I dove into The Witcher 3 nine years ago. It wasn’t just a game; it was an experience that redefined what gaming meant for me. I fire up the game once again in 2024, and the question that has to come up is: Does it hold up?
Will Geralt’s adventures captivate me the way they did back then?
What was it Like when first Played it?
Before The Witcher 3, I used to play games only once in a while.
Then Fallout 4 caught my eye, which, as it later turned out, was only the tip of the iceberg.
A few months later, I got my own PC—a gateway to digital worlds numberless.
The Witcher 3 was the first installed game, and it unleashed in me a passion I did not know was there.
In eight days, I was devoured. I remember spending nights in the eyes that remained glued to the screen, and the pulse of the heart racing with every plot twist. Food and sleep were afterthoughts—a very minor distraction from the hold of this story and this breathtaking world.
I was lost in a land of griffins, cyclops, and political intrigue. Before me lay the limitless open world of The Continent, a playground in which to be anyone, do anything. Each new day brought with it another adventure, another mystery to unravel.
From the wild beauty of Skellige’s windy isles to the crowded streets of Novigrad, each corner held a new story waiting to be discovered. It just felt so real: the wind rustling through trees, far-off howling of monsters.
Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri—they became family. I laughed with them, cried with them, and fought side by side with them. Their struggles and triumphs felt like my own.
It’s a bond that I had developed with these characters, which I hadn’t until now.
It’s a rollercoaster of emotions; each twist and turn pulls deeper into the story. I’m not gaming here; I lived an epic tale.
For me, The Witcher 3 wasn’t a game but an experience that changed the meaning of gaming for me.
It was—the— moment I fell deeply in love with the fantasy RPG genre. Even now, years later, nothing has quite captured that same magic.
Those days have been imprinted in my memory as a testimonial, I guess, to the incomparable journey The Witcher 3 provided.
What I do remember about Witcher 3
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was a game, an odyssey of self-discovery that changed my view on interactive storytelling forever.
One of those moments in my life when everything changed, shifting me from a mobile gamer into some fanatic for open-world RPGs.
The appeal of the game was so strong that I worked up the Witcher book series and created in my mind a full tapestry of lore before even playing the game itself.
The effect of The Witcher 3 was deep. It was not just a source of divertissement but an involvement in something, which reset my bars in regard to the depth of the plot and the characterization of the protagonists.
The game was masterfully interwoven with a complex storyline, allowing player choices to really have consequences that created a deep sense of agency.
Geralt, the weathered witcher, stood out much more as a protagonist and even a character due to his world-weariness and the unflinching code of honor that made him so relatable.
Though truly captivating, the fiery Yennefer was undeniable in her intellect.
Her arc held an amazing capacity for intertwining vulnerability with strong points, especially against a very often stoic world around her.
I really attached to her.
Outside the core storyline itself, this open world was like a playground of endless possibility.
Be it any quest or even every encounter, each represented an opportunity for discovery.
From the jovial innkeeper to the figures of tragedy, enshrouded in shadow, every side character seemed to be a human realized with his or her story of wonder.
The world itself seemed living and full of intrigue, like breathing flesh filled with rich details and atmospheric beauty.
Combat was a symphony of swordplay, magic use, and tactical decisions.
Each triumph over another powerful enemy was a proof of skill and preparation.
Especially the DLC expansions, with Blood and Wine really raising the experience to a different level.
Fairytale-like scenery in Toussaint was quite far from the grim realities of the Continent—offering a reprieve while managing to hold on to the series core.
The last battle with Dettlaff stands testimony to how well the game can marry up any intensity and action with compelling narrative.
I am all agog as I await the chance to come back to this dear world.
The prospects of getting to meet again with Geralt, Yennefer, and all the familiar faces on the Continent are very exciting.
Prepping to return to this treasured world, ready to relive experiences, deepen relations with Yennefer, and see what hidden gems I might have missed.
Returning to Witcher 3
Slipping into The Witcher 3 again was like getting into a familiar, comforting embrace.
Visually enhanced, the world remained the same old enchanting mix of magic and monster hunting I remembered.
It was familiar—and that was soothing—but it’s really the subtle refinements, things like improved lighting, denser crowds, richer details, that breathed fresh life into the experience.
The whole Continent lived more vibrantly, and old, familiar paths felt anew as new adventures waiting to be walked.
Yennefer, of course, remains captivating. Her already mesmerizing character was even more alluring with the visual upgrades.
I found myself more emotionally connected to her as I replayed familiar scenes, feeling more poignancy and impact.
Her expressions were subtle; her motions were fluid, and every time one encountered her, it felt like a really private, strong moment.
It felt like the enhanced graphics truly brought her to life in a way that further bonded me to the character.
This gameplay was still satisfying, but magic lay in rediscovering subtleties of that world. There were new views on every quest, every character interaction.
It was like watching your favorite movie for the nth time and suddenly discovering a subtle detail that enriches everything.
Side quests, easily overlooked during the first playthrough, now exhibited deeper layers of storytelling and character development.
Choices I made bore fruit with much farther-reaching consequences than the first time around, greatly adding a whole new level in immersion and interactivity.
I was able to wander the vast lands of Velen, Novigrad, and Skellige and simply be in awe of the level design beauties in this game.
Weather effects, soundscapes, detailed environments pulled me further. The dynamic change in day and night, weather conditions, further evidenced that the world was alive.
It wasn’t just about finishing up the quests; it was living inside this fleshed-out universe.
Where the Witcher 3 is more of a game, it’s a world I can continually go back to. Every time, even with playthroughs, there’s a feeling of peeling off another layer to its depth and complexity. It is a tribute to the tremendous way that CD Projekt Red has structured their storytelling and world development that it continues to engage and galvanize, even years on from its original release date.
The characters, lore, and meticulously crafted world—every element converges into something immortal in its own right.
It’s kind of like seeing an old friend again—nostalgic, yet full of new discoveries.
Most definitely, with improved graphics and more polished play elements, it charms even more now.
Final Thoughts
Playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt again makes me remember why it captured my heart and that of many others. It is a game that offers an experience which is at one time deeply personal and universally acclaimed.
Even as gaming evolves, The Witcher 3 remains one of the best examples out there of how this storytelling is able to leave a lasting impact on a gamer.
No other game touched my heart like Witcher 3.
Even playing this nine years on, I still feel completely inside the world. The characters, quests, choices—everything feels as vivid and immersive as the first time I played it. It amazes me how it could be so retro but feel fresh at the same time. The deep story and intricate world once again wrap me up in the game.
The Witcher 3 is not a game; it is an experience transcending beyond its peripherals to being with one long after the controller has been put down.
Even after all this time, it remains as fresh and engaging as the day it first launched into the gaming world.
It reminded me what great games can put out and why this one is an unbeaten masterpiece.
