by We are very excited to talk about one of our favourite game franchises of all time – The Witcher. What’s better than navigating the beautiful nature of the mysterious continent and its complex politics as a hunky mutant who is able to kill every monster he encounters?
In this article, we will discuss the three games that have come out so far. We will only describe the opening event of each game in order not to spoil anything.
Background
To those of you who might not know, The Witcher games are based on the fantasy novel series The Witcher (Polish: Wiedźmin) written by Andrzej Sapkowski. The Polish author has written six novels, along with 15 short stories, detailing the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, a witcher (human mutant fighting monsters) who finds himself entangled in the Continent’s politics.
Although the books are highly original, Sapkowski also drew inspiration from Slavic myths and legends. Still, he notes that he doesn’t only rely on Slavic mythology to create his rich universe. It seems like the process of world-creation for him was one of discovery; he used what he thought worked best in a specific scenario.
The Witcher (2007)
Even though the novels were widely popular in Poland and other Central and Eastern European countries, they reached an unprecedented peak of interest when the first Witcher game came out. Developed by the Polish video game studio, CD Projekt, The Witcher game was released on 26 October 2007 to much critical and fan praise.
It should be noted that the game didn’t exactly follow any specific book of The Witcher series; instead, it portrayed the characters and places we know, along with some notable events (the logging animation depicts Geralt fighting the striga).
The story begins with Geralt waking up in Kaer Morhen (the witchers’ castle). The catch is that he had lost this memory and has to learn how to fight and how to use his supernatural abilities all over again.
This is a great way to introduce people who might not have read the books, to the world of The Witcher as the player learns how to be a witcher alongside Geralt. Discover how to kill monsters, brew potions, and master the signs together.
What was revolutionary for a 2007 game was the rich plot and the way in which each interaction could change the course of it. The world and the characters are also portrayed in a nuanced way that heightens the realism. The graphics are also remarkable for 2007 and they look just as amazing in 2022.
There are five chapters, along with a prologue, that contain primary and side quests. We recommend playing the side quests before you have to face a hard-to-beat boss, so you gain experience.
The Witcher (2007) is available for Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10, macOS (newer versions don’t support the game yet), and Linux.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Four years later, on 17 May 2011, the second game, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, came out, again developed by CD Projekt. The game starts in a similar mysterious way as its predecessor. This time, Geralt finds himself in prison with the charge of killing King Foltest of Temeria. Geralt has to prove his innocence and meanwhile find the true assassins.
The second game is more complicated than the first one in terms of game controls and the things Geralt can do. The Witcher 2 offers a much more complex combat that now includes setting traps and throwing weapons at enemies. Geralt can also enter stealth mode to remain undetected. In addition, Geralt’s abilities (swordsmanship, alchemy, magic) can now be improved to deliver better results when used.
There are three chapters and a prologue in the game, but don’t let that deceive you; there are more than enough quests. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is available for Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10, macOS (not available yet for newer versions), Linux, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. There’s also an enhanced version you can purchase.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, developed by CD Projekt, came out on 18 May, 2015 and it immediately took the gaming world by storm. For many players, this was the first Witcher game they ever played. The graphics are breath-taking, while the gameplay is further improved and the plot contains many more twists and turns.
The game starts with Geralt sharing a room with his love interest, the witch Yennefer in White Orchard. However, she disappears and Geralt begins his quest to find her. At the same time, he dreams of Kaer Morhen and Ciri, the Child of Prophecy, who also disappeared when the Wild Hunt attacked the witchers’ stronghold.
Geralt and accompanied by his teacher, Vesemir, on his journey to track the two women he loves, while the threat of the Wild Hunt is towering over him.
The Witcher 3 introduced an open world, which was a much-awaited feature. Not only that, but the map is 35 times larger than the one in The Witcher 2. There’s so much more to explore and the player is encouraged to do just that with the abundance of side quests, especially if you purchase the enhanced version, along with the expansions, and the DLC’s.
The economic system of the game is improved, along with the weather conditions. The combat offers more options than previously, and the Witcher signs now have two modes, which allows for more flexibility.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available for Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and soon for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
