It has been five years since CD Projekt Red released The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and it is without a doubt that many players still consider the game to be a masterpiece. Last year, The Witcher 3 saw a resurgence thanks to its release to the Nintendo Switc, and the massive success of Netflix's adaptation of the Witcher novels.
Now, after half a decade since its release, it is evident that The Witcher 3 still holds up today and is still able to captivate returning players and even newcomers who are trying to explore the video game franchise after binge-watching the Netflix show. So how did CD Projekt Red achieve this? And why is The Witcher 3 still a good game to play in 2020?
The Witcher 3 Story and Plot
There are so many factors why The Witcher 3 still remains a relevant title in 2020. However, its story and the overall plot is definitely the primary elements that lure new players to the game, and keep veteran players return to the game over and over.
The story of the game is simple; Geralt of Rivia, who is a Witcher or someone who hunts monsters, is on a quest to find his adoptive daughter Ciri, who is being pursued by the Wild Hunt. For those unfamiliar, The Wild Hunt is a group of wraiths on undead horses who are scouring the world to find slaves to serve the Alder Folk, and to complicate matters, Ciri is also the real daughter of Emhyr var Emreis and is the sole princess of Cintra. The game branches out from the quest to find Ciri and players soon find themselves in a world that is very alive and immersive, with various side quests and interesting characters to interact with.
Best Witcher 3 Quests
Apart from an immersive story and well fleshed out characters, The Witcher 3 also offers a massive amount of quests that players can embark on and have a better understanding of the game's history and lore. Most quests also offer Witcher 3 players a tough decision at the end, and each choice will have an on how the game will play out. On average, a single playthrough of The Witcher 3 can take up to 70-80 hours long due to its extensive main story and over a hundred different side missions that players can participate in.
Now, while every player will have their own favorite quests, here are the most popular ones that definitely made The Witcher 3 a fun game to play despite its release five years ago.
- Scenes From a Marriage is a side quest that players can access by acquiring the Hearts of Stone DLC. Probably one of the saddest quests in The Witcher 3, Geralt journeys to The Haunted Manor and The Painted World in search of the violet rose Olgierd von Everec gave his first wife Iris. This leads to a decision at the end on whether to take or leave the rose, each having their own consequences.
- Where the Wolf and Cat Play in this quest, Geralt discovered that one of the contracts he took was already completed, but an entire village was slaughtered. Geralt's investigation leads him to the Circle of Stones, where he is faced with a decision that involves the fate of another Witcher.
- Of Dairy and Darkness is one of the more unusual quests in the game where players encounter a study of magic based on cheese. In the quest, players will scour the ruins of Aeremaes, who was a mage that was burned at the stake in Novigrad. The player must then explore a maze where a sword called The Emmentaler can be found, completing the quest.
Best Villains
Another aspect of The Witcher 3 that makes it popular to this day is its awesome cast of characters, including the villains. Although not all villains in The Witcher 3 can be engaged in combat, it doesn't make them any less menacing. These villains certainly give color to the overall story of the game, especially with their evil actions and motivations. Again, while every player will have their favorite baddie, here are some of the most popular Witcher 3 villains that were memorable and left a long-lasting impact on Witcher fans.
- Gaunter O' Dimm who is sometimes called Master Mirror or Man of Glass is a former mirror merchant that Geralt encounters early in the game. O'Dimm has a mysterious aura that surrounds him, which is already a sign that he will be trouble later in the game. What's interesting about his character is his slow transition from a creepy merchant who talks in riddles, to a more fleshed-out, disturbing character.
- The Crones who are also known as the Ladies of the Wood are three witches that were made to be disliked due to their terrifying appearance. The Crones definitely gives off a nasty and eerie presence, but their terrifying character design is definitely their most memorable feature.
- Radovid V is the type of villain that is terrifying due to the amount of power he holds while remaining in an unstable state of mind. This combination alone is horrifying and the witch hunts he perpetuates brought about some of the most brutal scenes in the game.
A Game That Was Made To Last
In its five years of existence, it is evident that a good number of players go back to The Witcher 3 over and over. The primary reason for this lies in the game's excellent development, which is a culmination of various elements that worked well both individually and as one piece. The game sports impressive visuals that give life to its massive open-world setting, where players can spend countless hours busying themselves with various quests.
Apart from well-polished gameplay, The Witcher 3's characters and the overall story is so immersive that a lot of fans feel a sense of dread after completing the game, not because it wasn't good, but because it has ended. Although there are many great games out there that are fun to play, it is evident that a mark of a good game is when it has left a lasting impression long after the player has finished playing it, and The Witcher 3 did just that.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available now of the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.