Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

The first of a mayhaps series of Witcher Tales, is a unique mixture of Gwent & adventure-like gaming, with open world to explore, loot and influence.

The story takes place in the war of the North, before the first Witcher game and you are the tough but fair Queen of Lyria & Rivia, Meve. You try to defend your realm against the Nilfgaardian invasion and during this, you get to meet and greet a LOT of very unique and different people. But be on constant alert...

If you want to try it, the most story-friendly mode is the Adventurer mode, where you can skip repetitive battles. But it's still, the best game to get in the epic world of Witcher!

Aww CPR... I love you. Honestly you can't seem to make a game without charm and personality even if that game is a card game.

So I'm not the biggest fan of GWENT. In the Witcher 3 it was the side missions that I bothered the least. It was not that interesting to me to be in a world full of monsters and adventure and stay inside to play cards. Here, GWENT is the MAIN game, it's the only thing that you do and the variety of tasks to do is honestly impressive for a card game... for the first 20 (or so) hours. Thronebreaker's biggest negative it's that after that time passes it's sooo repetitive. Honest to Geralt I thought that I finished the game 2 times before I discover that I had 7 hours of gaming left. After a while I just wanted it to be over. Thank the Conjunction of the Spheres that the story here is interesting and immersive.

7/10

Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales takes the beloved mini-game Gwent from The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. Set in the world of The Witcher before the events of the main games, it immerses players in the turbulent times following the Time of Contempt and before Baptism of Fire. While fans of the books will have an easier time following the story, even newcomers can enjoy the richly built world and complex decisions of the game.

The narrative centers around Queen Meve of Lyria and Rivia, as she leads a rebellion against the Nilfgaardian invasion. The plot is thick with betrayal, deception, and choices that will challenge your trust in allies and enemies alike. Players will feel the weight of Meve's decisions, as her kingdom's fate rests on her shoulders. The game delves into themes of loyalty and sacrifice, making each decision meaningful. The exceptional voice acting and narrative quality, true to The Witcher franchise, pulls you into its world.

Thronebreaker is not just about playing Gwent. It mixes exploration, resource management, puzzle-solving, and intense strategic card battles into an engaging experience. The map helps guide you to important resources, while conversations with various characters can provide rewards or consequences depending on your choices. Some decisions are strategic, others comedic, but all affect the game's outcome in some way. The heart of the gameplay, however, lies in Gwent. Battles are tactical, requiring skill and planning. Players can choose from multiple difficulty levels to suit their familiarity with Gwent-newcomers can opt for an easier challenge, while veteran players can dive into more demanding encounters that require real mastery of the game.

Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is a captivating spin-off that masterfully blends strategic card battles, an engaging story, and meaningful decisions. Fans of The Witcher series will find it a rewarding experience, while those new to the world of Gwent can jump in at a comfortable difficulty level. Whether you're exploring the war-torn landscape or battling for survival, the choices you make feel significant and reflect the world's harsh reality. Highly recommended for fans of strategy games and deep narrative experiences. 8/10.