You can now play the latest single-player game in the Witcher universe. We reveal what you can expect in Gwent: Rogue Mage.
Quite surprisingly, CD Projekt has announced a new Witcher game: Gwent: Rogue Mage offers a new single-player experience in the popular fantasy universe, similar to Thronebreaker. It should be at least as surprising that the roguelike deckbuilder has already been released today, 7 July 2022.
What to expect in Gwent: Rogue Mage
Rogue Mage, like Thronebreaker, is based on the core mechanics of the Witcher card game Gwent: Here you put together a pack of cards and must try to generate more points than your opponent in each round. The first player to win two out of three rounds also wins the game.
The title relies on a roguelike mechanic: You move across a procedurally generated map, choose between different paths and fight Gwent duels and overcome random events until you face a final boss. If you’ve ever played Slay the Spire or Monster Train, you’ll feel right at home here.
Each game starts with around a dozen easy-to-understand playing cards in your deck, which constantly grows during a run – unlocking powerful combos and synergies that help you win. With each run, you earn additional experience points and leveling up increases the number of available cards.
Focus on good gameplay
While the developers say that good gameplay should come first, Rogue Mage also tells a little story: the story takes place hundreds of years before the events from the Witcher RPGs and is about the mage Alzur, who is trying to create the first Witcher.
In (interview with IGN) Game Director Vladimir Tortsov said:
“Our goal with Rogue Mage’s story is to give players enough context about who Alzur is, what his motivations are, and what the world he lives in is like in general. We hope that players will be immersed enough in the game to complement the gameplay-first formula. But we don’t expect the story to be the main reason for players to appreciate this release. “
Gwent: Rogue Mage is available to buy now on Steam, GOG.com and the Google Play Store (Android) and App Store (iOS) for ten euros. The Deluxe Edition costs 20 euros and includes the soundtrack, skins for Alzur and some bonuses for the multiplayer variant of Gwent.
