Move over Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, because 2022 is now the year of the real king of card games. CD Projekt Red, developers of the Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077, have announced an all-new Gwent single-player game. Codenamed Project Golden Nekker for the time being, we’re going to break down what we know, what we can expect, and how you can still get your fix of Gwent.
What is Gwent?
First introduced in Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Gwent is a card game commonly played in taverns and around the Continent. Every card is inspired by characters, creatures, and enemies of the Witcher universe. It’s a popular pastime for many characters and a lucrative business in dealing them for others. There’s even a full-on brawl at one point in the game over three shiny cards that put Pokemon card playground disputes to shame.
In a game of Gwent, players take the role of generals commanding their armies. You pick a faction to control, each with different strengths, special abilities, and unique cards. The goal is to muster your unit cards strength and outwit your opponent to best the first to win two rounds. Deck-building is important, but so is the psychology of outthinking the enemy and misleading them as you charge to victory.
Despite being a side activity, Gwent was a tremendously popular part of WItcher 3. Memes sprung everywhere about Geralt’s obsession with the game over finding Ciri and preventing the end of the world, DLC added more Gwent content, and even limited edition runs of physical decks to play at home.
So, Project Golden Nekker is a Gwent Game?
If television has taught us anything, it’s that all things popular must one day spin-off. CD Projekt Red has that they are working on a new, single-player, standalone Gwent game, internally called Project Golden Nekker. So rather than trapsing across fields of Rotfiends to get your next fix of card game action you can do it from the comfort of this game.
It’s set to launch in 2022 and is set to deliver a “captivating single-player experience” for players. Other than that, and picking a sparkly ogroid as its namesake, all we know is that this is truly going to be a standalone Gwent experience for players who prefer the offline AI challenge found in Witcher 3.
Have There Been Other Gwent Games?
Project Golden Nekker is not the first spin-off title for Gwent. The online free-to-play Gwent: The Witcher Card Game was released on PC, Xbox One, and PS4 in 2018. It has since lost console support but gained new platforms on tablet and mobile. It features Ranked Play and Casual Play modes, with the former tied to daily quests and a seasonal battle pass system. Mechanically it plays just like Gwent does in Witcher 3, but with games being balanced through the Provision Limit to stop players loading their decks with high-level cards.
There has been another standalone single-player Gwent game in Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales. This featured the same mechanics as Gwent: The Witcher Card Game and shared its pool of cards. Unlike its online only parent, it featured a campaign mode that followed the exploits of Queen Meve. Thronebreaker made the most of the political complexities the Witcher franchise is famed for, as certain cards were only available if you maintained alliances through the game. It’s a fantastic blend of gameplay and narrative and sets a high bar for Project Golden Nekker to clear.
What Makes Project Golden Nekker Different?
While we cannot say if it will make an overhaul to game mechanics as Gwent TOWG did from Witcher 3, Project Golden Nekker will be completely independent of the former game. Whatever happens there with seasonal roadmaps and battle passes likely won’t affect your nice, quiet solo games of Gwent. Because of that and the art of several potential new cards revealed, it’s likely to be a very fresh take on the game. Especially if you haven’t busted out your Northern Realms deck since slaying Eredin!
The good news for Gwent: The Witcher Card Game players is that it looks to be business as usual. The 2022 Gwent roadmap has already been revealed, with new cards coming in April, June, October, and December. Project Golden Nekker isn’t looking to change your game, just create one for players after a different pace.
CD Projekt Red has released all previous Witcher games in either May or October. It’s likely we could see Project Golden Nekker launch alongside the October content update later this year.
Gwent: The Witcher Card Game Official System Requirements
If October feels like too long to wait to get your Gwent fix, then maybe now is the time for you to see what the OG spin-off is all about. We have the official system specifications for Gwent: The Witcher Card Game so you can check you’ll be playing with a full hand.
| Component | Minimum Specs | Recommended Specs |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (64 bit) | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (64 bit) |
| Processor | Intel Celeron G1820/AMD A4-7300 | Intel Core i3 6100/AMD FX-6300 |
| Memory | 4GB RAM | 4GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GT 730/Radeon R7 240 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660/AMD Radeon R7 265 |
Play Gwent in Style
Make sure your kit is as up to snuff as your deck. These peripherals make for the perfect picks to play like the smoothest card shark on the Continent.
Corsair K65 RGB Mini 60% Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Light up every round of Gwent with the stunning Corsair K65 RGB Mini Keyboard. It combines top-level performance with portability in its 60% form factor. Powered by Corsair Axon Hyper-Processing Technology, your inputs will be delivered 8x faster than conventional gaming keyboards. Why waste time thrashing your opponent’s pitiful cards? With its silky-smooth keypress and dynamic per-key RGB backlighting, you’ll feel like a winner every time you play.
Available to buy for £109.99
Available to buy for £59.99
Endgame Gear XM1-RGB Gaming Mouse
Play your cards with precision using the Endgame Gear XM1-RGB Gaming Mouse. This mouse was made with esports professionals in mind, weighing in at an ultra-light 82g. Its advanced sensor technology gives you precision movement tracking and reduced latency for unbelievably slick performance. Even With five buttons including the mouse wheel, the standout feature has to be the integrated RGB elements. With 16 LEDs, you can customise the look and colour of every individual LED for a look that truly suits you.
Corsair Wireless Gaming Bundle
Kickstart your next round of Gwent with this terrific RGB keyboard and gaming mouse bundle. The K55 Pro Gaming Keyboard is designed to boost your PC gaming experience. Boasting a whopping six dedicated macro keys, it’s also IP42-rated dust and spill-resistant. Personalise its look with gorgeous, dynamic five-zone RGB back-lighting. And then pair it up with the lightweight HARPOON RGB Pro Gaming Mouse for a transcendent gaming experience. Featuring a comfortable, contoured design and an easy plug-and-play setup, so you can start playing in no time at all.
Available to buy for £129.95
- 6 min read
Jacob Smith
Author
Jacob is a passionate gamer, plus a noted Pokemon and LEGO nutjob, who emerges only when doing the words here at Overclockers UK. Since starting at the tail end of 2021, Jacob has gone on to write dozens of blogs on everything from the latest games to whimsical Dickens-inspired poetry. Outside of creating content and being the one person in the office daring to champion Nintendo, he is often found fawning over his Pokemon card collection and his trio of lovely doggos.
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