Summary
- The Witcher 4 should include and even improve on the iconic Gwent mini-game from The Witcher 3.
- Gwent's success has led to its impact on the gaming industry, influencing other mini-games in different titles.
- The visual potential of Unreal Engine 5 in The Witcher 4 may enhance Gwent, but online components and a larger selection of cards would improve the mini-game as well.
The Witcher 4 may remain one of the most anticipated games until it finally launches, whenever that is. This is due in large part to the critical success of its predecessor, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which has become something of a standard in the role-playing game genre, especially when it comes to its scale and storytelling. Unfortunately, not much is known about The Witcher 4 at the moment aside from the fact that it is indeed in development, and development seems to be progressing smoothly.
Despite The Witcher 4 largely remaining a mystery for the time being, it is expected to build on the formula established by its predecessor and even improve areas that need improving. This ultimately means some features may be carried over and others may be cut entirely. However, there is one element of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt that The Witcher 4 shouldn't think twice about including, as it has proven to be a major influence on the gaming industry, especially when it comes to mini-games. The feature in question is Gwent, the acclaimed card game from The Witcher 3.
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The Witcher 4 Can't Skip Out on Gwent
The Witcher 3's Gwent Is One of Its Most Iconic and Influential Features
There are plenty of things worth noting in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but its card-based mini-game Gwent may very well be one of its most iconic and influential features. Gwent has achieved massive popularity since its 2015 debut in The Witcher 3 due to its engaging gameplay, which is often both as accessible and as challenging as players wish to make it. Gwent successfully blends the cozy side hustle of card collection with the thrill of tactical gameplay, thanks to the different factions that players can acquire cards for and build decks from, as well as the rewards offered for defeating some of The Witcher 3's most skilled Gwent players.
Gwent is not only popular in The Witcher 3 itself, however, as it has been known to infiltrate discussions about mini-games in other, non-Witcher titles as well, like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Horizon Forbidden West. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Queen's Blood mini-game has been rightfully compared to The Witcher 3's Gwent, despite the two having unique mechanics, and Horizon Forbidden West's Machine Strike mini-game has also opened a door for Gwent to garner more recognition.
This is all simply a sign of Gwent's impact on the gaming industry and how much praise it has received, as the newest mini-games are often compared to Gwent, regardless of whether they are even similar enough to warrant the comparison.
The Witcher 4 Should Include and Even Improve Gwent
In light of Gwent's success in The Witcher 3, the next game in the Witcher series would arguably be remiss to exclude the mini-game from the picture. It's assumed it will change somewhat, depending on the setting and characters for The Witcher 4, but the next game should include Gwent nonetheless. Based on its reception and the comparisons that are made to it even nearly a decade later, attempting to leave Gwent out of the picture in The Witcher 4 could potentially be a big mistake.
The Witcher 4 could also improve Gwent to increase the possibility of it receiving even more positive attention. The visual potential provided by The Witcher 4 being developed using Unreal Engine 5 should be a significant improvement in and of itself, but it could add some new features to spice things up as well. For example, including online components that allow players to compete against one another could take Gwent to the next level, but even including a much larger selection of cards could make Gwent a more customizable experience. Even if The Witcher 4 didn't improve Gwent on a large scale, however, simply including it feels like a must.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 93 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- May 19, 2015
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Publisher(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Engine
- REDengine 3
- Cross-Platform Play
- yes
- Cross Save
- yes
WHERE TO PLAY
You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will. Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world.
PLAY AS A HIGHLY TRAINED MONSTER SLAYER FOR HIRE
Trained from early childhood and mutated to gain superhuman skills, strength, and reflexes, witchers are a counterbalance to the monster-infested world in which they live.
Gruesomely destroy foes as a professional monster hunter armed with a range of upgradeable weapons, mutating potions, and combat magic. Hunt down a wide variety of exotic monsters, from savage beasts prowling mountain passes to cunning supernatural predators lurking in the shadowy back alleys of densely populated cities. Invest your rewards to upgrade your weaponry and buy custom armor, or spend them on horse races, card games, fist fighting, and other pleasures life brings.
EXPLORE A MORALLY AMBIGUOUS FANTASY OPEN WORLD
Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth, and complexity. Traverse a fantastical open world: explore forgotten ruins, caves, and shipwrecks, trade with merchants and dwarven smiths in cities, and hunt across the open plains, mountains, and seas. Deal with treasonous generals, devious witches, and corrupt royalty to provide dark and dangerous services. Make choices that go beyond good & evil, and face their far-reaching consequences.
- Expansions
- The Witcher 3: Hearts of Stone, The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine
- Franchise
- The Witcher
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- verified
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 52 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
