In May 2025, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt celebrates its tenth anniversary. Over the decades, the game has not only maintained its cult status, but has also firmly established itself as a benchmark for role-playing game developers. It has formed the standard by which players began to evaluate other open-world RPGs: from the depth of side quests to the quality of dialogue. And while the first two parts remained mostly local hits, the third has become a global phenomenon - with a fan base on all continents and platforms, and translated into dozens of languages. It was The Witcher 3 that attracted the attention of the general public to the original novels of Andrzej Sapkowski, and contributed to the emergence of the Netflix series. The success of this game set a high bar, which now has to be overcome not only by other developers, but also by CD Projekt RED itself.
Origins of the legend: a brief history of The Witcher series
The story of The Witcher began not with a game, but with fantasy books by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. Geralt of Rivia first appeared in the story "The Witcher", which was written for the competition of the monthly magazine "Fantastika" in 1983. The work took only third place, but became the basis for the collection of stories "The Witcher. The Last Wish", which was published in 1993. Interestingly, this first story literally repeats the plot of Roman Zmorski's story "The Witcher" (1852), but breaks traditional fairy-tale stereotypes with a completely new hero - a professional who kills monsters for money.
By the early 2000s, when the Polish CD Projekt created the development studio CD Projekt RED, two collections of short stories and five novels about The Witcher had already been published. Without exaggeration, at that time it was the most popular fantasy series in Poland and some neighboring countries, so it is logical that in 2002 CD Projekt RED acquired the rights to create video games based on Sapkowski's books, and for a ridiculous even then 35,000 zlotys (approximately $9,500).
After a difficult initial development period, the acquisition of the Aurora Engine from BioWare, in 2007 CD Projekt RED finally released the first The Witcher. A worthy transfer of Sapkowski's books into game form, the game impressed primarily with its plot and complex moral questions that the player had to solve. The first The Witcher had a unique combat system and was partly because of this a purely computer game. Despite its technical flaws, it received positive reviews for its narrative and worldbuilding.
In 2011, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings was released. The second part had improved graphics, a more traditional combat system, and a cinematic presentation of the plot. But the main difference of the series - difficult moral choices, none of which are good, remained. The console release on Xbox 360 brought the game international recognition and became a step towards global success.
But it was The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, released in May 2015, that made the series a true legend. The game was released on PC and consoles, won hundreds of Game of the Year awards and sold over 50 million copies (14-16th place on the list of the most successful games of all time), making CD Projekt RED a world-class developer. It also divided video game history into a "before" and "after".
A world you wanted to escape to. Heroes you empathized with
The open world of The Witcher 3 was not just a decoration for markers on the map - it was a living world, full of human destinies, tragedies, humor, politics and very serious topics. Each quest, even side ones, had narrative weight - this is what made it iconic. Against the backdrop of the then "empty" open-world games from Ubisoft or Bethesda, the world of Velen, Skellige and Novigrad was striking in its believability. The Witcher 3 bet on density, not size - and won. The focus was on hand-crafted stories and situations, rather than an attempt to simulate life, as was the case in RPGs from the same Bethesda. Some people love The Elder Scrolls series and the three-dimensional Fallout parts precisely for random events and funny situations, but hand-crafted quests and other activities in the world of The Witcher dragged them into the game for hundreds of hours.
But there is another reason why people return to this game again and again - it is its main character. Geralt, played by Doug Kokl, has become the embodiment of a mature, tired hero who still strives to do the right thing, despite his own cynicism. His story is not a path from weak to powerful, but the journey of a person who already knows the price of everything and tries to remain himself in a world that requires compromises, including with his own conscience.
By participating in important scenario decisions, the player felt that he was not just "controlling the character", but was also shaping and shaping this world with him - making decisions that changed not only the ending of the game, but also its entire emotional coloring. The intimate stories of the characters, complex moral dilemmas, sincerity in presenting romantic and political themes - all this gave a feeling of authenticity. A very skillful combination of role-playing, because this is an RPG after all, and compliance with your archetype create a unique impression of the game. In The Witcher 3 you did not play as Geralt, you were Geralt.
However, the strength of The Witcher 3 is not only in the witcher himself. His surroundings, friends and enemies are full-fledged living personalities. Ciri, over whom the player periodically takes control, is a combination of strength, vulnerability and the complex fate of the chosen one, who did not want to be the center of this world. Yennefer is sharp, domineering, but deeply devoted. She embodies the complex female role in game narratives. Triss is gentle, but politically active, demonstrating how personal feelings, loyalty and love can be intertwined with large-scale political processes, intrigues and the struggle for power.
Even the secondary characters have a distinct personality and dramatic function. Vesemir is not just a mentor, but a symbol of tradition, memory and paternal care, which painfully contrasts with the cruelty of the world. His relationship with Geralt and Ciri reveals a deep attachment and true kinship between the witchers. Zoltan is not a typical comic companion, but a veteran who has seen it all: he combines humor and life wisdom, and is often the only one who can defuse the tense atmosphere without losing respect. Dandelion is a loyal friend and bard who not only accompanies Geralt, but also gives the game the necessary dose of humor, lightness and humanity. His songs have become a symbol of the game, and the dynamics of their friendship with Geralt are one of the most sincere in the world of video games. Despite his artistic nature, Dandelion has repeatedly shown himself to be a loyal and brave ally, and his participation in key plot moments often becomes an emotional catalyst.
Interestingly, most of these characters have their literary prototypes, but in the game they are not just transferred from the books - they are rethought, adapted and deepened. CD Projekt RED took the courage to interpret the characters, add nuances and even change the tone of some relationships. And despite this, or because of this, many players perceive the game characters as the main, canonical ones. As a result, the game did not betray the spirit of Sapkowski's works, but rather helped his world become even deeper in the perception of fans around the world.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the few games where interacting with characters feels like a real encounter. It's a world where you don't just participate in the story, you build relationships.
Heritage
The success of The Witcher 3 resonated far beyond the RPG genre. The third installment in the series demonstrated that story-driven games with deep characters and complex plots could be commercially successful on a global scale. This inspired studios to create more ambitious narratives: Rockstar bet on the dramatic story of Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2, Guerrilla Games turned to deeper lore in Horizon Zero Dawn, and Ubisoft reconsidered the approach to quests and the genre affiliation of the Assassin's Creed series in general.
The success of the game also affected the brand's media presence: Netflix released the series The Witcher, which, although based on Sapkowski's books, became possible precisely thanks to the popularity of the game. It also shaped the image of Geralt in popular culture - with brutal charisma, a deep voice and an internal code of honor. Actor Henry Cavill, who played the Witcher in the first seasons of the Netflix series, has repeatedly said that it was thanks to the game that he became a fan of the universe.
On the eve of the release of The Witcher 3, Dark Horse Comics and CD Projekt have launched a series of very good comics that expand the lore of the universe. The latest arc to date, The Bear and the Butterfly, began publication on April 23, 2025. In addition, there are anime series and many other media. Some are continuations of Sapkowski's already well-known stories, some are small stories that expand on game moments, and some depict Geralt in the unusual guise of a Japanese ronin. And they all owe their popularity precisely to the success of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
After the moderate success of the first two parts of The Witcher, even Andrzej Sapkowski, who seemed to have abandoned the series in the late 1990s, returned to his heroes. In 2013, a new novel, "Season of Thunder," was released, and in 2024, another, "The Path of Ravens." Needless to say, sales of Sapkowski's books in the West increased significantly after the release of The Witcher 3. Sapkowski had long complained that he had been cheapened by the rights to The Witcher, so CD Projekt eventually settled the matter with the author by paying him additional royalties .
Among other things, The Witcher 3 rehabilitated the European school of development, proving that a studio from Poland can create a world-class game. This opened the door for other studios from Central and Eastern Europe, such as 11 bit studios, Flying Wild Hog, CI Games. CDPR became not just a studio, but a symbol of creative breakthrough.
Why couldn't others?
Many studios have tried to replicate The Witcher 3's formula for success, and almost none have achieved the same effect. The aforementioned Assassin's Creed: Origins and Horizon Zero Dawn, GreedFall and Biomutant all attempted to combine open worlds with a good narrative, but they lacked the depth that CD Projekt RED created. Other studios copied the superficial features: a large map, dialogue trees, points of interest on the map or a system of choices, but without any real emotional weight and value for the player.
Even Cyberpunk 2077, the studio's next project, disappointed many players upon release. Despite its expansive world and technical ambitions, the game's narrative felt less deep than The Witcher 3, and the plot was almost linear. Dialogue choices had limited impact, which was contrary to the expectations of fans of the series. At the same time, the game impressed with its stage production, strong characters, and charismatic acting - in particular, the role of Johnny Silvergand, played by Keanu Reeves.
Over time, CDPR significantly improved the technical part of the game, and the Phantom Liberty DLC added plot tension and drama, which significantly raised the general perception of the game among critics and players. However, even after all the changes, Cyberpunk remained less flexible and variable. This is precisely where the uniqueness of the balance achieved in The Witcher 3 is revealed: between openness, the importance of player choices and emotional depth. This formula can be tried to be recreated, but so far no one has succeeded.
The Witcher IV – a new chapter or a repeat?
The new project in the Witcher series, known under the codename Polaris, was officially announced as The Witcher IV in December 2024. But will it be able to emerge from the shadow of the third part? CDPR will have to choose: either try to recreate the magic of the past, or radically rethink the structure of the game. Geralt is no longer at the center of the plot, and the main character will be Ciri, connecting the new part of the franchise with its legacy. For those who have read the books, this is an expected turn, because with all the importance of Geralt, it is Ciri who is the foundation of this universe. The world has changed: players expect a different pace of events, innovations in the combat system, new approaches to solving moral issues, which can not only change the ending of the game, but should affect the entire gameplay.
The Witcher IV has a chance if it doesn't try to surpass the third part, which seems simply impossible, but continues its ideas - in a different way, with new heroes and moral challenges. Otherwise, the decade of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will remain just a reminder of the highest peak that CD Projekt managed to conquer.
CD Projekt RED celebrates its anniversary
CD Projekt RED is celebrating the tenth anniversary of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with a massive campaign spanning both online events and live performances. The first step was a touching thank you trailer, in which the developers reminded players of key moments of the game and expressed their gratitude to the community. In a special REDstreams episode, actor Doug Cockle shared memories of voicing Geralt and the role of the game in his life.
Artists who have worked on The Witcher universe over the years also joined the celebrations. Their anniversary works were released on prints, t-shirts and metal canvases in partnership with Displate. The Witcher in Concert concert tour, which starts in the US and Poland, will offer viewers a symphonic show with visual accompaniment, culminating in a performance at Gamescom 2025.
And what was your favorite part of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt? How many hours did you spend playing this game? What stories and events in The Witcher 3 really moved you? Write in the comments.