The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition

I've been gaming for some 25 years now and as I get older it becomes more difficult to really get lost in another world the way I would as a kid. I thought maybe it was just a natural part of maturing but playing the Witcher 3 made me realize that it's more to do with narrative motifs that don't engage me anymore and gameplay mechanics that attempt a 1 size fits all approach. This game doesn't try to be for everyone and it shines in that; it deals with mature themes working from an extensive (although more hit and miss) source material and succesfully gamifies them without detracting from them. Get lost in it, it's worth it.

I bought the game as soon as it was available in my country and re-bought the GOTY too after it got released. Completed it 3-4 times and still... can't get enough of it. Simply the best game I have ever played!

Witcher 3 is roughly as big as Fallout 4 or Skyrim in terms of hours of gameplay - about 200 hours from the base game and 80 hours from the DLC if you are thorough. The combat mechanics aren't as good as those in the two Bethesda games, but the storytelling in Witcher 3 is a notch above everything else I've seen. Many of the storylines in the main and side quests involve moral decisions that are more nuanced and thought-provoking than what you are used to seeing in other RPGs. There are many branching paths that allow you try different decisions. Consequences from those decisions can be shocking, and are not often predictable. The writing, quest designs, cut scenes, all the lore text, character bios, bestiary info, etc., are all top notch. And the game world is huge. Other than loading a save, there is no screen-loading anywhere you go, astonishing for a world this size. One minor quibble is that the dungeons in Witcher 3 are generally kind of small. Another minor quibble is that the game starts with an underwhelming tutorial zone that takes 6-8 hours. That usually leads to an unfavorable first impression in many first-time players. But once you are past that, the game really gets going.

To compare, this game is like Skyrim with a little less freedom, but a way better story with great character development, and your actions have consequences later on throughout the game. There is a slight learning curve with the crafting system, but once you get it it's easy and intuitive. I love the twisted dark fairy tale theme throughout as well, sometimes comical, sometimes grotesque, always interesting. Con: This game is very violent, has a lot of foul language, and has numerous sex scenes, sexual inuendos, topless women (lower genitalia wasn't programmed in), street prostitutes, a few brothels, a nude sauna scene, and a steamhouse which all show topless nudity and scantily clad women, and opportunities for sexual encounters. This game may not be appropriate for family environments, so heed the 18+ rating. Beyond that, for a mature audience, this game is easily one of the best ever made in my opinion.

People should Judge the game and not the company. Now to the review: Masterpiece! I love it, i completed it already several times and will again wit the many mods available. Thanks for this masterpiece.