Reigns: The Witcher, a Coin for the Witcher and His Bard – PC Review

Reigns is a very interesting pastime. Its simple and immediate gameplay formula allows anyone to approach it for shorter or longer periods, and its versatility has allowed its application to numerous contexts. Over the years, the saga has taken us to the Middle Ages, to a distant future, to the era of the Three Kingdoms, to the world of Game of Thrones, and now also to that of The Witcher.

For those unfamiliar, Reigns is a narrative adventure where each story is represented by a playing card. In each "turn" we can decide whether or not to participate in the proposed event with a "swipe" of the cursor (the franchise originated on mobile, after all). Some are simple sketches without particular repercussions, while others might initiate new subplots, but all will influence our alignment with the "powers that be" in the field, indicated by four bars at the top of the screen. If even one fills up or empties completely, it's game over.

In the case of Reigns: The Witcher, these refer to Geralt's relationship with humans, non-humans, and mages. If we make ourselves too liked or too hated by the crowd, we will meet a bad end. The only exception is the fourth bar, reserved for the Witcher's concentration. By hunting beasts or brawling, it will quickly take off, initiating a puzzle-game style mini-game that simulates the clash with the opponent of the moment. Battles, however, play a secondary role, to the point that we can bypass them entirely from the options. Be careful not to neglect them, though, or Geralt will hang up his swords and that's that.

Technically, we're not even playing as him. The true protagonist of the story is Dandelion, Geralt's personal bard (if he can be called that), who narrates his deeds in his ballads. Each run is therefore one of his performances, and every colorful development, including improbable deaths, is a device to win over the audience. Therefore, if you notice attitudes that are a bit out of character, do not fear: it's all part of the show.

The world of The Witcher can be dark and brutal, but the Nerial title adopts a lighter, more facetious narrative. The irony and some circumstances can be a bit crude if analyzed carefully, but everything flows at such a rapid pace that it doesn't cause annoyance, and indeed works considering the cast. The texts are good, but the absence of an Italian localization, unlike previous episodes, might discourage some.

At the beginning of each game, we can choose three stories from those unlocked, which will add exclusive events to the current session. By completing them and surviving as long as possible, we will earn experience points, with which to unlock new adventures and jobs for Dandelion, which will test our repertoire by accommodating the client's requests. And... well, there's not much else to add.

Runs are generally very short. We're talking 10-15 minutes each, even less if you read quickly or encounter debuffs, such as timers that force you to decide quickly or the inability to accept or deny favors to certain categories. Weaving your story without commitment is certainly relaxing, and if you like the random nature of the events, you can dedicate quite a bit of time to it; however, don't expect to truly role-play. Often, we are forced to make certain choices not because we want to, but because it's the only way to survive, and this is somewhat the title's blessing and curse.

Striking a balance, balancing Geralt's relationships to keep him on the edge, has its merits if you approach Reigns: The Witcher as a strategy game, but it could be frustrating if you are more interested in the narrative component. No big deal: the package is cheap, it even runs on a potato, the presentation is pleasant, and you can enjoy it even without knowing the source material (though knowing a few things helps). I don't think it's suitable for spending entire days on, but for a short break here and there, it's excellent.