Witcher 3

Developer CD Projekt Red has already revealed that their upcoming open-world RPG, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, will be a big game with a lot for players to do. We know it will take players close to 50 or 60 hours to complete the main storyline, and 200 hours total to complete the full game. We also know that the world in The Witcher 3 is larger than that of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, but it's the smaller details that have us most intrigued.

One of those smaller details, but one that could be a big part of the game, is the card game that Witcher 3 players can experience in between monster hunting. The game, called Gwent, is a 1v1 collectible card game similar to Magic: The Gathering. Players can purchase and win cards for Gwent as they progress through Witcher 3, then use those cards to take on other Gwent players in the game.

Gwent includes 150 cards, with four different classes for players to choose. The cards will include spells and battlefield units for players to use against their opponents. According to a press release from CD Projekt, Gwent is a game that’s both simple and deep.

"Invented by dwarves and perfected over centuries of tavern table play, Gwent is a game of initial simplicity and ultimate depth, something beloved by both road-weary travellers during long nights around the campfire and elegant nobles looking to liven up dragging dinner parties."

Witcher 3 Gwent Card Game

Sadly, with no multiplayer available in Witcher 3, players won’t be able to pay Gwent together online. However, CD Projekt Red has already revealed printed physical copies of the game, which will be available to Xbox One gamers who purchase the Collector’s Edition of Witcher 3.

However, those who play Gwent in Witcher 3 will be rewarded with a special in-game quest line. As players progress through the quests and game, they will eventually reach a tournament where they will face off against the best Gwent players in the region.

The addition of Gwent is no doubt due to the surge in popularity of competitive collectible card games. As games like Blizzard’s Hearthstone continue to gain traction among gamers, other developers are looking for ways to capitalize on the trend. Perhaps, if the game is successful CD Projekt Red will take Gwent beyond Witcher 3 and offer it as its own stand-alone game.

Are you excited to play Gwent in The Wticher 3? Would you play it as a stand-alone game? Share your thoughts in the comments.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is set to release on May 19 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.