CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher series found great success with its first and second entries, but The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was a breakthrough for the Polish developer. Universally acclaimed, the third game in the action RPG trilogy features stunning graphics, an expansive open world, and countless quests.  Its influence has crept into numerous AAA titles, and the Witcher series is regarded as one of the best of all time. Even adventures as grand in scale as The Witcher 3 must come to a conclusion, though, and players who complete Wild Hunt are left asking, "what now?" With no news of a new Witcher game, hardcore fans may be at a loss as to what to play next.

It's difficult to find games capable of delivering an experience of the same caliber as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. While not every game is going to be exactly like those from The Witcher franchise, there are many others that have either incorporated features from The Witcher or taken inspiration from it. The influence becomes apparent even in some unexpected titles, but many great games have also taken cues from CD Projekt Red. So until a new Witcher title is announced, the following are excellent games to play and fill the void left by Geralt of Rivia.

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Horizon Zero Dawn

PC specs for Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn takes place in an anachronistic, post-apocalyptic world, but fans of The Witcher series will feel right at home with its narrative-driven storytelling. Players control Aloy, a young woman who hunts large, robotic creatures for their components in the year 3020. When the machines become unusually aggressive towards humans, it becomes the player's responsibility to discover why. Like Wild Hunt, Horizon Zero Dawn's story captivates audiences through compelling voice acting and masterful writing. What's more, the game's mechanics revolve around hunting and collecting, much like the various contract quests featured across The Witcher games. Players who enjoyed the world of The Witcher will also revel in Horizon Zero Dawn's large, open-world environment.

Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age: Origins is a fitting option for gamers who love The Witcher's brand of high fantasy. Considered by many to be the best in the series, Origins has all of the genre's staples: magic, elves, dwarfs, and of course, dragons. What sets Dragon Age: Origins apart from other fantasy titles, though, is its story-altering dialogue choices and lore-rich world. From the player-created character's race, to options in conversation, many of the player's choices depend on decisions previously made by the player. Since the game was initially released in 2009, the graphics aren't exactly state of the art, but Dragon Age: Origins still provides countless hours of entertainment more than a decade later.

RELATED: The Witcher 4 Needs to Be More Dragon Age: Origins Than Cyberpunk 2077

Ghost of Tsushima

Performing a powerful strike - Ghost of Tsushima Legends Techniques

For some players, games set in the real world resonate more than those set in fictional worlds. Ghost of Tsushima is a compelling argument for why this may be. Set during the 13th century Mongol invasion of Japan, players take control of Jin Sakai, a samurai intent on fighting enemy forces with non-samurai-like espionage. Sakai, much like a Witcher, works alone for the most part, and the game's beautiful setting and minimalist HUD exacerbates that lone wolf mentality. Throughout the game, players will showdown with Mongol warriors, execute stealthy assassinations, and complete various side quests. The combat of the two games vary, but the satisfaction of cutting through enemy camps matches that of mowing down Drowners in The Witcher.

Breath of the Wild

link with ancient arrow

There's not much that can be said about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild that hasn't been said before. Frequently regarded as a masterpiece, Breath of the Wild's enormous world and dynamic physics have been captivating players since its release in 2017. So many of the game's subsystems, like cooking and climbing, are as entertaining as its combat. Similar to The Witcher's alchemy mechanics, cooking different combinations of foraged food in Breath of the Wild will yield different stat boosting dishes. While its tone is thoroughly lighter than that of The Witcher, the plethora of side quests will keep players engaged. For fans of The Witcher 3: Wild HuntBreath of the Wild is a game that should be played.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2

There are only a handful of AAA "Wild West" games available, and Red Dead Redemption 2 stands out among that selection as one of the genre's best. Rockstar’s sandbox approach to game design fills its world with plenty of side missions and optional content. The story, centered around the outlaw Arthur Morgan, is gritty, exciting, and emotional. The game's more unique features include hunting and maintaining a camp full of NPC outlaws. Reminiscent of how Geralt's decisions affect the characters with whom he interacts, decisions made by players to invest in or completely ignore the camp's residents determine their fate. Playing cowboy in the Wild West is a departure from the knights and monsters of The Witcher's world, but Red Dead is a memorable open-world adventure that sticks with players.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Of all these titles, Shadow of Mordor may just be the most similar to The Witcher. Both games feature gruff, outcast men exploring an open fantasy world based on a book series. Combat in Shadow of Mordor parallels that of The Witcher games, as both Geralt and Talion tear their way through monsters with flashy, acrobatic sword swings. The games do differ, however, when it comes to the importance of player decisions. Shadow of Mordor's makes up for this with the nemesis system, a way of tracking high ranking enemies who remember the player from previous encounters and deliver situation specific quips. Packed with side quests and weapon upgrades, Shadow of Mordor may just be the most natural game to pick up after finishing Wild Hunt.

The Witcher is one of gaming's most recognizable franchises. The book series' dark and philosophical take on fantasy adventure has enchanted audiences since the early 90's, and the games have only drawn fans further into the world created by Andrzej Sapkowski. There may not be many games exactly like The Witcher, but most games have incorporated at least some of the ideas CD Projekt Red perfected: open worlds, dynamic character interactions, and tons of side quests. Other studios have taken note, and while the future of the series is up in the air for now, these titles are the perfect way to follow up The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Of course, a few rounds of Gwent wouldn't be a bad call, either.

MORE: How Long It Takes to Beat Every Witcher Game