The quality ofThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntcontinues to stand up as the game rapidly approaches being a decade old. Soon enough, fans will be treated to tenth-anniversary talks that reminisce about the incredible world and storytelling that gamers got to experience inThe Witcher 3. The fondness that many players have forThe Witcher 3is also supported by its critical success. In 2015, it won Game of the Year awards at almost every major awards showcase.The Witcher 3pulled a lot of people in with its hype, but most stayed because it also delivered on many of its promises.
Doing so left veteran and new players alike yearning for a follow-up toThe Witcherseries. The franchise itself started in books before being adapted across other media, like video games, and now has a successful streaming series on Netflix. While each of these entries interpretsThe Witcherstories differently, they all share major beats. The world, monsters, characters, and relationships that are portrayed help to build the story ofThe Witcherup and make Geralt an even more engaging character. There are a lot of implications ina new saga forThe Witchergames, but one thing it will need to do is incorporate the strongest aspects ofThe Witcher 3.
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Character Relationships in The Witcher
Incorporating successful elements fromThe Witcher 3doesn’t have to mean copying every aspect of the game. The next installment inThe Witcherseries of games would probably do well to make some significant changes. Moving away fromGeralt of Riviain the next chapter of theWitchersaga could help the new game stand out. As loved as his character is, and as important as his relationship with Ciri becomes acrossThe Witcherfranchise, Geralt’s time as the playable character should come to an end. His ability to build relationships with others shouldn’t be left behind, though.
A major part ofthe best open-world gameslikeThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntis how interactive the world itself feels. The world inThe Witcher 3feels alive not just because of the hidden secrets and unique encounters that players have, but also because of how Geralt relates to other characters. Despite the idea of Witchers being rather emotionless, and Geralt remaining neutral, it’s clear that he has a sense of right and wrong. This is amplified by the player’s decisions during a run-through and helps bringThe Witcher 3to life.
Everything from quests to major romance options, likeGeralt and Triss’s relationship, can have consequences down the line. Some of these may feel benign or go unnoticed, but other ones can have major ramifications that aren’t felt until much later in the game. Each of them, however, is part of what madeThe Witcher 3such a great experience. Learning from these relationships to incorporate captivating and relevant storylines between characters in the nextWitchershould be a primary goal. How the player’s character interacts with the world around them shouldn’t exist in a stagnant state, and actions early on should be allowed to snowball into a major interpersonal decision later in the game.
Side Quests in the next Witcher
The same can be said for side quests in the nextWitchergame. Much like romance and character relationships, there were several side quests inThe Witcher 3that could affect the world players engaged in.AWitcher 3side-quest from the Blood and Wine expansioninvolving Vivienne has even taken seven in-game years to unfold, with players just having discovered its outcome. Details like this that play into the fates of the different characters gamers can meet throughout the world are as important as the lively relationships that Geralt develops inThe Witcher 3.
They inform the world and add an extra layer of depth to the game. They might not all be story-altering quests that have profound effects on the late game, but they do add details that help to bring the story to life. How a character is used can speak to more than just the individuals within a narrative, and the whole world ofThe Witcher 3is filled with it, as the side quests of the game act as an important mortar. This is part of what’s madeThe Witcher 3one ofthe best action RPGs, and it should serve as a foundational blueprint for the nextWitchergame.
The consequence that’s present in this side quest as well as many portions of the main quest line inThe Witcher 3should also be tapped into. Feeling the effects of different actions taken during the narrative makes each player’s choice feel all the more important. While the different branching choices inThe Witcher 3largely revolved around Geralt’s relationship with Ciri, as well as his romances with Yen and Triss, in the nextWitcher, this concept should be given even more depth.The newestWitchersagashould take what was learned from these mechanics inThe Witcher 3and allow for more consequence and flexibility throughout the player’s chosen path on a playthrough.
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Gwent
Despite everything big thatThe Witcher 3does, the nextWitchershould also work to keep all of its charm intact. Gwent was a great way to explore the world and interact with characters that otherwise might not have a role. It added to Geralt’s character, and while a throwaway to some, Gwent as a whole became an incredibly important part ofThe Witcher 3to many. News thattheGwentdirector will lead development on the newWitchermakes the game’s return probable.
New cards are a must, but the mini-game should also be allowed to flourish under the conditions it was already provided.The newWitchergamecould benefit by increasing the number of players, and even Gwent tournaments that can be encountered, but using it as a way to encourage fans to search out the little details in a town or location should continue to be its driving mechanic. In all, there’s a lot thatThe Witcher 3did well that the nextWitchertitle should pay attention to, but it should also strive to be its own game that builds on the best aspects in meaningful ways.
A newThe Witchergame is in development.
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