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Let's celebrate ten years of The Witcher 3!

May 19, 2025

Geralt seated with Olgierd

If you are confused by the title of this post, it is only because you haven't played the greatest video game of all time. If you do desire an explanation, here is a very short video of an NPC singing this classic tune.

I bought The Witcher 3 a few months after it was released in 2015. I had no prior experience playing either of the first two games, nor had I read the books at that point. All I knew was that the game looked cool and it was getting positive reviews on Steam. When I started playing it, I was hooked instantly by the beautiful scenery, interesting characters and amazing musical score.

Geralt standing on the shore
The Bloody Baron gazes at a botchling
Novigrad buildings
Busy square in Novigrad
Geralt standing near ruins
Triss Merigold gazing at Geralt
the three ugly crones standing in a row
Geralt walking towards the sun
A troll standing next to a cauldron
Yennefer with a questioning look on her face
Geralt kneeling before a place of power
Ciri giving an intense gaze.

I apparently took over 3,000 screenshots in my most recent play-through because there are so few moments in this game that aren't photo worthy. I amassed quite the collection of peaceful scenes, action scenes, landscapes, nudes (what?), portraits and more.

Yennefer gazing
Lambert sitting at a table with drink in hand
Geralt slicing a man in half
Geralt gazing at Kaer Morhen from a distance
Skjall as a zombie
Geralt standing in a spooky forest
Iris and Olgierd seated in a flashback scene
Gaunter O'Dimm speaking to Geralt and Olgierd.
Geralt and Ciri seated on a cliff
Vivienne in her bird form
Regis, Orianna and Dettlaff
Fairy tale setting with Syanna and Geralt

Below is one of my favorite pieces of music from the Blood and Wine DLC but the entire musical score is beautiful.

People on Reddit often ask if this game still holds up. Yes, it absolutely does. Do not rush through this game. Do not skip the DLCs. Every moment of this game is an absolute masterpiece. The characters are well-developed with rich backstories and plenty of personality flaws. They are practically begging to be helped, or by some less forgiving players—punished. I love a good redemption story so I always aim to help the characters that need it most.

Ever since I first played this game, I have tried to find similar games and there really is nothing like it. I've tried a few of the recommended so-called similar games but most of them feel like they take place in vast, empty worlds and don't feel "lived in" like the world in this game. I am very excited to see what happens next with Ciri as the main protagonist in The Witcher 4 (please don't pull a Disney and kill off our favorite characters).

Though newer games will continue to evolve and advance with technology, The Witcher 3's story, characters, music and scenery will keep it alive forever. I know I will revisit it again and again just to say hi to old friends.

❚

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