Gwent is coming to tabletops: Play The Witcher 3’s legendary card game live with friends

CD Projekt Red has teamed with No Loading Games to launch a physical card game version of Gwent in Q3 2025, finally letting witchers settle their tavern grudges face-to-face instead of online. Hachette Boardgames will distribute the set in the U.S. for $39.99 and include a play-mat that mirrors the weather-worn tables of Novigrad’s finest inns.

• Board games: Beginner’s guide to Arkham Horror LCG: How to start your campaign, and the best order for the expansions
• Marvel Dice Throne, throw some shakers and feel the power!
• Archazia’s Island, Disney’s New Lorcana expansion revolutionizes the game with Dual-Ink

From videogame mini-game to tabletop centerpiece

Gwent first appeared as a side activity in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015), quickly eclipsing fistfights and horse races as Geralt’s favorite pastime. Sapkowski’s novels never mention the game—CD Projekt Red created it from scratch, drawing on in-universe lore to craft a fast, two-player duel of bluffing and careful resource management.

The digital success led to its own live-service spin-off, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game, and the single-player Thronebreaker, but fans have spent almost a decade begging for actual cards they can shuffle. In 2025 they finally get their wish.

How Gwent plays

The game revolves around two players competing over three rounds, using faction-based decks to outmaneuver their opponent. Players must strategically place cards, manage their resources, and decide when to pass or push forward, making every match a blend of tactics and risk-taking.

1. Best of three rounds – Win two rounds to claim victory.
2. Total power matters – Each unit card adds strength to its row. Highest total wins the round.
3. Finite hand management – You draw 10 cards for the whole match; deciding when to pass is the heart of the bluff.
4. Row and faction abilities – Weather, spies, and hero units swing momentum at the perfect —or disastrous— moment.

What’s inside the Legendary Card Game box?

Cards retain their videogame art, while new balance tweaks ensure no single faction steamrolls live opponents.

Key differences from the digital editions

The physical edition, titled Gwent: The Legendary Card Game, aims to replicate the in-game experience while introducing new mechanics for live play. Here’s how it differs:

• Five core factions – Players can choose from Monsters, Nilfgaardian Empire, Northern Realms, Scoia’tael, and Skellige, each with unique abilities.
• Over 400 cards – Featuring iconic characters and abilities from The Witcher universe.
• Tactical depth – The tabletop version includes tournament rules for competitive play, alongside casual modes.
• Physical components – Comes with a playmat, designed to replicate the tavern-table battles seen in The Witcher 3.
• No random leaders – Choose one of three pre-built leaders per faction rather than drafting from an ever-growing live-service pool.
• Fixed card pool – Yearly booster expansions are planned, but there’s no rotating meta or seasonal patches.
• Tactile bluffing – Passing a round without mouse-over tooltips turns risk-reward into a real-world stare-down.
• Collection in a box – All five core factions arrive at once; no loot packs, currencies, or daily quests.

Unlike the digital version, which evolved into a standalone game with live-service updates, the tabletop edition stays true to the original Witcher 3 mechanics while offering balanced adjustments for real-world play

A physical edition lets Witcher fans relive Geralt’s tavern duels, introduces newcomers who skipped the digital client, and positions CD Projekt Red against heavyweights like Magic and Pokémon just as Riot prepares its own League-of-Legends TCG. If the game lands, expect expansions that weave in factions such as Syndicate or the elusive School of the Cat.

Related stories

Konami

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater — Xbox gets an exclusive ‘Snake vs Bomberman’ mode

Capcom

Devil May Cry’s Netflix boost: How the anime revitalized DMC5 sales to reach 10 million copies

Follow MeriStation USA on X (formerly known as Twitter). Your video game and entertainment website for all the news, updates, and breaking news from the world of video games, movies, series, manga, and anime. Previews, reviews, interviews, trailers, gameplay, podcasts and more! Follow us now!