Summary
Rarely has a mini-game been so fleshed-out and competent that it has stolen some of the spotlight from its parent game, but such was the case with Gwent inThe Witcher 3. The round-based card game was inserted brilliantly into the world ofThe Witcherand garnered such a large following in its own right that CD Projekt Red developed a standalone version. WithThe Witcher 4in development, the question is whether the studio will double-dip in the Gwent pool or opt for something entirely new.
For now, all eyes are on the imminent release of Phantom Liberty, the only planned expansion for CD Projekt’sCyberpunk 2077. With overhauls and meaningful additions to most of the game’s systems, there is hope that it will consolidateCyberpunk 2077’s resurgence after CD Projekt Red’s dedication to the title post-launch. After Phantom Liberty, the studio has a slate of titles in the pipeline based in the world ofThe Witcher. One of those will be a mainline sequel toThe Witcher 3, and though there is next-to-nothingknown aboutThe Witcher 4beyond the confirmation of its development, speculation is already beginning to run rampant.
RELATED:Baldur’s Gate 3 Player Recreates Triss Merigold From The Witcher
One-Upping Gwent Would be a Tall Order
The design and implementation of a mini-game might seem insignificant in the scheme of things, but by virtue of Gwent’s success, there is an expected standardestablished forThe Witcher 4. At this point, a total omission of Gwent or a mini-game successor would come as a slight to CD Projekt Red’s fanbase, and so it is left with two avenues. The first would be an expanded offering of Gwent, taking the applied lessons of its success inThe Witcher 3and its standalone title to make the best possible version forThe Witcher 4. The other more ambitious option would be to design something brand new, to rival the studio’s previous mini-game triumph and attempt to showcase its talent for designing games within games.
While there are several mentions ofGwent acrossThe Witcherseries of books, CD Projekt Red took the concept and ran with it, evolving a throwaway bit of lore into a fully-fledged card game with nuance in strategy, cards that build out the world of its IP, and most importantly, something that is fun to play. The studio has a great deal of pride in what it has done with Gwent, which makes the most likely option forThe Witcher 4to be a platform for its next iteration. With cards and decks based around pivotal characters and factions from the game, its unique ability to contextualize and augment the lore ofThe Witchermakes the prospect of designing any other sort of mini-game daunting.
Gwent’s Success Makes Replacing it Almost Impossible
If CD Projekt Red opts for some new mini-game inThe Witcher 4, it will have to be truly special. A forgettable half-baked dice game would be met with harsh criticism givenThe Witcher 3’s previously set precedent, and it may have a ripple effect on the rest of the new game’s reception. The way Gwent fit seamlessly into the world, with cards offered as quest rewards or in treasure troves, as well as entire quest chains built around it, will be the expectation. There werefans who playedThe Witcher 3almost exclusively for Gwent, and anything less than that for a new mini-game will be seen as a downgrade.
Whatever CD Projekt Red decides for itsnext entry inThe Witcher, the importance of Gwent or a similar mini-game can not be understated. The care and complexity in its design and implementation are a reflection of the game as a whole. The attention to detail in something that could have been just a minor distraction inThe Witcher 3’s sprawling open world speaks to the studio’s passionate care for its titles, and whichever route it travels for the production ofThe Witcher 4, the next version of Gwent or a new mini-game should be a priority.
The Witcher 4is in development.
MORE:It’s Time for the Witcher Games to Shake Up Sword Lore
