their love of the niche card game with a real-life version.
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