GWENT: The Witcher Card Game

So guys as you see many people here are sad that it is no longer the game from beta and I am too. But after several months now I must admit that the game has become much better as a game. Provisions let the balancing be really good and almost no rng. So people giving bad reviews just comes from us all being acostumbred to something else.

The game has changed since beta, in a lot of ways, mostly for the better, CDPR continue to improve the game with every patch. a lot of people can't comprehend Gwent had to change in order to improve, and speaking from experience its hard to re-learn the game mechanics and cards as we've had a lot of changes coming out of beta, its easier to scream how the game is bad in hopes CDPR change it back rather than learning how to play,

As a veteran player that has been playing Gwent since closed beta and "kill the servers" I also felt disappointed with the transition to HC, however, after giving it a try with a new mindset, putting all nostalgia aside, I really started appreciating the effort on CDPR and their comitment to the new Gwent. In new Gwent rows do matter, we have a lot more depth in gameplay thanks to the order system and the new leader abilities, rounds become much more interesting and put more emphasis on actual strategy and less emphasis on topdecking and swingy cards. In short, I think HC has way more potential than what Beta ever had thanks to the new features, can't wait to see the new expansions!

After some very questionable patches in open beta and a rocky start to the full release with Homecoming, the game is finally at a point where I'm happy to come back to it. I put it on hiatus for while due to burnout and a volatile series of meta shifts where CDPR could never quite get the game nailed down despite its potential. I grew tired of playing a game that was stuck a few steps from where it really wanted to be. It has changed a lot since beta, and not every step has been forward, but CDPR is doing a solid job convincing us those changes are for the best. Second player advantage has been basically fixed, the game has more interesting considerations per turn, and they've added numerous mechanics to allow for balance tweaks without resorting to wacky power level overhauls. Playing for card advantage is just as important as ever, but now not the single dominant tactical consideration-- the way strategy plays out ultimately feels a lot deeper. They're still working out many kinks, but as someone who played since the closed beta, the game is in one of the best states I've ever seen it. A few more card balance tweaks would help, but that's always going to be the case in a game like this. Some new cards to shake up the meta are always nice, too, but that's inevitable. And I'd be remiss not to mention that it's still the most generous CCG on the market. Put some time in and you can have any deck you want without needing to trash all your other cards. I hope Gwent has a long future ahead of it, because if it can keep up and grow its dedicated playerbase, that future looks bright.

My experience of the new Gwent is very good. The economy is very generous: you can easily build several current meta decks with legendaries after a few days of play. The interactions between cards are fun and there is quite a bit of strategy, especially around card order and when to play which cards. The negatives: Gwent needs more cards. It is also a little bit simplistic for my taste and could benefit from more complex interactions and card text (although it is way more complex than Hearthstone).