The difference between The Witcher 3 Gwent card game and the community version

Geralt's desire (some might call it an addiction) for playing Gwent in The Witcher 3 video game has become legendary across the internet. Asking grieving, unsuspecting mothers mourning their sons if they want to play a round of Gwent is, after all, Geralt's specialty.

Every true Witcher fan knows that if you don't play Gwent, you won't find Ciri!

Gwent as you know it from the game

After ten years, this famous card game is finally arriving in physical form for all the fans who missed out on it as a collector's item for The Witcher 3 expansions. The game, officially licensed by CD Projekt Red, will be released soon, around October 31, 2025, under the title The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Gwent Card Game.

This time, however, it is complete with all five factions - Monsters, Northern Realms, Nilfgaard, Scoia’tael, and Skellige! It also features a Czech localization by the original game translator, Filip Ženíšek. The cards are adjusted to the standard TCG format (63x88mm); otherwise, it is the Gwent we know from The Witcher 3. Except for one detail – the game introduces a rule adjustment that expands gameplay from 2 players to 1–5.

In short, it is a simple battle between two armies where players fight for victory in 2 out of 3 rounds. This is the fundamental strategic cornerstone of the game – deciding when and what to play, as the cards in your hand only decrease during the game and drawing new ones is very rare. In The Witcher 3, where you expand your deck by exploring the world, the game is more of a collectible experience. In this physical edition, you have all the cards available, both weak and strong. Because of this, you won't find deep deckbuilding here, as you have the option to play with the strongest cards from the start. It is, therefore, more of a simple, relaxing, nostalgic game from this famous fantasy world.

You can also get special foil cards for true connoisseurs, or, for example, neoprene playmats with faction-specific graphics. The game also promises support for tournament play and community building.

Gwent was so popular in The Witcher 3 that it led to the creation of the standalone version, GWENT: The Witcher Card Game, for PC and mobile. In 2016, thanks to the popularity of The Witcher 3 and Gwent, a fan community even emerged in the Czech Republic, meeting in pubs across the country, which eventually grew into the largest Witcher festival - Con Morhen.

Gwent as created by the community

If you are looking for players or a community for this game, there is nothing easier than visiting the website sgwint.cz, managed by the Společenstvo Gwintu association. They are a group of enthusiasts who support the Witcher community in the Czech Republic not only by providing information about events and various groups but also by running their own clubhouses across the country. These clubhouses serve as meeting places for fans and for various joint activities, including playing Gwent. Furthermore, they have their own version of this card game, which they call SG Gwent.

It is a non-profit community project created by fans who, after years of playing Gwent, grew tired of the original form. Through their own modifications, they bring back missing deckbuilding by adding new, balanced cards and incorporating their own mechanics, adjustments, and even a sixth faction: the Witchers. The cards also have a new graphic design inspired by the aforementioned standalone online version, G:TWCG. The game continues to be developed by the community and is supported by various tournaments, including Karbanec – the annual SG Gwent championship held at the Con Morhen festival.

You can learn more about this project on the sgwint.cz website.

author Marian "Marzi" Zdvyhal