The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has built a legacy that has made it a staple in the fantasy RPG genre. A decade after its release, The Witcher 3 is still mentioned in conversation when it comes to crafting strong RPGs, and it still holds up for many, despite its age. While the first two entries were successful, The Witcher 3 introduced the franchise and Geralt to a much larger audience, marking a new era for the series.
Since The Witcher 3 launched, it has expanded into the larger world of pop culture, boasting Netflix adaptations and comic book spin-offs. What’s even more exciting, though, is that The Witcher 4 has been made official. Announced at the 2024 Game Awards, the fourth entry in The Witcher series puts Ciri in the role of protagonist, marking an exciting change. With the arrival of a new Witcher chapter waiting in the distance, now is a great time to revisit its predecessor with a fresh playthrough.
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Why The Witcher 4 Is Both Moving Away From and Honoring The Witcher 3
Balancing tradition and innovation, The Witcher 4 is making some shifts while staying true to its Witcher 3 roots for a fresh yet familiar experience.
Even After Ten Years, The Witcher 3 Holds Up Against Modern RPGs
The Witcher 3 was one of the strongest games of 2015, but that strength hasn’t really dwindled with the passage of time, which is impressive. In 2015, CD Projekt Red’s action adventure RPG won a series of accolades, including the coveted title of Game of the Year at The Game Awards. Since then, other projects that are part of the franchise, like Netflix’s Witcher show, haven’t quite captured the magic of Wild Hunt, but the game itself remains a strong demonstration of a well-crafted and immersive fantasy world.
The Witcher 3’s Charm is Found in Its Replayability
In The Witcher 3, the choices a player makes are incredibly important, affecting the game’s overall ending based on these decisions. Because of the game’s ability to highlight the complexity of moral-based choices, nearly every outcome has some sort of downside to it, as well, making these decisions an exercise in weighing the morality of certain actions. These many outcomes give The Witcher 3 serious longevity, and a fresh playthrough in 2025 could feel quite different from previous times with the game.
The Witcher 3 has 36 possible endings that players can get.
Preparing For The Witcher 4
One of the best reasons to jump back into The Witcher 3 in 2025 is because it’s a great way to get a refresher on the story leading up to the next chapter. Granted, The Witcher 4 is likely a ways off from its release, but that at least leaves plenty of time to really enjoy extra hours in a fresh playthrough.
Announced at the 2024 Game Awards, the fourth entry in The Witcher series puts Ciri in the role of protagonist, marking an exciting change.
Even better, the direction of The Witcher 4 can make revisiting its predecessor feel that much more powerful. In The Witcher 3, it seemed pretty clear that Ciri would be a likely character to pick up Geralt’s torch, but playing through the story with this newfound knowledge that she will indeed lead the next chapter could add an extra layer to its narrative.
As of now, The Witcher 4 does not have an official release date.
Returning to The Witcher 3 Promises Hours of Content to Enjoy
Beyond the base version of The Witcher 3, CD Projekt Red’s beloved title boasts plenty of extra features and content. From the Heart of Stone and Blood and Wine DLC expansions to fan-made mods, The Witcher 3 has been the gift that keeps on giving for many gamers. Even after one, two, or even three playthroughs, The Witcher 3 can still offer players a unique experience, thanks to its many in-game choices and ways to explore its world. For a game that’s a decade old, The Witcher 3 still proves why it’s still part of gaming discourse.
- Released
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May 19, 2015
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content