Ciri is hot in The Witcher 4. Certain corners of the internet would love to convince you otherwise, as the usual suspects label the silver-haired warrior as yet another character held back by the forces of diversity, but in reality she is merely older, hardened, and bearing scars from a world that is violent as it is unfair. But as past games have shown us, there is light to be found amidst the darkness, even for figures as despised as Witchers.
Some of the other potential romantic partners in the series include Keira Metz, Madam Sasha, Shani, Syanna, and others. Geralt was a busy man…
Wild Hunt allowed Geralt of Rivia to experience romance with Triss and Yennefer before he settled down with his chosen love interest during the final act. In The Witcher 4, he’ll be chilling in Corvo Bianco, tending to his crops and relaxing in the hot tub, stopping to pop in town and play Gwent at the local tavern with a glass of wine in hand (while slaying the odd monster from time to time). But this game is about Ciri, and will inevitably explore her romantic intentions too.
Is Ciri Queer In The Witcher?
There is a scene in The Witcher 3 where Ciri awakens after a deadly battle in a small village, and shortly afterward she is invited to the local baths by a couple of women. You agree, and can choose to cover yourself up or go in topless, a small decision which reflects how Ciri has come to view herself in the company of other women. The dialogue options that follow serve to reinforce this even more so. After talking about their taste in men and hope for romance in the years to come, Ciri can say the following: “To be honest, I prefer women.”
Some of the other women look away with expressions of shock, while others are impressed by Ciri’s willingness to be herself in an old-fashioned village like this one. As someone who was raised between the harsh yet caring confines of Kaer Morhen and the aristocratic pomp of Cintra, it’s bold for this character to be herself without fear, even if it comes with a tinge of awkwardness. This scene always stuck with me, especially in a game without any LGBTQ+ romance outside a handful of side quests and supporting characters.
There’s a pretty big chance of these characters being adapted into The Witcher 4 in some form, especially if CD Projekt Red wants to show us more of Ciri’s life both as a grim mercenary and the heart behind that way of existence.
Ciri’s queerness is explored further in the books, where she is defined as a bisexual woman with romantic interest in both men and women. Her character arc in the books concludes with a relationship with Galahad, one of the first men in her adult life to show her both emotional and physical support, while she has actively shown sexual attraction to the likes of Hotsporn and a handful of others. It’s been a while since I read some of them in school, so forgive me for any awkward slip-ups.
Having never been a main character in the games up until now, we either haven’t seen these stories unfold for ourselves or they are yet to happen. Besides, the games are an adaptation of their own that can choose to interpret Ciri’s character from the source material however it sees fit. But looking at all the evidence, it’s likely Ciri will be presented as bisexual.
Ciri’s Queerness Is A Central Part Of Her Character
One partner that comes to mind is Mistle, a female member of The Rats that Ciri becomes involved with in ‘The Time Of Contempt’ and ‘Baptism Of Fire’ novels. Ciri is at a true low point in her life when she meets Mistle, and thus accepts physical advances even if she is being coerced and manipulated. But this troublesome beginning eventually results in feelings of true attraction. It’s a complicated and dark same-sex relationship that is difficult to view favorably.
The games are also considered sequels to the books in a lot of ways, reinforcing the idea that many of these initial romances may have already taken place.
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Geralt’s final adventure doesn’t get much better than this.
It concludes with Ciri leaving Mistle behind in the middle of the night, promising that one day she will return “in a six-horse gilded coach. With a retinue of courtiers” before the two share their undying love for another.
Despite its troublesome beginnings, this romance is genuine, defined by hardship, but also one of the truest forms of love Ciri has ever expressed. Upon leaving, she even gets a matching tattoo of a Rose on her inner thigh to represent Mistle. It will be very interesting to see if this is present in the new game, acting as proof that Ciri has been through plentiful ordeals we’ll never get to see.
How Could Ciri’s Queerness Be Explored In The Witcher 4?
Ciri is canonically a queer woman, and The Witcher 4 must embrace that, retaining her bisexual identity from the books as she displays attraction towards both men and women. I hope this comes across in actions and dialogue, instead of romance being something that is only ever decided by players. But I can certainly see a man, a woman, or perhaps someone gender non-conforming filling the roles of potential partners.
Triss and Yen are such iconic parts of this universe that choosing between them has become a hard fought battle in the fandom, and it would be shocking if CDPR didn’t at least try to replicate that. Maybe it’ll be between Mistle and Galahad this time around, with a few cheeky flings on unicorns for good measure?
No matter how it’s expressed, Ciri’s queerness needs to be present in The Witcher 4. It is a fundamental part of who she is, and after Judy’s romance in Cyberpunk 2077, I believe CDPR has the nuance required to do any relationship like this justice. Let Ciri kiss girls, play Gwent, and kill monsters. The order doesn’t matter, so long as it’s done right.
The Witcher IV is a single-player, open-world RPG from CD PROJEKT RED. At the start of a new saga, players take on the role of Ciri, a professional monster slayer, and embark on a journey through a brutal dark-fantasy world. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, it aims to be the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game to date.