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Gwent: Monsters and Scoia'tael
- 2 players
- 5–30 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,657
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Gwent: Nilfgaard and Northern Realms
2016
Rules assistance for Gwent: Nilfgaard and Northern Realms
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 5–30 min
- 14+
- Complexity 1.6/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Gwent: Nilfgaard and Northern Realms
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Gwent: Nilfgaard and Northern Realms is a board game released in 2016 for 2 players, 5–30 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Damien Monnier and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
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About the game
Gwent is a standalone card game included inside the Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt videogame by CD Projekt Red. It was available as a physical copy with the Xbox One Collector's Edition of the video game (Northern Realms and Nilfgaardian Empire factions), in "Hearts of Stone"physical expansion for PC/PS4 (Scoia'Tel and Monsters factions) and with the purchase of the Season Pass giving you the opportunity to ask for redeem code to buy both limited editions versions on CD Projekt Red merchandising store. Gwent has two players simulating a war between two of four factions: Northern Realms, Scoia'Tael, Monsters, or Nilfgaardian Empire. Players take turns adding strength to the battlefield until both players pass. The highest strength on the battlefield wins the round and matches are played best of three, with little to no card drawing in between rounds. Special cards may also be played to reduce the effect of certain unit types. Gwent also features various once-per-game leader abilities and deck building rules.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- CD Projekt RED
Questions and answers
Gwent: Nilfgaard and Northern Realms supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Gwent: Nilfgaard and Northern Realms is 5–30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Gwent: Nilfgaard and Northern Realms for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Gwent: Nilfgaard and Northern Realms has a complexity rating of 1.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Gwent: Nilfgaard and Northern Realms belongs to these categories: Card Game, Video Game Theme, and Collectible Components. Its main mechanics are Hand Management. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Gwent: Nilfgaard and Northern Realms are: Damien Monnier. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Gwent: Nilfgaard and Northern Realms as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.