. “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – The RPG That Made Us Care About Side Quests (and Horse Racing)”
When The Witcher 3 launched in 2015, it didn’t just raise the bar for open-world RPGs—it obliterated it. CD Projekt Red’s magnum opus isn’t about saving the world; it’s about saving your family. Geralt of Rivia, a gruff monster hunter with daddy energy, isn’t chasing glory—he’s chasing Ciri, his adopted daughter, across a continent ravaged by war and supernatural terror.
What sets The Witcher 3 apart? The Bloody Baron questline. This 3-hour tragedy about a broken man, his abusive past, and a botched abortion (yes, really) redefined video game storytelling. There are no “good” choices here—just shades of regret. And that’s the game’s genius: every decision, even in side quests, feels like picking a scab.
Then there’s Toussaint, the DLC region that’s equal parts fairy tale and farce. Imagine fighting a vampire in a vineyard while drunk on hallucinogenic wine. The game’s humor—from Geralt’s deadpan sarcasm to Roach the horse glitching onto rooftops—balances its bleakness perfectly.
Combat is clunky by 2023 standards, but who cares when you’re playing Gwent, the in-game card game that became a cultural phenomenon? The Witcher 3 isn’t just a game—it’s a 200-hour therapy session about parenthood, morality, and why you should never trust a wizard.
