Fans of The Witcher universe can now enjoy playing Gwent with real cards, thanks to its official physical adaptation. First announced last December, this “Gwent: The Legendary Card Game” edition has begun shipping, and Amazon is currently accepting orders for $45. This comprehensive set includes five distinct factions, over 400 cards featuring brand-new artwork, and six diverse game modes suitable for 1-5 players.
The physical version of Gwent: The Legendary Card Game was brought to life by No Loading Games and published by Hachette Boardgames. While the game`s page just appeared on Amazon this month, and it`s not explicitly labeled as a preorder, the estimated delivery time of three to four weeks suggests that Amazon still requires some time to manage its inventory. The game is sold by its publisher but will be shipped by Amazon at no additional cost.
Distinguishing itself from many other collectible card games, including the digital Gwent, this release is a standalone, one-off product. No Loading has no intentions of releasing future expansions or booster packs, which is why it`s proudly advertised as the “complete set.”
The physical Gwent edition boasts five iconic factions: Northern Realms, Scoia`tael, Monsters, Skellige, and Nilfgaard. Players can construct their faction-specific decks from an extensive pool of 436 cards, each adorned with fresh artwork inspired by CD Projekt Red`s critically acclaimed series.
Beyond the impressive array of cards available for deck building, the physical edition offers six distinct ways to play Gwent. New players can easily grasp the basics using pre-built decks in **Initiation Mode**. For team play, four players can divide into pairs for **2v2 matches**. Three to five players can engage in a lively **Free-for-All** battle. If you wish to test your meticulously crafted deck or lack an opponent, **Solo Challenge Mode** provides a single-player experience.
**Advanced Mode** and **Tournament Format** adhere to Gwent`s traditional 1v1 setup. Advanced Mode challenges players to build their decks from scratch, while Tournament Format employs Gwent`s standard competitive rules. A typical round of Gwent usually lasts approximately 20 minutes.
What`s in the Box?
- 436 Faction Cards (covering 5 Factions)
- 10 Aid Cards
- 4 Tokens
- 4 Gem Tokens
- Score Tracking Board
- Paper Game Board
- 2 Rulebooks
Gwent has been a staple as a digital card game for a decade, initially appearing as a captivating minigame within The Witcher 3. The minigame`s immense popularity prompted CD Projekt Red to launch a standalone digital version in 2018. Although official support concluded in October 2023, Gwent remains fully playable on consoles, PC, and mobile devices. Furthermore, the dedicated Gwent community actively keeps the digital version vibrant with ongoing fan-made content updates and modifications.
While Gwent has had previous limited physical releases, such as card decks offered to support the launch of The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine, this new retail edition marks the very first comprehensive set of Gwent cards available to the public.
The Witcher Universe Games and Books
The acclaimed Witcher video game series has inspired a multitude of board games over the past few years, including the competitive strategy title “The Witcher: Old World.” More recently, The Witcher universe made its entry into the strategic fighting game series Unmatched.
- The Witcher: Old World Board Game — $97
- Unmatched: The Witcher: Steel & Silver — $45
- Unmatched: The Witcher: Realms Fall — $45
The physical card game isn`t the only exciting development for The Witcher franchise this month. The ninth novel in Andrzej Sapkowski`s original book series, “The Witcher: Crossroads of Ravens,” is set to be published in English on September 30. This prequel novel delves into Geralt`s backstory, exploring his life before he became the iconic character we know today. You can preorder a hardcover copy of “Crossroads of Ravens” for $23.49 (originally $30) on Amazon.
Much like the main video games, Gwent itself draws its inspiration from a game named “Gwint,” which is mentioned within Sapkowski`s original Witcher novels. For those who haven`t yet explored Sapkowski`s other Witcher novels and short story collections, the first seven books can be acquired by purchasing the two convenient box sets listed below:
- The Witcher Saga Novel Box Set (5 Books) — $50 (originally $90)
- The Witcher Stories Box Set (2 Books) — $26.90 (originally $35)