Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales Reviews
If you couldn’t get into Gwent before, Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales won’t change your mind. For everyone else, it’s an RPG you don’t want to miss.
I meant to buy Thronebreaker for the Nintendo Switch, but a nice deal on Steam swayed me to the PC version. Comparing the mouse against controller, I found it just as easy to use a controller for this game. So, controls-wise, I expect the Switch port to be a comfortable experience as well. Finally, a parental note: The age rating is US Teen and UK 12+ because of the brutality portrayed in war (and generally pervasive in the Witcher games). But blood is hardly shown and only in faded colors; visually depicted gore is non-existent. There are a few images of corpses hanging from trees, but that’s as scary as it gets. The monsters were less grotesque-looking than in The Witcher 3, but a younger child may still find them scary. As someone who loved Witcher 3 and Gwent but detested the ugly monsters and gore, I was thrilled that Thronebreaker was heavily toned down in those areas.
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales isn't here to revolutionize the iOS gaming landscape, but that's totally OK. Once players get past the occasionally-clunky mechanics and the slight learning curve, it's an enjoyable experience in a lot of ways. For a price of $10 (half of what the game costs on platforms like Steam), it might not be the most feasible for purely casual fans. But if you want to lose yourself in the world of The Witcher in one way or another, and aren't afraid to put in some work, you will definitely get your money's worth. Plus, any game that unironically lets you play cards against a giant monster is something worth celebrating.
Your mileage may vary based on how well you enjoyed Gwent in The Witcher 3, but if you’ve been looking for a fresh perspective on Andrzej Sapkowski’s dense world and lore then we can’t recommend it enough.
Gamers everywhere should give the royal treatment to Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales. It is a stunning display of storytelling that rarely stumbles throughout a 25-hour runtime. While bogged down by the stiff card-playing, the easy mode can turn Thronebreaker into one of the best visual novels around. With 30 endings and an arresting art style, this is one utterly unmissable tale.
It might be a little late to the party on the Switch, but given its modest asking price and lengthy campaign with a lot of replayability, this is one game that deserves to be a part of your Switch library.
The characters are layered and sympathetic; the twisting, turning plotline engaging; and the moral dilemmas fascinating in their unintended consequences.
It may not be a terrific port, but Thronebreaker is a wildly addictive and relentlessly entertaining RPG-lite. The version of Gwent herein is the most fully realised to date, taking the core mechanics of previous versions and refining them into a malleable card game with endless potential. A beautifully written story and compelling characters make this a must-play for fans of The Witcher.
With Thronebreaker, CD Projekt Red has succeeded in making a fun, single-player experience about a simplified card game. It's a polished, story-driven experience that has a lot going for it. It's not a masterpiece, and there are some minor gripes, such as the difficulty (or lack thereof) and the absence of meaningful decision-making, but it is still an incredibly entertaining game. If you're into The Witcher and on the lookout for another story in the same universe, you can't go wrong with Thronebreaker.
Fans familiar with CD Projekt Red’s talents in storytelling won’t be surprised to read that the adventure and decision making in this game is impressive or even that this version of Gwent plays well. What is surprising is that is title blends three genres into a single cohesive piece, engineered to be the perfect combo without lacking too much in any particular way.
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is a wonderful addition to the Switch. While it may not appeal to all fans, those who enjoyed Gwent in The Witcher 3 will find a lot to love. There's enough nuance and strategy for those hungry for a challenge and it does a great job of adding to the mythology of the world and it's excellent characters.
To really get the most out of it, you'll want to be a fan of Gwent, a card game that often gets ignored even by the most hardcore of Witcher fans. The story is worth the price of admission, but if you're not a fan of card-based combat mechanics this title is probably not for you. Thronebreaker certainly is fun, but it might be worth trying out a few hands of Gwent with Geralt back in Witcher 3 to make sure your interest can be sustained for 30 or so hours.
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is a spin-off based on a card game featured on The Witcher 3. That said, it's a marvelous work that joins enticing and involving gameplay mechanics, a gorgeous art style and an addictive experience. While certainly not an easy feat to play through, Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is more than welcome on the Nintendo Switch catalogue and opens the way for more spin-offs to come.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Not only is Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales a great game in its own right, but it's also a worthy entry into the franchise and lore.
You can play a Gwent game, written as an amazing The Witcher tale, wherever you want on your Nintendo Switch. There is literally nothing more you should ask.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is a gorgeously crafted game and has something for different types of gamers. The game has three difficulties, perfect for those who want to play normally, want a brutal challenge, or just simply explore and enjoy the story.
This newest iteration of Thronebreaker is a welcome and unexpected treat, and truly at home in its portable format. Being able to tackle Queen Mave's part in the Second Nilfgaardian War while on the go is well worth the slightest of tradeoffs in graphical quality. Even if you aren't a CCG enthusiast, this is a must have for any Gwent battler or Witcher fan.
While utilising the ruleset of a more traditional CCG system might put off some players, the on-brand approach to turn-based combat in Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is still a positive addition to the world. Because with such an involved and intricately designed story – and such an interesting world to explore beyond the confines of Geralt – Thronebreaker offers the opportunity to lose yourself in the Continent like never before.
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is champagne on a beer budget.
Thronebreaker is CDPR's first non traditional RPG. The studio knew how to capitalize their abilities creating an interactive narrative experience with a cativating plot and characters, and a deep, well designed card game as its core. However, I noticed a bit of difficulty on creating significant consequences or adversity imposed on the player, unable to make each playthrough feel different from the last.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review