I completed this game when it first released and I'm returning now for another playthrough. This game still holds up so very well. If you like Gwent at all then this should be on your radar. If you really care for a deep challenge with Gwent then you may or may not be disappointed. Otherwise this is one of my favorites from CDPR and it's a shame that this game didn't get the recognition it deserves.
While StS has nailed the formula, Rogue Mage seems to be onto something special. I'm loving this game so far! I've only completed 2 or 3 runs so far but it's been enjoyable! Sometimes encounters can feel literally impossible but I guess it may come down to the player's stamina to keep doing runs. For the player that doesn't have prior experience with Gwent and/or experience with the rogue lite genre then this game doesn't do too much by way of teaching you. I have experience in both departments and loved Thronebreaker/Gwent within Witcher 3 so the learning curve has been more favorable than had I not. Hopefully this game gets support down the line. Little things need touching up like the world map, and access to settings during a match. I also wish they took the time to allow you to see the end result of a card being changed/evolved/upgraded in real time. There should be an animation or a before and after showcase at the least to isolate that information. If you decide to transform or evolve a card you have to click back into your deck, find the card that evolved or find the new card that transformed, manually. It's a small thing but those interactions would make the experience a lot more fluid. Overall I still really enjoy the game and can only hope that CDPR supports Rogue Mage with updates. This is a great opportunity to play Gwent over and over within the PvE context. Not all of us care to PvP so here's to hoping!
