‘Unmatched: The Witcher – Steel and Silver’ Board Game Review
The Unmatched series has always been about dream matchups – Sherlock Holmes versus Medusa, Bruce Lee versus Dracula, Houdini versus the Genie. But with Unmatched: The Witcher – Steel and Silver, Restoration Games and CD Projekt Red have delivered something a little different. This isn’t just a crossover; it’s a celebration of a world. And while Realms Fall may bring the big bad (Eredin) of The Witcher to Unmatched, it’s Steel and Silver that brings real star power.
Featuring Geralt of Rivia, Ciri, and the Ancient Leshen, Steel and Silver is arguably the more exciting of the two Witcher sets – not just because of the characters it includes, but because of how well those characters have been translated into the Unmatched system. Each one feels distinct, thematic, and mechanically satisfying. While the set is fully compatible with the rest of the Unmatched line, it also stands on its own as a tight, three-character box that offers a lot of replayability and tactical depth.
Like all Unmatched sets, Steel and Silver comes with its own double-sided map – in this case, the eerie Crookback Bog and the more open, tactical Kaer Morhen. Both maps are atmospheric and well-designed, with Crookback Bog offering tighter, more claustrophobic engagements and Kaer Morhen encouraging more movement and positioning. The production quality is excellent, with striking miniatures, evocative card art, and a rulebook that’s as clean and accessible as ever.
Geralt of Rivia – The Butcher of Blaviken
Geralt is, unsurprisingly, the most straightforward of the three characters – but that doesn’t mean he’s simple. He’s a versatile, mid-range brawler with a toolkit that rewards careful planning and adaptability. His deck is built around his Signs – magical abilities like Aard, Igni, and Quen – and his ability to switch between silver and steel swords depending on whether he’s fighting humans or monsters.
Mechanically, Geralt’s defining feature is his Preparation mechanic. Many of his cards become more powerful if he’s prepared, which he can achieve by playing certain cards or taking specific actions. This creates a satisfying rhythm to his playstyle – you’re constantly weighing whether to strike now or set up for a bigger payoff later. His versatility makes him a strong pick against a wide range of opponents, and his deck is full of clever tricks and thematic flourishes.
That said, Geralt isn’t invincible. He lacks the raw burst damage of some other Unmatched characters, and his reliance on preparation can leave him vulnerable if he’s pressured early. He’s a character who rewards experience – the more you play him, the better you’ll get at managing his tempo and exploiting his flexibility.
Ciri – The Lady of Space and Time
If Geralt is the steady hand, Ciri is the wild card. She’s fast, aggressive, and unpredictable – a hit-and-run fighter who excels at darting in, dealing damage, and vanishing before her opponent can retaliate. Her defining mechanic is Blink, which allows her to teleport across the map using her unique movement cards. This gives her unparalleled mobility and makes her a nightmare to pin down.
Ciri’s deck is full of cards that reward positioning and timing. She has several effects that trigger when she starts or ends her turn in specific zones, and many of her attacks are stronger if she’s just blinked. She also has a few powerful feints and dodges, making her surprisingly resilient despite her low health pool.
Playing Ciri well requires a good understanding of the map and a willingness to take risks. She’s not a character who can stand toe-to-toe with a bruiser like Bigfoot or Achilles, but in the hands of a skilled player, she can dance around them and chip away until they fall. She’s also one of the most fun characters to play in the entire Unmatched roster – there’s something deeply satisfying about blinking across the board, landing a perfect strike, and disappearing before your opponent can respond.
The Leshen – The Forest’s Wrath
The Leshen is the wildcard of the set – not just thematically, but mechanically. Where Geralt is adaptable and Ciri is agile, the Leshen is oppressive. It’s a control-oriented fighter that thrives on area denial, attrition, and punishing opponents for trying to engage on their own terms. If Geralt is the sword and Ciri the dagger, the Leshen is the creeping vine – slow, inevitable, and dangerous to underestimate.
The Leshen’s most distinctive feature is its use of Wolves, of which it has two tokens. These tokens can be placed on the board and used to extend the Leshen’s reach, trigger effects, or even block movement. The Leshen’s deck is full of cards that interact with these wolves – dealing damage to fighters near them, teleporting to them, or using them to manipulate the battlefield. This gives the Leshen a unique spatial presence that few other Unmatched characters can match.
In addition to the wolves, the Leshen has a number of cards that punish opponents for being aggressive. It can deal damage when attacked, force discards, and even heal itself under the right conditions. It’s not a fast character, and it doesn’t hit especially hard in a single blow, but it excels at grinding opponents down over time. It’s particularly effective against melee fighters who rely on closing the distance – the Leshen can simply make that distance dangerous.
However, the Leshen isn’t without weaknesses. It requires careful planning and positioning to get the most out of its tokens, and it can struggle against highly mobile opponents like Ciri who can blink out of danger. It also has a relatively low health pool for a solo fighter, which means that if an opponent can break through its defences, it can fall quickly. But in the hands of a patient, strategic player, the Leshen is a terrifying presence – a slow-moving storm that reshapes the battlefield around it.
A Cohesive, Characterful Set
What makes Unmatched: The Witcher – Steel and Silver so compelling is how well it captures the essence of its characters while still delivering a balanced and engaging gameplay experience. Geralt, Ciri, and the Leshen don’t just feel like fighters with Witcher-themed art – they feel like they’ve been pulled straight from the Continent and dropped into the Unmatched arena. Their decks are dripping with flavour, from Geralt’s Signs and potions to Ciri’s blink-driven agility and the Leshen’s eerie, creeping control.
Compared to Realms Fall, which introduced Yennefer, Vesemir, and the Eredin, Steel and Silver feels more immediately accessible and perhaps more exciting for fans of the franchise. Geralt and Ciri are the faces of The Witcher, and their inclusion here gives the set a kind of marquee appeal. That’s not to say Realms Fall is lacking – Yennefer’s spell system and Eredin’s relentless aggression are both excellent – but Steel and Silver feels like the more iconic, character-driven box.
In terms of balance, the set holds up well. Each fighter has clear strengths and weaknesses, and none feel overpowered or undercooked. Geralt is a great all-rounder, Ciri is a high-skill, high-reward glass cannon, and the Leshen is a slow-burning control piece. They all play differently, and they all offer something unique – both within this set and when mixed into the wider Unmatched roster.
Final Thoughts
Unmatched: The Witcher – Steel and Silver is a standout entry in the Unmatched series. It’s thematic, mechanically rich, and packed with personality. Whether you’re a fan of The Witcher, a seasoned Unmatched player, or just someone looking for a tight, tactical skirmish game, there’s a lot to love here. The characters are thoughtfully designed, the maps are atmospheric, and the gameplay is as sharp as ever.
It’s not the most beginner-friendly set – Ciri and the Leshen in particular require a bit of finesse – but for players who enjoy exploring the nuances of each fighter, this box offers a lot of depth. And while it shines brightest when paired with Realms Fall, it also stands perfectly well on its own.
