Gwent: Rogue Mage Introduces Players to a New Side of The Witcher World

gamerant.com:

With the next entry to The Witcher series still years away, fans of the franchise will need to find other avenues for their Witcher fix. Luckily, a new game has just been released: Gwent: Rogue Mage. Though the title is described as an expansion of the free-to-play multiplayer game Gwent, it will be a standalone purchase featuring new mechanics and a single-player experience.

Aside from providing a new way to play Gwent, the Rogue Mage expansion also has an interesting setting. The game is set long before Witchers even existed, and players take on the role of the famous mage, Alzur. This gives Witcher fans a new perspective of the Continent.

The Next Witcher Game Should Replace Gwent

Gwent: Rogue Mage was first unveiled as “Project Golden Nekker.” According to game director Vladimir Tortsov, the expansion was for Gwent players who wanted a PvE experience. This is why Rogue Mage focuses more on single-player gameplay rather than online multiplayer. The game will also have roguelike mechanics, allowing players to build their deck as they explore a procedurally generated map.

Throughout the player’s journey, they’ll learn more about the mage Alzur. Like in The Witcher trilogy, Rogue Mage also features morally gray decision points and interactable landmarks, like Places of Power. However, it should be said that the developer didn’t intend to craft an in-depth story to match mainline Witcher media. Tortsov explains that the team prioritized gameplay over narrative and that the expansion shouldn’t be treated as part of Witcher lore. Still, it’s interesting to see a whole new side tothe Continent, especially through the eyes of one of the most powerful known mages in The Witcher.

The first-ever batch of Witchers was created nearly a