As the titular character of The Witcher, most fans love Geralt of Rivia. He's often the only difference between life and death for the people he encounters. As a monster killer, Geralt's job is full of dangers, and that's even before he gets entangled in politics and magic. Geralt has been around since 1986 when his creator, Andrzej Sapkowski, published the first story about the white-haired Witcher.
Nowadays, Geralt is even more famous thanks to the CD Projekt Red games and the Netflix show with Henry Cavill. However, despite his popularity, Geralt isn't perfect in the books. He has some flaws the games tried to fix.
10 Flaw: Geralt Is Poor
The fact that Geralt is poor in the books wouldn't be such a problem. If only it wasn't a problem for Geralt himself. Geralt doesn't like his job very much and he doesn't like the fact it doesn't pay well. He's often close to destitute but doesn't want to compromise and take every job somebody offers him. As a result, Geralt in the books often has deep pockets and very little money.
9 Correction: He Makes A Lot Of Money In The Games
In comparison to the books, Geralt makes a lot of money in the games. Or, more precisely, he can make a lot of money if he's clever enough. Geralt can charge hundreds of crowns for Witcher contracts. He can also sell the stuff he picks up from the dead bodies of his enemies. And he can freely loot houses and sell the things he steals. As a result, Geralt can amass a small fortune, sometimes as much as hundreds of thousands, depending on each player.
8 Flaw: He Can't Make The Romance With Yennefer Work
Geralt and Yennefer have a complicated on-again, off-again relationship in the books. They argue a lot and it doesn't help things that Yennefer cheated on him with Istredd while they were together. Geralt and Yennefer do love each other. But their established pattern is that they spend a lot of time together, break up, and then spend even more time apart before doing the same thing all over again.
7 Correction: They Stay Together For Good
In the end, Geralt and Yennefer can make it work for good in The Witcher 3. After they break up their magical bond during the quest The Last Wish, Geralt can realize his feelings for Yennefer hadn't changed.
If he does, he and Yennefer will get their happily-ever-after in the DLC Blood and Wine. Yennefer and Geralt will move in together and live a peaceful life away from all the drama.
6 Flaw: People Hate Witchers
Technically, this isn't Geralt's fault. Except he doesn't always act like the friendliest person in the world in the books. In fact, he can be quite grumpy and cold from time to time. Geralt also is nowhere as handsome in the books. Instead of being super muscular, he's somewhat skinny as he doesn't get enough food. People treat him and other Witchers like outcasts, even when they protect them from monsters.
5 Correction: People Admire Geralt (Sort Of)
Even though Geralt in the games isn't as handsome as Geralt in the Netflix show, he looks better than Geralt in the books. And people around him also act toward him in a different way. Many people still fear Witchers, but not as many and to such a degree as they do in the books. Geralt can often hear comments from passing ladies complimenting his appearance. And since he acts friendlier than in the books, people don't so often call him 'freak' or other bad names.
4 Flaw: He's Powerful... But Not A Superhero
Geralt is a formidable opponent and taking him on is no easy task. Most people who decide to do so don't survive. Yet he is no superhero and some have defeated him in a fight before.
The most notable occurrence happened when a peasant rode a pitchfork through his body. There's also the fact that Geralt's Witcher signs, while useful, aren't a magical answer to all the problems and enemies he faces.
3 Correction: He Can Do Many Great Things
Geralt could hold his own in a fight in the books. But it's only in the games where he shows some incredible skills. The biggest improvement happened with his Witcher signs. Geralt can now use them to burn enemies alive, humans, and monsters alike. He can conjure up a protective shield, send enemies knocking back with Aard, and do many other things. That's something he couldn't achieve in the books where the Witcher signs had much more limited use.
2 Flaw: He's A Bit Of A Loner
Geralt can be a bit of a loner in the books. He has the tendency to drive people away from him. Sometimes because he's afraid for their safety if they keep traveling with him. Others times because they have the courage to disagree with him. It's difficult to get through to Geralt. As a result, he doesn't have that many close friends by his side in the books. He does travel with Dandelion and others sometimes, but can be just as often alone.
1 Correction: He's More Open To People
By the time The Witcher 3 rolls around, Geralt has changed a lot. He's no longer as determined to keep people at arm's length. He spends a better part of the game searching for Ciri and once he finds her, he doesn't want to leave her. Geralt reunites with his old friends - Dandelion, Zoltan Chivay, and Vernon Roche - and is happy to see them. He's even happier to realize the higher vampire Regis is alive since Geralt believed Regis had died.