The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt provides a next-gen facelift for this immersive role-playing game with its all DLC's and some of the best player mods!

93%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

stability, grinding

97% User Score Based on 245,794 reviews

Critic Score 95%Based on 30 reviews

Platforms

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About

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a single player open world role playing game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by CD PROJEKT RED and was released on May 12, 2015. It received very positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is an action-packed fantasy RPG that lets you explore a vast, war-torn continent as Geralt of Rivia, a monster slayer and Söldner. Your mission is to find Ciri, the Child of Prophecy, a powerful entity that could change the world. The game features updated next-gen graphics, a new photo mode, and additional content inspired by the Netflix series. Immerse yourself in a rich story with intense combat and deep character development.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+33

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 245,794 reviews

story39.5k positive mentions

stability1.6k negative mentions

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt features an immersive world with rich storytelling and deep character development, making it a must-play for RPG enthusiasts.
The graphics and art direction are stunning, holding up remarkably well even years after release, creating a breathtaking experience.
The game offers immense replayability with branching storylines and meaningful choices that significantly impact the narrative.

The combat mechanics are often criticized as clunky and repetitive, leading to frustration during gameplay.
Performance issues and bugs, particularly after updates, have been reported, causing crashes and stuttering that detract from the experience.
Some players find the gameplay to be overly linear and filled with tedious quests, leading to a sense of boredom during extended play sessions.

story
84,524 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The story of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is widely praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and intricate character development, with many players highlighting the main quest involving Geralt's search for his adopted daughter, Ciri, as particularly compelling. Side quests are often described as rich narratives in their own right, frequently surpassing the quality of main quests in other games, and contributing significantly to the game's immersive world. The expansions, "Hearts of Stone" and "Blood and Wine," are noted for their exceptional storytelling, adding further layers to the already complex narrative and providing satisfying conclusions to Geralt's journey.
- “The story about finding 'you know who' is compelling, but the narrative keeps taking detours that remind us of Geralt's complexities.”
- “The world is huge and full of detail; the quests are more meaningful than just 'go here, kill this,' and the story—especially Geralt's journey involving Ciri—really pulls you in emotionally.”
- “The storytelling is phenomenal, with characters brought to life in remarkable depth. Every quest, even the side missions, feels meaningful.”
- “Any time it sticks me into a series of story missions, it’s agonizing.”
- “The story is okay, I guess; all the missions are just the same thing over and over; they just look different each time.”
- “I don’t understand why, when you already have such a strong story and solid side quests, you’d pad it out with filler content.”
graphics
20,320 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
35%
2%
The graphics of *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt* have received widespread acclaim for their stunning detail and immersive quality, even years after its release in 2015. Players note that the game's visuals hold up remarkably well against modern titles, especially following the recent next-gen update that enhances textures and introduces ray tracing. While some users report performance issues and graphical glitches, the overall consensus is that the game's art direction and environmental design create a breathtaking experience that significantly contributes to its status as a masterpiece in the RPG genre.
- “The graphics are stunning, bringing every landscape and character to life with breathtaking detail.”
- “The art work and world building is gorgeous - I love spending time just wandering around in these immersive woods and fields.”
- “Graphics and art direction: 10/10, this game is a decade old and still holds up extremely well.”
- “Ridiculous bug that resets graphics settings every launch, fix the game.”
- “Mechanics are dated, and it feels like they favored graphics/the world over them.”
- “Graphics feel a bit outdated but once you get used to it, you don't feel it too much - it's still good looking.”
gameplay
19,970 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
5%
The gameplay of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is often described as a blend of engaging combat, exploration, and deep RPG mechanics, though opinions vary widely. Many players appreciate the immersive world, rich storytelling, and character development, while some criticize the combat mechanics as clunky or repetitive, particularly in comparison to more modern titles. Overall, the game is celebrated for its narrative depth and expansive content, making it a must-play for RPG enthusiasts, despite some gameplay shortcomings.
- “It's one of those rare gems that nails everything—game mechanics, story, dialogue, characters, graphics, sound... the list goes on and on!”
- “The gameplay perfectly balances exploration, story, and action, keeping you immersed for hours.”
- “The combat mechanics feel rewarding, the RPG systems are deep without being overwhelming, and the world is stunning, alive with detail, diversity, and atmosphere.”
- “The gameplay really shows its age—I found myself fighting the controls and camera more than the actual monsters.”
- “The gameplay is extremely linear and sometimes confusing; you talk more than you walk, and every 5 minutes they show you a 10-minute long cutscene that you can't skip.”
- “The combat mechanics are clumsy as hell; it's like playing a poorly ported console game.”
music
7,961 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
43%
2%
The music in "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is widely praised for its breathtaking quality and emotional depth, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere and storytelling. The soundtrack, composed by Marcin Przybyłowicz and featuring Slavic folk influences, is described as iconic and memorable, often evoking strong feelings during gameplay. While some players noted that certain tracks can become repetitive over time, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the immersive experience of the game, making it a standout feature.
- “As someone who has put some time into the first two Witcher games, I can simply say that not only does The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt surpass both in every single way, it personally is part of my top 100 games due to its breathtaking world, invested storytelling, intuitive gameplay, and melodious soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack is phenomenal — every track perfectly complements the mood, from intense battles to quiet moments wandering through the countryside.”
- “The music is beautiful, with a perfect soundtrack for wherever you are in the game.”
- “The constant music in the background makes some cutscenes feel worse than how they could've been.”
- “I think they should've added more specific music when a cutscene plays rather than the classic fantasy music that always plays.”
- “The combat music is exciting and keeps you on the edge of your seat, while the overworld music is somewhat calming with a sense of sadness in it because of how dark and depressing the continent really is.”
atmosphere
2,498 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The atmosphere in "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is widely praised for its immersive and richly detailed world, characterized by stunning graphics, a haunting soundtrack, and a dynamic environment that reflects the game's narrative depth. Players appreciate the distinct atmospheres of various regions, from the gloomy swamps of Velen to the vibrant landscapes of Toussaint, which enhance the storytelling and emotional engagement throughout the game. Overall, the combination of atmospheric sound design, intricate world-building, and compelling character interactions creates a captivating experience that resonates with players long after they finish the game.
- “Even years after its release, it still stands out for its storytelling, world-building, characters, and unforgettable atmosphere.”
- “The lighting and atmosphere are pure magic; sunsets over Velen’s muddy fields look painterly, Novigrad’s lantern-lit streets glow with warmth and grit, and Skellige’s snowy cliffs feel both intimidating and breathtaking.”
- “The world feels alive, the atmosphere is unmatched, and the attention to detail is on another level.”
- “When it comes to the medieval atmosphere, The Witcher 3 falls flat compared to other RPGs.”
- “The atmosphere is dark and gritty, and makes you feel like you're in a god-forsaken world.”
- “The atmosphere, combined with the lore and story - make this game still to this day one of my all time favorite games.”
emotional
2,313 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The emotional aspect of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is widely praised, with players highlighting its deeply engaging narrative and character development that evoke a range of feelings, from joy to heartbreak. Many reviews mention the profound emotional connections formed with characters like Geralt and Ciri, as well as the impactful choices that shape the story, leading to memorable and often tear-jerking moments. The game's ability to blend humor with serious themes and its rich, immersive world contribute to an emotional experience that resonates long after the game is completed.
- “The story is incredibly well written — full of meaningful choices, deep characters, and emotional moments that actually made me stop and think.”
- “This emotional depth pulls you in completely, making you laugh, rage, mourn, and love in ways few other games can achieve.”
- “The bloody baron quest line in particular deserves a special mention — it's emotional, morally complex, and shows exactly what makes this game so unique.”
- “Boring story, trite characters, clunky gameplay, uninspired card mini game.”
- “If at any point I get to points in this game where I feel like it validates itself, I will change my review accordingly, but for now, the actual game feels like a boring story with clunky game mechanics and a lot of confusion.”
- “Eventually you might just find yourself skipping most of them out of boredom, which is sad, since this game has few other really strong areas that are let down by dull gameplay and boring storytelling.”
optimization
2,179 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
47%
16%
The optimization of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" has received mixed feedback from players. While many praise its ability to run smoothly on a variety of hardware, including older systems, others report significant performance issues, particularly after the "next-gen" update, which introduced stuttering and frame rate drops. Overall, the game is often described as visually stunning and well-optimized, but the recent updates have led to frustration among players due to inconsistent performance and bugs.
- “Performance: 9.5/10; it came out a decade ago and as such you can run it on a potato.”
- “The optimization is impressive, a full open-world RPG of this scope and complexity, playable on a handheld, with no major compromises.”
- “The game is very well optimized and will run quite well even on lower-end modern machines and is very stable - in my 200+ hour run I only encountered a couple of minor bugs or glitches and not a single crash.”
- “Oh and unoptimized as f***, I have medium settings in Novigrad, 30 fps.”
- “I will change my review when the performance is fixed as this makes the game almost unplayable on Steam Deck even though it is verified.”
- “This game is amazing; however, its performance is terrible. I played this on three different laptops, one had an AMD 6700S 8GB (laptop version), RTX 2060 6GB (laptop version), and finally RTX 4060 8GB (laptop version) and ran awful on all of them as well as crashed one too many times when I was playing it.”
stability
1,777 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
1%
90%
The stability of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" has been a significant point of contention among players. While many praise its overall performance and graphical fidelity, numerous reports highlight persistent bugs and glitches, particularly with character animations, horse mechanics, and quest progression. Players have experienced frequent crashes, especially when accessing menus or during specific quests, leading to frustration despite the game's rich storytelling and immersive world. Overall, while the game runs well on modern hardware, its stability issues remain a notable drawback, with many players expressing hope for future patches to address these concerns.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck, making it easy to sink into this massive world anywhere.”
- “The game runs great on Steam Deck and will blow you away with visuals if you own even a semi-modern computer.”
- “Incredibly polished, smooth, and bug free.”
- “Game crashes/freezes so much when exiting inventory it's unplayable.”
- “Full of bugs, glitches, and multiple crashes.”
- “I rate the story gameplay 9/10 and the actual playing experience, I rate the bugginess a 2/10. Bruh, so many bugs and glitches for a 10-year-old game.”
humor
1,647 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is widely praised for its clever writing and engaging dialogue, often blending dark themes with light-hearted moments. Players appreciate Geralt's dry wit and the absurdity found in various quests and NPC interactions, which can lead to genuinely funny scenarios. While some glitches add an element of humor, the game's ability to balance serious storytelling with comedic relief is a standout feature that enhances the overall experience.
- “There is also a funny reference to [spoiler] the twelve tasks of asterix in a side mission [/spoiler] which left me fully surprised and had me laughing out loud.”
- “Geralt is a cynical but fair witcher with a sharp sense of humor.”
- “The game masterfully weaves humor into its narrative.”
- “And he says it several times during the story in a monotone voice and it is supposed to be funny.”
- “Or the joke is just not funny and the quest is just tedious.”
- “It's not funny to make jokes about women's waistlines as part of a quest.”
grinding
1,621 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
29%
69%
The aspect of "grinding" in *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt* has received mixed feedback from players. Many reviewers note that while the game does require some grinding for materials, levels, and gear, it often feels rewarding and engaging rather than tedious. However, some players find certain quests and inventory management to be repetitive and cumbersome, leading to a sense of tedium, especially during extended play sessions. Overall, the game is praised for its rich storytelling and diverse quests, which help mitigate the grindy aspects commonly found in RPGs.
- “No farming really required and lots of great action and adventure.”
- “Great graphics, not grindy.”
- “Fantastic story, side quests that aren't grindy, well-written characters, it's all there.”
- “So, you have the paradox of a game that is critically acclaimed and can be enjoyable and make you stay until the end, if something clicks for you so much that you will keep grinding through, but for a large crowd, this game will feel 'boring' after the 'wow' factor once you get a sense of what it has to offer.”
- “Many quests are so tedious and poorly designed I ended up closing the game more than once.”
- “The frequent need to switch between bombs, potions, and oils could become a bit tedious at times.”
replayability
1,479 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
52%
2%
The replayability of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is widely praised, with many players highlighting its immense value due to branching storylines, multiple endings, and the impact of player choices on the narrative. Reviewers frequently mention the game's capacity for varied playthroughs, enhanced by the New Game+ feature and extensive mod support, making it a title that players return to repeatedly for new experiences. Overall, the game is regarded as one of the most replayable RPGs, offering countless hours of engaging content and exploration.
- “Your choices matter—decisions can lead to drastically different outcomes, giving the game immense replay value.”
- “Its intricate narrative and complex characters have set a new benchmark for open world RPGs, and its multiple endings give it high replayability.”
- “With its branching storylines, multiple endings, and vast amount of content, The Witcher 3 has tremendous replay value.”
- “Despite some minor flaws in melee combat and the replayability factor, it remains a must-play for any RPG enthusiast.”
- “The choices you can make in the game can change your game experience completely and therefore you have a lot of replayability.”
- “The replayability is low, in my opinion (as with most RPGs), but you can make meaningful choices in the story, but it is still the same general storyline.”
character development
975 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
Character development in "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with players noting the intricate storytelling and meaningful choices that shape relationships and outcomes throughout the game. Many reviews highlight the well-crafted characters, particularly Geralt, Ciri, and the supporting cast, whose arcs are engaging and impactful, often surpassing those found in other RPGs. While some critiques mention limitations in the skill tree and character customization, the overall consensus is that the game sets a high standard for character development in the genre, making players feel genuinely invested in the narrative and its characters.
- “The character development in this game is amazing, and I truly began to feel a sense of comfort and love for nearly all of the characters.”
- “The character development, particularly that of Geralt and Ciri, is outstanding and adds layers of depth to the story.”
- “The character development is deep and engaging, making each interaction meaningful and immersive.”
- “Character development is non-existent and there is literally nothing to spend experience points on since most game mechanics, like bombs, crossbows, potions, repair kits, etc. are still unnecessary gimmicks.”
- “The character development is limited to a handful of stale ability trees.”
- “The story drags on forever too without gaining any momentum or seeing any character development and it seems the slow pervy shots of naked people are there to cover this up and add some excitement back in the cheapest way.”
monetization
258 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
50%
41%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players praising the absence of microtransactions and loot boxes, highlighting the developer's commitment to providing a complete experience without additional costs. However, some users expressed frustration with intrusive ads from the game's launcher and noted that while the DLCs are substantial and well-crafted, the presence of ads detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as a positive example in an industry often criticized for exploitative monetization practices.
- “There are no microtransactions to detract from the experience, allowing you to fully immerse yourself without additional costs.”
- “The amount of content you get for money is astounding; there are no microtransactions, cut content sold as DLC, or any of that. You get the full game without having to spend a penny more.”
- “In a time where developers are shoveling incomplete alpha games with microtransactions in our faces at AAA title prices, CD Projekt Red is proof that the future of gaming is a bright one.”
- “Annoying launcher with ads, also trying to nudge you to create an account regularly, instead of accepting that the customer already paid for the game in the first place!”
- “Overall, fun game, just ruined by schemey cash grab types and execs at CDPR looking to scrub for your personal info and sell it.”
- “The game is great, but it's really just an advertising campaign for the real game.”

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95%Critics’ scoreBased on 30 critic reviews

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90h Median play time

129h Average play time

51h Main story

174h Completionist

30-200h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1,843 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a open world role playing game with fantasy and historical themes.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.

The main story can be completed in around 51 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 174 hours to finish. On average players spend around 129 hours playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was released on May 12, 2015.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was developed by CD PROJEKT RED.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has received very positive reviews from players and very positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a single player game.

Similar games include Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Detroit: Become Human, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and others.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

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