Reigns is a card-based RPG, developed by Nerial and published by Devolver Digital, and it has had several follow-up releases ever since its initial launch in 2016. Arguably, one of the most exciting additions to the Reigns line-up so far is Reigns: The Witcher.
Centering on Dandelion the bard, instead of the series mainstay Geralt, Reigns: The Witcher combines the dark fantasy of the Witcher series with the light-hearted charm of the Reigns series. Spoiler alert – it’s harder to put down than a Griffin.
The Escapist recaps
- Reigns: The Witcher is a follow-up to the 2016 title Reigns, centering around the Witcher franchise and the adventures of Geralt and Dandelion, the bard.
- Reigns: The Witcher was developed by Nerial and published by Devolver Digital. Much like the original game, it’s a stylized, card-based RPG where a big emphasis is placed on player choices.
- The gameplay loop is simple but effective; following the format of a tale told by Dandelion, and players must pick and choose how they respond to a number of prompts, with the aim of collecting unique deaths and outcomes.
- Fans of The Witcher should get a kick out of the numerous references and characters that pop up throughout this game, but even non-Witcher fans should find plenty to love here as well.
- Reigns: The Witcher looked solid and performed well, both when playing it on PC and Steam Deck.
A new journey for Witcher fans
In Reigns: The Witcher, you won’t be playing as the usual star of the show, Geralt. Instead, the bard, Dandelion, will be taking the reins, telling a wild story about Geralt’s adventures and mishaps to a rapt – or sometimes, disinterested – crowd at a tavern.
Players get to shape the story to fit their own goals and collect unique outcomes. A choice will be presented, like an author asking Geralt how their character should poison someone, then the player will get to pick how to respond; in this instance, picking the creature that the character should obtain poison from.
The choices then have a knock-on effect as Geralt makes his way through Dandelion’s story, with familiar characters and creatures popping back up in response to whatever the player has decided. It’s simple and follows the existing Reigns format nicely, but it’s incredibly moreish, encouraging a “one more run” feeling.
There’ll be particular goals for each run, which can range from keeping a certain group of people happy to achieving a particular task, like making a troll smile. The happiness stats of core groups are managed at the top of the screen, and the impact of each choice will be shown as the game progresses.
One of the core aims in Reigns: The Witcher is to collect unique deaths and endings to Dandelion’s tale, as morbid as that might sound.
Geralt might be turned into a fly as a result of upsetting a particular group, for example, or end up falling foul of a mead-drinking competition instead. There’s unique art for each ending, too, making it rewarding to try and kill the series darling.
Progression is rewarded with further cards and unique scenarios, meaning there’s always something new to dig into. It’s the sort of game you can pick up and get lost in for short bursts; it might not be suited for long gameplay sessions, necessarily, but it’s charming and encourages plenty of repeat playthroughs.
Light-hearted and whimsical
Alongside the regular storytelling mechanic, Dandelion can take on extra jobs during his adventures, performing for various characters outside of the standard tavern. This requires picking out the best stories to tell a specific audience, which adds a little variety into the mix.
Another fun addition in Reigns: The Witcher is the combat mechanic. Whenever Geralt encounters an aggressive enemy on his travels, he’ll get into a combat encounter with them, revolving around dodging enemy attacks and using standard attacks or Signs to deal damage.
Further Signs are unlocked by progressing through the game and levelling up Dandelion, adding more replay value to this title.
Visually, Reigns: The Witcher is simple yet eye-catching, in keeping with the general style of the Reigns series.
It’s a colorful and almost nostalgic art style, and it makes the gameplay feel whimsical, even when Geralt is dodging attacks from Drowners or dying in horrible ways. The soundtrack is delightful, too, with an upbeat, fantasy feel to it.
I played Reigns: The Witcher on PC and on a Steam Deck for this impressions piece, and found performance to be smooth and reliable on both. While it was plenty of fun on PC, I’d recommend playing this game on Steam Deck, if possible; the controls feel more intuitive on a handheld device.
Overall, Reigns: The Witcher will be a hit with fans of the Witcher world and fantasy RPGs that place a heavy emphasis on player autonomy. It’s simple yet memorable, with a stylized aesthetic and moreish gameplay loop, and it offers both a great PC and Steam Deck experience.
Ask The Escapist
Reigns: The Witcher was developed by Nerial and published by Devolver Digital.
No, arguably, you don’t have to be a fan of The Witcher to enjoy Reigns: The Witcher. While you may miss a reference or two, it’s still a fun and immersive game.
Yes, Reigns: The Witcher has tile-based combat, revolving around dodging attacks and landing on the correct tiles to make your own attacks.
Yes, Reigns: The Witcher works well on Steam Deck, based on my first impressions of the game. It performed well, and the controls felt intuitive.
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