Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

GWENT vs Black Deck

GWENT 4.8★ · Free to download · ⚠ stale 75
Winner GWENT
Black Deck 4.6★ · Free + IAP 45

GWENT is the better choice for players seeking a free-to-play, strategy-focused card game with a strong Witcher universe connection, while Black Deck is plagued by aggressive monetization and technical issues.

Full reviews: GWENT · Black Deck

GWENT offers a deep strategy card game experience rooted in The Witcher lore, with many users praising its free-to-play model and engaging gameplay, despite some recent technical issues and balancing concerns. Black Deck, while having a fun core concept, is heavily criticized for its aggressive in-app purchases, constant pop-up ads, and numerous bugs that hinder gameplay.

Head to head

Features & Gameplay edge: GWENTR2R10R28R36
GWENT GWENT is praised for its deep strategy, unique mechanics, and connection to The Witcher universe, with many finding it an improved version of the original Gwent game R2R10R28. Players appreciate the expansive and diverse decks and the competitive nature of the game R28R36.
Black Deck Black Deck offers addictive gameplay with strategic fighting and card/equipment abilities . However, some find the game becomes pay-to-win quickly, making it hard to compete without spending money . There are also complaints about unbalanced PvP and overpowered cards .
Ease of Use & Accessibility edge: GWENTR1R2R15R43
GWENT GWENT is generally considered easy and fun to pick up R2R43. However, some users report a non-intuitive interface R15 and a lack of accessibility features for visually impaired players R1.
Black Deck Black Deck is described as easy to get the hang of for new players . However, the game is heavily criticized for an overwhelming number of pop-up ads for purchases that disrupt gameplay and can lead to accidental spending .
Reliability & Performance tieR5R6R9R13
GWENT GWENT suffers from significant reliability issues, including constant disconnects, crashes on iOS, and problems with matchmaking and opening card packs R5R6R9R13. Some users also report issues with glitches affecting rewards R13.
Black Deck Black Deck also has numerous technical problems, such as frequent crashing R78R82, loading errors , and the game becoming unresponsive or stuck . There are specific bugs reported in guild wars and forging R63R70.
Price & Value edge: GWENTR4R20R42R51
GWENT GWENT is free to download and users confirm that everything in the game can be obtained for free, making it enjoyable even for casual players who don't spend money R20R42. However, some reviews mention a 'pay to win' aspect where players with expensive decks have an advantage R4.
Black Deck Black Deck is free to download but is heavily criticized for being 'pay to win' and aggressively monetized R51R53R54. Users report that items are expensive, and it's difficult to progress or compete without spending hundreds of dollars R54R60. There are also complaints about false advertising on purchases .
Support & Community edge: GWENTR6R14R29R57
GWENT GWENT users express a desire for more support, especially regarding long match wait times and general game issues R6. There are also requests for specific features like seeing opponent's cards post-match R14 and controller support R29.
Black Deck Black Deck users report poor customer support, with ignored feedback, no response to emails, and unfixed bugs R57. Communication within the game is also limited, with no global chat . Some users have had issues with purchases and refunds, even getting banned after requesting money back .
Pick GWENT if

you are a fan of The Witcher universe and enjoy strategic card games that offer a genuinely free-to-play experience, even if you might encounter some technical glitches R20R42.

Pick Black Deck if

you are looking for an addictive CCG-style game and are willing to tolerate aggressive monetization, frequent pop-up ads, and potential bugs, or if you plan to spend money to progress faster .

Evidence note: GWENT's recent negative reviews are heavily skewed towards technical issues and changes to card balance, while Black Deck's negative reviews consistently highlight aggressive monetization and bugs. The free-to-play nature of GWENT means some negativity comes from free-tier friction, but Black Deck's issues are more fundamental to its monetization model.

Frequently asked

Is GWENT truly free to play?
Yes, GWENT is free to download and many users confirm that you can get everything in the game for free and have fun without spending money R20R42.
How does Black Deck's monetization impact gameplay?
Black Deck is heavily criticized for being 'pay to win' with expensive in-app purchases and constant pop-up ads that disrupt gameplay and make it difficult to progress or compete without spending hundreds of dollars R51R53R54R60.
Are there many technical issues with GWENT?
Yes, GWENT users frequently report constant disconnects, app crashes on iOS, long matchmaking times, and glitches affecting rewards and card packs R5R6R13R21.
Is Black Deck prone to bugs and crashes?
Yes, Black Deck players report frequent app crashes, loading errors, the game becoming unresponsive, and specific bugs in guild battles and forging R63R70R78R82.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 110 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] GWENT 5/5 · US Dope game: Very easy and fun
  2. [R10] GWENT 5/5 · US Incredible!: And I don’t even like these kinds of games normally haha.
  3. [R28] GWENT 5/5 · US Here comes the Witcher: Expansive and diverse decks and strategy both innovative and unique, a must play ccg.
  4. [R36] GWENT 5/5 · US Preety Good, Great for Witcher fans: Stays consistent to the witcher universe, fun, very competitve, but can have some fundamental balance flaws, and cerain hands can be glitchy as in very OP or very UP, but It’s still good enough to play alot.
  5. [R1] GWENT 1/5 · US Not Accessible: Based on the type of game, there's absolutely no reason that it shouldn't be accessible for people who are visually impaired using voiceover
  6. [R15] GWENT 1/5 · US Interface: Make it a bit more minimalistic and intuitive. · translated
  7. [R43] GWENT 5/5 · US Superb card battler: A few tips (I’m still fairly new but approaching 40’s): first don’t let Gwent’s “difficulty” put anyone off this game; get out there and fight real players once the tutorial is over because the quickest way to level up is to die a lot plus the game is generous with rewards; learn by watching your opponent’s moves for a sense of the play (tactics, strategy, order of attack); ta
  8. [R5] GWENT 5/5 · US good game: but it stop
  9. [R6] GWENT 3/5 · US Dr. Strange: Could have more support. Sometimes there’s no matches or you wait a long time before match starts.
  10. [R9] GWENT 1/5 · US Not Working: Not working 2026
  11. [R13] GWENT 1/5 · US I was a fan: Played this game on and off for a while Lost of glitch’s but it was fun They nerfed monster so now I can’t use my deck because of provisions cost I’ve been using the deck for years I bought the season pass and got 63 keys because of rewards and went to use them they glitched and I got no rewards but my keys were spent anyway Game is not fun anymore sadly
  12. [R4] GWENT 2/5 · US Pay to win, play to lose: It would be super cool to get 1 match in against someone who hasn’t spent $600+ on completely broken decks
  13. [R20] GWENT 5/5 · US CARE FOR A ROUND OF GWENT!?: Better than I expected it has the same feel of TW3 gwent and more in this game ,plus you can get everything in this game for free
  14. [R42] GWENT 5/5 · US It’s fun: I’m very casual I’m not spending money, and I’m still having fun!
  15. [R51] Black Deck 2/5 · US No Money no Power: Game is nice, idea is nice. But you are very very dependent of money. And everything is expensive. They could find better ways to equilibra-te it.
  16. [R14] GWENT 4/5 · US Please Add Feature…: After a match has concluded, I want to know the cards I just played against…
  17. [R29] GWENT 2/5 · US Controller support: Requesting backbone controller support
  18. [R57] Black Deck 1/5 · US Does this game have live customer support?: I really want to know if the feedback system for this game actually works! No response to emails, feedback being ignored, bugs left unfixed, how can this game be so poorly made? How long do we players, who are suffering from these bugs, have to wait?
  19. [R53] Black Deck 3/5 · US It’s fun. But…: This game is fun and I’ve enjoyed my time playing it. But, I’d be doing a disservice if I didn’t bring up that this game is one of the most aggressively monetized I’ve ever seen. They push you HARD to try and subscribe to their plans, especially the $15/mo plan which is absurd for an iPhone game imo. They load you with tons of energy, which is great. But the only way you can realis
  20. [R54] Black Deck 1/5 · US Too much greed: Had high hopes for the game, but after sinking a decent amount of time and $$ cannot complete or even compete against other players in daily, weekly, monthly events. Especially this Season of Nature was terribly skewed and almost all rewards were stuck behind a huge paywall. Hopefully Devs realize that the paywall is far too high before everyone abandons the game.
  21. [R60] Black Deck 1/5 · US Game is fun but broken and expensive.: I have played the game for almost 6 months doing daily quests and guild quests every day. It is impossible to compete in the game events and complete them without spending $100’s of dollars. The new events expect you to spend about $300 a week to accomplish getting the new season units. The guild war god decks are not decks it is build 2 cards and forget the
  22. [R21] GWENT 1/5 · US Constant disconnects: Constant disconnects that lead to defeats. iPad has solid connection, so it’s the app, for sure. Want to open some card packs? Too bad, unknown error occurred. Want to create a new deck and play it? So sorry, unknown issue has occurred, and the deck disappears. Want to play more than match? Sucks to be you, it won’t match make with anyone until you force close the app an
  23. [R63] Black Deck 1/5 · US Cant forge need help: I have been trying to use the forge and one of the cards i need to use for the forge says it is leading a deck which it is not need help please. If i can get the help i need no problem changing the rating
  24. [R70] Black Deck 4/5 · US Guild war glitch: I was playing Guild war today and there’s a bunch of X on multiple different people’s decks that just automatically win doesn’t give points to it and there’s God decks at 0HP. I don’t know how I can report this bug so I came here.
  25. [R78] Black Deck 2/5 · US The game is crashing: It was working fine before but now the app keeps crashing.
  26. [R82] Black Deck 4/5 · US Losing when crashing: Dear devs I love the game I have been playing it for a while and you guys are always fixing bugs but one bug that has yet to ever be fix is when the game crashes during a battle you just lose a war just started I go to attack game crashes I can’t attack with the deck anymore and I have nothing to show for it

Synthesized from 110 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store