The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 209,292 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game Cover
The Witcher 3 is probably the best open-world RPG ever made, but it still falls prey to some of the genre’s worst traps.
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"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.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
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  • Gog Com
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  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 209,292 reviews
story33,976 positive mentions
stability1,393 negative mentions
  • story72,347 mentions

    The story of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is widely praised for its depth, complexity, and emotional resonance, with many players highlighting the engaging main quest centered around Geralt's search for his adopted daughter, Ciri. Side quests are often described as equally compelling, featuring rich narratives and moral dilemmas that enhance the overall experience, making them feel integral to the game's world rather than mere distractions. While some players note pacing issues and a convoluted plot at times, the game's storytelling, character development, and immersive atmosphere are consistently celebrated as standout elements that set a high standard for narrative-driven RPGs.

    • “The storytelling and atmosphere are breathtaking.”
    • “The RPG storytelling is nothing short of great, weaving a rich narrative that immerses players in a world filled with intricate characters and compelling quests.”
    • “The storytelling in The Witcher 3 and its DLCs are among the best narratives out there.”
    • “The story is unnecessarily convoluted, sometimes outright bland, and for a game where story is such an integral part, I did not find any joy in progressing through the main quest because of boring subplots.”
    • “The main story feels like a means to travel all the landmass available in the world, and you will spend way more quality time doing the side quests to minimize the time doing the main quest and you’ll find yourself eventually becoming really overleveled.”
    • “The main story is very disappointing (and way too long) coming from witcher 1 and 2, but side stories and gameplay are top notch.”
  • graphics17,737 mentions

    The graphics of *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt* are widely praised as stunning and immersive, with many players noting that they still hold up remarkably well even years after the game's initial release in 2015. The recent graphical updates, including ray tracing and enhanced textures, have further elevated the visual experience, making it comparable to modern titles. Despite some minor graphical glitches and performance issues, the game's detailed environments, character models, and atmospheric effects contribute to its reputation as a visual masterpiece in the RPG genre.

    • “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt stands as a masterpiece, captivating players with its phenomenal graphics that bring the game's world to life in breathtaking detail.”
    • “The graphical prowess of The Witcher 3 was groundbreaking upon its release, and it still holds up remarkably well.”
    • “Whether riding through a dense forest shrouded in fog or engaging in a swordfight under the moonlight, the game consistently delivers stunning visuals that enhance the overall experience.”
    • “Randomly and frequently seems to think everything is underwater, graphics-wise.”
    • “Its perfect except for the crashing part, it seems to do that when I make the graphics high because of my RTX 4060 Ti or overclocking and my PC is high end so I know it's not from my end, plz fix this devs it's annoying to reload the game every hour.”
    • “The graphics upgrade makes a difference but still that same great game.”
  • gameplay17,134 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is a mix of praise and criticism, with many players appreciating its immersive world, engaging story, and character depth. However, some find the combat mechanics repetitive and clunky, particularly the horse riding and movement controls, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game is often lauded for its rich narrative and extensive content, making it a standout title in the RPG genre.

    • “Absolutely amazing gameplay.”
    • “This game is just something else for me when talking about RPGs. I love everything about this game; its world amazed me in a way very few games could. The combat never felt repetitive to me, and after over 80+ hours of gameplay, I still feel like there is stuff to do in this world, problems to solve, and people to help. What I love about this is that even though I feel like there is a lot to do, I have this feeling that I've accomplished a lot during my playthrough, therefore not feeling like 80+ hours of empty gameplay.”
    • “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt stands as a testament to the heights that video games can achieve in terms of storytelling, world-building, and gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay and combat are repetitive and boring.”
    • “The gameplay is a bit clunky but engaging when everything clicks.”
    • “The combat mechanics are simple, the game is fairly easy.”
  • music6,559 mentions

    The music in "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is widely praised for its haunting beauty and emotional depth, with many reviewers highlighting how it enhances the game's atmosphere and storytelling. The soundtrack, composed by Marcin Przybyłowicz and others, features a mix of orchestral and folk elements that perfectly complement the diverse environments and situations throughout the game. While some players noted that certain tracks can become repetitive over long play sessions, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the immersive experience of the game.

    • “The music is especially haunting combined with the atmospheric sounds and has a huge emotional impact on every moment.”
    • “The game's soundtrack is another jewel in its crown, perfectly complementing the atmosphere and adding emotional depth to every scene.”
    • “The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, composed by Marcin Przybyłowicz and Mikolai Stroinski, resonates with the soulful melodies sung during the long nights in Skellige.”
    • “The music is very repetitive and needs to be turned down or off in places like dungeons to give the scene a better atmosphere.”
    • “There's repetitive music with the same song playing over and over until you leave that area, then it's another song playing over and over.”
    • “The music gets stuck in your head.”
  • atmosphere2,066 mentions

    The atmosphere of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is widely praised for its breathtaking detail, immersive world-building, and emotional depth. Players highlight the game's stunning graphics, haunting soundtrack, and the rich, atmospheric environments that vary from vibrant cities to dark, foreboding swamps, all of which contribute to a deeply engaging experience. The attention to detail in character interactions and the integration of Slavic folklore further enhance the game's unique atmosphere, making it a standout in the RPG genre.

    • “The atmosphere, the love in little details, the sheer amount of content and painstakingly designed little locations, dialogues and whatnot is mind blowing.”
    • “The attention to detail in character models, environments, and weather effects contributes to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack by Marcin Przybyłowicz complements the game's atmosphere perfectly, eliciting emotions that range from melancholy to exhilaration.”
    • “The high point of the game are the opening cinematics which create a sense of urgency and a world hanging precariously on the brink, but it's all downhill from there and the atmosphere quickly fizzles out to nothing.”
    • “The atmosphere is quite dark & gritty and unapologetically amoral with its rich story and engaging combat along with its spectacular visuals and graphics.”
    • “The atmosphere is dark and depressing at times, and it also shifts depending on the area.”
  • optimization1,908 mentions

    The optimization of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" has received mixed reviews, particularly following the next-gen update, which many players report has significantly degraded performance, causing stuttering and frame rate drops even on high-end systems. While some users have noted that the game runs well on lower settings or with specific tweaks, the overall sentiment indicates that the game is currently poorly optimized, especially in areas with high NPC density. Despite these issues, the game's visuals and storytelling continue to be praised, with some players recommending reverting to earlier versions for a better experience.

    • “On PS5, this game runs incredibly well in performance mode with a very stable 60fps and some incredible retexturing.”
    • “Despite the game's massive scale and expansive scope, the technical performance is remarkably stable.”
    • “The enhanced performance and smoother gameplay across the board have breathed new life into the experience.”
    • “Awful PC performance: 30-40 fps on RTX 3080 & i7 11700k.”
    • “Ridiculously bad next-gen update with a DX12 mode that is running a lot worse than DX11 due to badly optimized CPU usage.”
    • “The next-gen update introduced an extremely unoptimized DX12 API that heavily under-utilizes the CPU, causing huge performance loss not present in the pre-patch DX11 Witcher 3.”
  • emotional1,784 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is widely praised, with players highlighting its deeply engaging narrative, complex character relationships, and impactful choices that resonate long after gameplay. Many reviews note the game's ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, from joy to heartbreak, particularly through memorable quests like the Bloody Baron storyline and the father-daughter dynamic between Geralt and Ciri. The haunting soundtrack and immersive world further enhance the emotional experience, making it a standout title that leaves a lasting impression on players.

    • “The writing and voice acting, particularly by Doug Cockle as Geralt, breathe life into the characters, making them memorable and emotionally resonant.”
    • “The bloody Baron questline, in particular, is often cited as a shining example of the game's ability to tackle complex and emotional themes.”
    • “The main story is a well-written and emotionally resonant tale of family, loss, and redemption, while the side quests are often just as engaging and rewarding.”
    • “A depressing and frustrating experience with a boring story, bland quests, and an empty open world that makes you wanna close the game after 5 minutes because even staring at a wall is more exciting.”
    • “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.”
    • “Not even the different endings could save the game's very boring story.”
  • stability1,558 mentions

    The stability of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" has been a mixed bag for players, with many reporting a range of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. While some players have experienced a mostly smooth experience with only minor issues, others have encountered significant problems, including crashes, freezing, and unresponsive controls, particularly with the horse mechanics. Overall, while the game is praised for its storytelling and world-building, its stability remains a concern, with many players noting that the glitches, though often humorous, can detract from the immersive experience.

    • “I didn’t play this until several years after release, so I had the fortune of a bug-free and smooth experience.”
    • “The game is 99.9% bug-free and highly optimized.”
    • “Incredibly polished, smooth, and bug-free.”
    • “This game is so incredibly buggy.”
    • “The game was plagued with bugs and glitches, and I experienced over 30 crashes during my playthrough.”
    • “Game crashes every other minute, not a performance issue, just too many glitches.”
  • humor1,410 mentions

    The humor in "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is a standout feature, blending dark themes with witty dialogue and comedic moments that often catch players off guard. Geralt's dry wit and the quirky interactions with NPCs contribute to a rich tapestry of humor that balances the game's more serious elements, making for an engaging and entertaining experience. Players frequently mention the amusing side quests and unexpected funny glitches, which enhance the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The game captures a very dark theme but it also has just the perfect amount of humor in it.”
    • “Please do me a favor and do not go to bed, you have to continue the scene until the end, it is extremely funny and I promise you will laugh alone in front of your screen.”
    • “The writing was superb, offering witty humor, poignant moments, and thought-provoking dilemmas that kept me engaged throughout.”
    • “It's not funny to make jokes about women's waistlines as part of a quest.”
    • “The controls in this game are so stupid it's not funny.”
    • “For drunks, it usually is tediously boring and unfunny.”
  • grinding1,385 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" has received mixed feedback from players. Many find the game to be quite grindy, especially when pursuing 100% completion or specific achievements, with tedious tasks such as inventory management, crafting, and repetitive side quests. However, others appreciate the depth and variety of the quests, stating that they rarely feel like traditional grinding, as the engaging story and character interactions often keep the experience enjoyable despite the grindy elements. Overall, while some players feel the game can be tedious at times, many still find it rewarding and immersive.

    • “Played Witcher 2 a long time ago, and Witcher 3's immersive story and game mechanics (aka no grinding harpy's for loot) have a marked improvement.”
    • “As an RPG, Witcher 3 does have levels, experience, and skills, but there is no grinding.”
    • “Loed every minute of this game, not grindy, not too much of any one thing, all of it is just right.”
    • “For me, this game is way too grindy and it just sucks the fun out of it.”
    • “The only downside for me was a lot of content in the open world that becomes tedious after a while.”
    • “Some quests are tedious, long, and just boring.”
  • replayability1,293 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, largely due to its branching narratives, meaningful player choices, and multiple endings that encourage players to explore different paths. Many reviewers highlight the vast amount of content, including side quests and character interactions, which contribute to a rich and immersive experience that invites multiple playthroughs. Additionally, the presence of a vibrant modding community and the New Game+ feature further enhance the game's replay value, making it a standout title in the RPG genre.

    • “Incredible game with rich story, well fleshed out characters, beautiful scenery and a high replayability value.”
    • “The game's branching narrative offers multiple possible outcomes, giving players a sense of ownership and allowing for replayability.”
    • “With so many hours you could potentially sink into the game, tons of content, massive open world, superb storytelling, voice acting & music design; and high replayability thanks to the multiple endings based on your choices in the game.”
    • “The game doesn't have too much replayability though and you'd probably get tired after 3 or 4 playthroughs.”
    • “This game is too good, so good that it was ruined for me, once I started playing I couldn't stop and two weeks later I've completed about 90% of the main and side content, amazing, but I completely burned out after the first run, the game lacks replayability, but compensates with a super long first run (188 hours for me + DLC).”
    • “The witcher 3 also is simply put horrible when it comes to story of this game, it doesn't give you enough choice when it comes to the dialogue options and doesn't compare to the replayability of the TV show.”
  • character development852 mentions

    Character development in "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is widely praised for its depth and intricacy, with players noting that both main and side characters are well-crafted, featuring rich backstories and meaningful interactions. The game's narrative allows for significant player choices that impact character relationships and story outcomes, enhancing emotional engagement. Many reviews highlight the exceptional writing and voice acting, which contribute to a compelling and immersive experience, making the character development a standout feature of the game.

    • “What truly sets The Witcher 3 apart, however, is its narrative depth and character development.”
    • “The character development is phenomenal, even side characters are a great treasure of conversation, romance, and comedic relief, as well as some heartfelt and wholesome moments.”
    • “The character development is exceptional, with well-crafted NPCs adding depth to the rich lore.”
    • “Characters are so flat and there are hardly any character development at all.”
    • “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 main negatives are the clunky and repetitive combat, the overload of bugs, the weird limitation of the character development gameplay-wise and an unbalanced character individuality.”
  • monetization221 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many praising its lack of microtransactions and the presence of substantial, meaningful DLC that adds significant content without feeling like a cash grab. However, some players express disappointment over perceived cash grab elements, such as a clickbait title and a launcher that serves ads. Overall, the game is often highlighted as a refreshing exception in an industry plagued by exploitative monetization practices.

    • “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.”
    • “Amazing game, no scummy monetization practices, lots of free DLC, and paid DLC adds hours of new content that's completely worth the price they ask, if not more.”
    • “In a world where Activision and EA want to screw over consumers, CD Projekt Red remains honest and truthful with reasonable DLC and no microtransactions, and this is something that consumers should be rewarding.”
    • “Sad that this game has a clickbait title that makes it feel like a cash grab game.”
    • “Overall, it is a fantastic, timeless and ageless semi-RPG experience visually, gameplay-wise and story-wise for the player inundated with copy-pasted missions, lazy writing and shameless in-game cash grabs.”
    • “And the pointless 'launcher' to serve ads they added prior to starting the game is just a smack in the face.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

91% average critic score

Buy The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Play time

90hMedian play time
132hAverage play time
51hMain story
174hCompletionist
30-189hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1,613 analyzed playthroughs

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