Years after its release, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains one of the most complete RPGs ever made. It’s not perfect, but its depth, storytelling, and world design make it an easy recommendation for anyone even remotely interested in fantasy gaming.
There are a few games that define a generation. Games that not only succeed critically and commercially, but also change what players expect from their genre. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of those games.
Released in 2015 by CD Projekt RED, this sprawling open-world RPG follows Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter navigating a war-torn land filled with political intrigue, moral ambiguity, and supernatural threats. Even today, it stands as a gold standard for immersive storytelling, side-quest design, and fantasy world-building.
A lot of modern games still try to recapture what The Witcher 3 pulled off: a massive world filled with purpose, a story that weaves emotion into epic fantasy, and side quests that are often as good as, if not better than, the main story.
So does it still hold up in 2025? Absolutely. But like any great classic, it’s not flawless. The combat has its quirks, and the world’s sheer size can sometimes feel overwhelming. Yet even with those imperfections, The Witcher 3 remains one of the most rewarding experiences in gaming.
Few RPGs have ever told a story with as much heart, complexity, and confidence as The Witcher 3.
The main plot follows Geralt’s search for Ciri, his adopted daughter, who’s being hunted by a supernatural force known as the Wild Hunt. On paper, it’s a classic fantasy setup – but in practice, it’s a deeply personal and emotional journey. Every decision you make feels like it matters, and the consequences can ripple through the story in ways you don’t always expect.
What really sets The Witcher 3 apart, though, is the quality of its side content. This is where CD Projekt RED turned what could have been filler into some of the most memorable storytelling in gaming.
Take “The Bloody Baron,” for example. What begins as a simple quest to find a man’s missing family spirals into a harrowing exploration of guilt, addiction, and abuse. It’s dark, uncomfortable, and completely unforgettable. Quests like that are scattered all across the game. Many could easily stand alone as short stories in their own right.
Then there are the DLCs – Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. Both expand on the world and the character of Geralt in meaningful ways. Hearts of Stone offers a haunting, almost fairy-tale-like narrative about immortality and the price of bargains. Blood and Wine gives Geralt something rare in RPGs: closure. It’s a full-blown expansion set in Toussaint, a sun-drenched land of knights and vineyards, and it feels like a victory lap for both the series and the player.
Together, they form one of the strongest storytelling packages in video-game history. The writing, voice acting, and emotional depth are still unmatched nearly a decade later.
The core gameplay loop of The Witcher 3 revolves around monster hunting, exploration, and decision-making. The combat system blends light and heavy sword attacks with magic “Signs,” crossbows, dodges, and potions that add layers of strategy.
At its best, combat feels deliberate and satisfying. Facing a powerful enemy like a Leshen or Griffin requires preparation, patience, and timing. Learning an enemy’s weaknesses and brewing the right potions or oils before a fight can make the difference between victory and a humiliating death.
Where the gameplay stumbles is in its fluidity. The swordplay, while improved from previous Witcher games, can feel slightly clunky compared to more modern systems. Targeting enemies in a group can get messy, and some players never quite feel like they have full control over Geralt’s movement.
Roach, your horse, deserves a mention too. She’s iconic for all the right and wrong reasons. Riding across the countryside feels epic, but Roach’s pathfinding and unpredictable behavior have been a running joke in the community for years. The horse is as likely to stand proudly on a rooftop as she is to follow the road.
Still, these imperfections don’t ruin the experience. The variety of monsters, the alchemy system, and the range of weapons and gear progression make combat and exploration feel layered and rewarding. You may grumble at the controls sometimes, but you’ll keep coming back for another contract, another cave, another story.
The Witcher 3‘s world is massive, but what makes it special isn’t just its size – it’s how alive it feels.
From the war-torn fields of Velen to the bustling streets of Novigrad and the windswept isles of Skellige, each region has its own atmosphere, culture, and tone. The environments aren’t just backdrops; they tell stories. You can learn a lot about a place simply by wandering and paying attention to how people live.
Exploration is always rewarded. Hidden treasure caches, monster nests, abandoned settlements, and side quests are tucked into nearly every corner of the map. Even after dozens of hours, you’ll still stumble upon something new. The game’s map markers can make it feel overwhelming at first, but part of the magic lies in losing yourself in it.
You might ride out to investigate a rumor and end up in a completely unexpected chain of events. A quiet roadside shrine might lead to a new contract, or a simple errand might uncover a story of love, betrayal, or tragedy.
The sheer variety of locations also keeps things fresh. The forests feel dense and threatening, the cities feel alive and full of secrets, and the islands of Skellige provide some of the best vistas in the entire genre.
If you like games where exploration feels like an adventure rather than a checklist, The Witcher 3 is the blueprint.
There’s a reason The Witcher 3 is often described as one of the most immersive games ever made. It’s not just about visuals or world design – it’s about how everything connects to make the world feel real.
The day-night cycle and dynamic weather create a sense of atmosphere that’s still impressive years later. Villages come alive in the daylight and quiet down at night. You’ll hear peasants gossiping about the war or cursing a monster attack, and then you’ll ride out and see that very threat for yourself.
The writing helps too. Every dialogue choice feels natural, every conversation sounds grounded. Geralt may be a professional monster hunter, but the game never lets you forget that he’s also a person navigating a messy world full of flawed people.
Then there’s Gwent. Somehow, a side activity meant to be a fun distraction turned into one of the most beloved in-game card systems ever created. Collecting Gwent cards, challenging opponents, and building your deck becomes an obsession for many players. It’s a microcosm of what The Witcher 3 does best: take something small and make it unexpectedly deep.
Even small interactions contribute to the immersion. The way Geralt tosses coins to a merchant, meditates before a fight, or comments on the smell of a nearby monster nest – these details add texture to every session. It’s not just a world you play in; it’s one you live in.
The Witcher 3 is one of those rare games that’s as fun to return to as it was to play the first time.
There are multiple reasons for this. First, the branching storylines and multiple endings give you a genuine reason to replay and make different choices. The decisions you make along the way truly affect how characters perceive you and how the world changes.
Second, the sheer volume of content means that even after one playthrough, you probably missed dozens of quests, encounters, or contracts. On a second run, you’ll find new characters, dialogue paths, and outcomes that make the world feel fresh again.
And finally, The Witcher 3 is simply a comfortable game to revisit. Whether you want to chase down monsters, play Gwent in a tavern, or just ride through Skellige at sunset, it offers that feeling of returning to a familiar, beloved place.
The two expansions also add even more incentive to come back. Hearts of Stone integrates seamlessly into the base game, while Blood and Wine gives you a self-contained adventure that feels like its own standalone sequel. Even after finishing everything, you’ll likely find yourself loading an old save just to wander for a while.
It’s rare for an RPG to hold up this well after so many years, but The Witcher 3 does – and that’s a testament to its craftsmanship.
Even after hundreds of hours, it’s hard to run out of reasons to keep playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Yes, the combat shows its age. Yes, Roach can be a pain. And yes, there are a few moments where the sheer sprawl of the world can feel like too much. But those are small flaws in what remains one of the greatest RPGs ever made.
Few games can match its balance of storytelling, exploration, and atmosphere. The fact that The Witcher 3 still feels fresh nearly a decade later says everything about its quality. It’s not just that it’s big or detailed – it’s that it feels cohesive. Everything serves the same purpose: to pull you into Geralt’s journey and make you care about it.
If you somehow missed it the first time, there’s never been a better moment to jump in. The Complete Edition brings all the expansions and next-gen upgrades, smoothing out visuals and performance without losing the heart of what made the game special.
For anyone who loves story-driven games, rich fantasy worlds, or the thrill of discovering something unexpected every time you play, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an absolute must. It’s a reminder of what happens when a studio builds a world not just for players to explore, but to live in.
Even as new RPGs come and go, few have matched its soul. The Witcher 3 isn’t just worth playing – it’s worth remembering.
Is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt worth caring about? This score reflects how well the story pulls you in, whether through great characters, worldbuilding, or just moments that stick.
How good does The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt actually feel to play? Tight controls, fun systems, and that satisfying “one more try” loop all count here.
Does The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt make wandering off worth it? This measures how curious you feel to explore, and how rewarding it is when you do.
How easy is it to forget you’re playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ? This score looks at the vibe. Visuals, music, and atmosphere working together to pull you in.
When the credits roll, are you done, or already thinking about another run? This one’s all about The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ’s staying power.
