Tabletop Game Review: The Witcher: Old World

The Witcher: Old World

Publisher: Go On Board, CD Projekt Red

Play Time: 90-150 Minutes

1-5 Players

The Witcher: Old World allows players to embark on an incredible journey through The Witcher Franchise. It’s clearly made for fans, but this game is not just about fan service; The Witcher: Old World offers a deeply strategic and engaging deck-building experience that will captivate even those unfamiliar with the source material. Multiple Witchers to choose from, each with unique powers, and a wealth of quests and scenarios to explore ensures many hours of monster-hunting fun. 

A Brief How To Play

A game begins with setting up the game board, shuffling action cards, and creating an action card pool. Potion cards are shuffled, attribute trophy cards are placed, and exploration and event decks are prepared. Gold tokens and poker dice are placed nearby. Location tokens are sorted, drawn, and placed face-up on the game board. Monster cards and tokens are sorted by level, with tokens being drawn and placed near corresponding location tokens. The starting player is determined, and players receive their starting components, including player boards, witcher miniatures, cubes, and starting cards.

In The Witcher: Old World, players assume the roles of Witchers from the five different schools. The objective of the game is to explore the Continent, engage in training and combat, and strive to acquire four Trophies. The first player to accumulate four Trophies achieves victory and ends the game. Trophies can be obtained through various means but the primary way is by killing monsters. Additionally, players can earn Trophies by winning fights against other Witchers and by reaching level 5 in any of their Attribute tracks.

A player’s turn is conducted in three phases. In Phase I, players have the opportunity to move their miniature on the game board by discarding cards from their hands. The cards’ terrain icons determine the types of locations players can move to. Additionally, players can perform location actions and engage in Dice Poker with other Witcher characters at the same location. After each action, players have the choice to continue moving and taking actions or proceed to Phase II.

During Phase II, players can either initiate combat with a monster or witcher on their space, meditate if they have maxed out a skill to earn a trophy or explore, which is essentially light roleplaying. I won’t get into detail about combat, but it’s a system that utilizes the player’s entire hand, deck, and discard pile as a life pool while chaining cards in a way that’s similar to Kamigami Battles to discard cards from the opponent’s life pool until one side’s pool is depleted.

Phase III is short and consists of a player drawing a new hand and using that hand to purchase a new card to enhance their deck. Then the next player’s turn begins. 

Pacing and Interactivity

The Witcher: Old World maintains a satisfying pace that belies its perceived complexity. The inclusion of small hands at the start of each turn helps keep the turns from becoming excessively lengthy. Additionally, players spend their next turn’s potential hand acquiring new cards, resulting in variations in turn length. This dynamic ensures that the game flows smoothly without causing decision paralysis, as objectives are generally clear unless players have numerous quests to manage.

However, the pacing does suffer with higher player counts, with the optimal range being 2-3 players. A game with 2 players offers a brisk experience, albeit with fewer dice poker and gambling opportunities. On the other hand, 3 players strike a nice balance, although those seeking extensive player interaction or Witcher vs. Witcher combat will find 4 players more appealing. While a 5-player game is feasible, it is not recommended as it can extend the playtime beyond three hours, especially if multiple players are new to the game.

The game design of The Witcher: Old World incorporates two mechanisms that contribute to its enjoyable pacing. Firstly, the phases within each turn are distinct, with later phases having minimal impact on the first phase of other players. This means that the next player can commence their turn while the previous player completes theirs, resulting in a faster gameplay experience than similar-weight games. This mechanism particularly shines among experienced players. Secondly, battles always involve two players, regardless of whether it’s a Witcher or a monster being fought. Another player assumes control over the monster’s actions and life pool, ensuring that fewer players are left waiting for their turn. Additionally, players have the option to place wagers on the winner of Witcher Battles, fostering investment and engagement when multiple players are present.

However, outside of these instances, player interaction is relatively limited. Other players will read quests aloud to the turn player and narrate their decisions, but they do not possess the ability to directly influence outcomes. Despite this, the combination of the game’s pacing mechanisms and intermittent player engagement makes for an engaging and satisfying gameplay experience.

Replay Value

The Witcher: Old World boasts significant replay value that rewards players for multiple playthroughs. The addictive core deckbuilding mechanisms, coupled with the diverse range of strikes, potions, defenses, and chain possibilities, offer ample variety from game to game. The inclusion of five distinct Witchers, each with their unique power, allows players to specialize their builds and decks according to their preferences. Whether players choose to focus on combat, defense, alchemy, or their exclusive track, or opt for a balanced approach, the game presents endless possibilities that extend beyond the thematic elements of the Witcher universe.

The quests and narratives in The Witcher: Old World enhance replayability by immersing players in the rich world of the Witcher. With numerous scenarios that can be played out in multiple ways, the game embraces the trademark Witcher philosophy of morally ambiguous decisions, where there are no right or wrong choices. This grants players the freedom to explore alternative options when encountering the same cards and scenarios, ensuring a fresh experience with each playthrough. Moreover, the abundance of monsters to slay offers multiple combinations and approaches, contributing to a well-balanced gameplay experience that remains engaging without additional expansions. The Witcher: Old World is a game that continues to entice and captivate players, making it a compelling choice for repeated plays.

Theme and Components

The Witcher: Old World excels in both its theme and components, delivering a premium experience that justifies its higher price point. The components themselves are exceptional, with textured cards of varying sizes and solid miniatures that meet the expectations of this genre of games. The miniatures feature sturdy bases that are unlikely to break with proper care. The player boards are thick and well-designed, making them easy to comprehend and navigate. The game board itself is sprawling, featuring a wealth of information and visually appealing graphics that simplify rules and provide a quick reference for players. The map-like design of the board further enhances the immersion, evoking the essence of The Witcher franchise. The artwork on the cards is superb, drawing heavily from The Witcher 3 and Gwent, and contributes to the overall aesthetic appeal of the game.

In terms of theme, The Witcher: Old World goes above and beyond to capture the essence of The Witcher franchise. It leaves little to be desired, covering a wide range of elements from the source material. Even if players feel that certain aspects, such as bombs or Skellige, are missing, they are already covered in expansions, further expanding the thematic depth of the game. The attention to detail and the inclusion of references and humor from the franchise consistently astound and delight players, creating an immersive and enjoyable experience. For fans of The Witcher, The Witcher: Old World is the ultimate game, providing a profoundly thematic and faithful representation of the beloved franchise.

The Witcher: Old World Is Great For Fans Of…

The Witcher: Old World is a dream come true for fans of The Witcher franchise, especially those who have immersed themselves in the rich lore. This board game will undoubtedly resonate with those who have played The Witcher video games or read the stories. It brings the beloved settings, monsters, and quests from The Witcher universe to life, allowing fans to step into the shoes of Witchers and experience the thrill of monster hunting and battling nefarious foes firsthand.

Moreover, The Witcher: Old World appeals to enthusiasts of deep and strategic deck-building games. For those who enjoy the meticulous construction of decks in unique ways, this game provides a wealth of possibilities to satisfy strategic cravings. With a selection of multiple Witchers, each possessing a distinct power to personalize gameplay, the game offers ample replayability and opportunities to experiment with diverse tactics and approaches.