Following it's release back in 2015, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has gone on to be an incredibly popular open world game. In addition to its stellar storyline and detailed setting, it has also received numerous awards for its DLC expansions. Hearts of Stone in particular is popular for its difficult decisions and complex characters, many of which still inspire artists today. One such example involves a Witcher fan who created her very own Hearts of Stone cosplay, specifically of Iris von Everec.
For those unfamiliar, Iris von Everec is one of the most tragic characters in all The Witcher 3. The talented artist and wife of Olgierd is introduced to players via the quest “Scenes from a Marriage," where it is revealed that Iris has become a wraith after her death. Her fate comes from an unfortunate deal between Olgierd and Hearts of Stone's antagonist, Gaunter O’Dimm. The deal is not what it seems, and leads to Olgierd forming a “heart of stone". Unable to feel the love he once had for his wife, Olgierd imprisons Iris within their mansion, where she lives in a state of misery until her death.
In The Witcher 3, Iris' appearance reflects her ghostly backstory. She is thin and pale, with dark make-up and a black dress. And yet, she is still very beautiful in her own way. Given her haunting image, anyone looking to pull off her design will need to have some skill with make-up and other effects. And yet, this cosplayer has captured her essence perfectly, creating a somber appearance while still capturing her natural beauty.
The cosplay is courtesy of Reddit user RottenKraken, who's created a variety of costumes in the past, even for characters such as Daenerys from Game of Thrones. This particular cosplay features Iris in her black beaded gown as she rests against a stone wall. Her face is incredibly accurate to her in-game counterpart, with dark make-up and somber eyes. There's also a sketch in her hand, with what appears to be a self-portrait of the character. Hearts of Stone fans can even see the iconic violet rose that's resting beside her, referencing her heartbreaking quest.
So far, fans are in love with the finished result. Though this isn't the first Witcher 3 fan to cosplay as Iris von Everec, RottenKraken's version of Iris is very serene. It's one of the few designs that captures her human side as opposed to her wraith-like appearance, and the natural backdrop is incredibly accurate to the von Everec mansion that's featured in-game. Considering how vast the world of The Witcher 3 is, there are plenty of other characters that this artist can surely pull off.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions currently in development.