With the recent success The Witcher series on Netflix, many people have started to look into the video games that inspired the show for the first time. But what’s so great about these games anyway, and what sets them apart from other RPG titles?
Over the years there have been many fantastic games that have been released, from action games, shooter games, RPGs, and simulation games. Along with The Witcher, there are other 18+ rated fantasy games available on consoles and online, as well as a host of crossovers into casino gaming with titles like Nordic Heroes and Immortal Romance. Fantasy role playing games have proven to be quite popular over the years with gaming enthusiasts, especially games such as Skyrim and World of Warcraft.
One of the most influential and popular RPGs that has been released is The Witcher. The truth is, none have made quite the impact that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has had on the genre. It is one of those generational games that has helped to push the entire genre forward.
While both The Witcher and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings offered exceptional RPG gameplay, characters, and story, it wasn’t until The Wild Hunt when CD Projekt Red truly hit its stride.
Here are some of the main reasons why The Witcher series has become one of the best role-playing games in the gaming industry.
1. Story & Characters
An RPG is only as good as its story and characters and The Witcher doesn’t disappoint when it comes to either. This is largely why Netflix adapted The Witcher series into a Netflix original TV show. The game series has everything that you would want in a story including emotional moments, solid character dynamics, game-altering in-game decisions, and more.
You will likely find Geralt and Ciri’s relationship extremely moving and the game does a great job of continuing to build on the characters throughout the entirety of it. Along with this, you will find all kinds of romantic relationships available for Geralt throughout the game which are very well fleshed out and it can make things feel much more realistic.
2. Side Quests
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for Xbox One allows you to explore an open fantasy world and play as Geralt, a highly trained monster slayer for hire. This story-driven RPG is set in a stunning fantasy universe where players don’t just have to stick to the main story of the game.
This leads us to the second thing gaming developers are able to nail with The Witcher 3 – the side quests. Virtually every side quest you will find in the game is engaging and worth completing. There will be times when you even forget that you are on a side quest. Some might even say that these intriguing side quests are arguably more fleshed out and better in terms of story than the actual base game itself. No other game gets side quests right quite like The Witcher as you can have endless hours of fun without even touching the main mission.
While the game is a huge open world, it is largely an RPG game at its core. You will find all kinds of RPG elements throughout the game which make continuing to play the game rewarding each time you turn it on.
3. Visuals
One of the many reasons why The Witcher games series is an excellent RPG to play is because of the stunning visuals. Since the release of the first game, visuals have gotten better with time to create an exciting and visually stunning gameplay for gamers. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is considered as one of the best video games of all time and has received many awards and accolades since its release.
Back in 2015, the game even received five gaming awards at the Golden Joystick Awards including Best Storytelling and Best Visual Design. While the game was released for Xbox One, Playstation 4 and Windows back in 2015, Nintendo has also recently come on board in October last year and released The Wild Hunt on Nintendo Switch.
Over time there have also been new models of the Xbox One that can really help enhance gameplay and visuals. Whether you are playing on the Xbox One S model or the Xbox One X, stunning 4K really helps to deliver a captivating gaming experience. It offers some of the best visuals you will find anywhere. The Xbox One S is one of the best consoles in 4K entertainment with outstanding HDR graphics, 4K resolution and spatial audio.
Overall, The Witcher series truly hits the pinnacle of what an RPG should be today. The first and second installments of the game were both exceptional. However, they never truly hit everything that you would want in an RPG for some reason or other.
Now, with the stunning visual fidelity offered by the Xbox One X and Xbox One S, developers like CD Projekt Red can push the envelope more than ever before with their graphics to produce a realistic and captivating game.
In all, The Witcher game series has everything that you will ever need: realistic visuals, fantastic story, and its intricate and compelling gameplay, which makes it one of the best role-playing games to experience.
