With The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings celebrating its 10th birthday and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt celebrating its sixth, it’s hard to believe the franchise is already 14 years old. Based on the novel series The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski and development by CD Projekt Red, the open-world RPGs have been regarded as some of the greatest examples of their genre to date.
The Witcher franchise isn’t particularly expansive, comprised of three games and two major DLC missions. However, it’s undeniable the impact these entries had on gamers. What’s more, the reception from critics tells the tale of an engaging story that has resonated over the years. So which of the games have critics found to be the most endearing?
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5. The Witcher: 84.5/100
The Witcher sets the beginning of the plot for the entire franchise, and the story takes place in a medieval fantasy world. The player follows Geralt, a Witcher, which are mutated humans with supernatural powers, as he travels the world seeking out monster hunting contracts. Originally tasked with escorting a princess, Geralt navigates through an emerging civil war and assists King Foltest in retaking the land.
With an average score of 84.5, The Witcher is technically the worst-performing installment of the franchise. However, compared to games like Assassin’s Creed, which only received an average score of 81 and was released the same year, 84.5 is still a remarkable score for the company’s first big AAA game. The main criticisms for the game surrounded its unresponsive combat and long loading times.
4. The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings: 87/100
Following the ending of The Witcher, The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings begins with Geralt under arrest on suspicion of assassinating King Foltest. Players navigate through Geralt’s attempts to find the culprit while assisting the other main characters in the game, with the player’s decision having a major effect on the games ending.
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The Witcher 2 received an average score of 87, a positive increase from its predecessor. Critics loved the storytelling and stated The Witcher 2 as one of the best examples of how good an RPG could be. Negativity, however, still surrounded the combat system, and many felt that the ending was rushed and over-eventful.
3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Hearts of Stone: 90.5/100
Hearts of Stone is the first DLC released for The Witcher 3 and sees Geralt encounter a mysterious man who tasks him with an unusual contract involving a prince and wishes. Geralt also encounters Shani, an old acquaintance who invites him to be her guest at a wedding.
The Hearts of Stone expansion received 90.5 and was highly praised by critics for its storyline, side quests and extension of the explorable area for the player. Critics questioned the usefulness of the Runewright system and if the players really needed this added feature, so mainly view Hearts of Stone as just an insight further into the story of Geralt.
2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine: 92/100
Being the final goodbye to the series, Blood and Wine is a DLC for The Witcher 3 and features over 30 hours of gameplay where Geralt explores the land of wine, Toussaint. Set after the first game’s events, Duchess Anna Henrietta contracts Geralt to find the monster responsible for killing multiple knights.
Blood and Wine received an average of 92 from critics and was regarded as a gripping murder mystery tale. Receiving praise for its storyline and the size of the expansion, Blood and Wine was seen as a perfect farewell to the series and a positive end to the story of Geralt of Rivia. New features such as being able to dye armor helped win critics’ favor.
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: 92.5/100
The Witcher 3 begins with Geralt and Vesemir seeking Geralt’s long-lost lover, Yennefer. After finding her, Geralt learns his adopted daughter Ciri has returned and is threatened by The Wild Hunt. Geralt and Ciri reunite to fight The Hunt alongside the other main characters.
The Witcher 3 received an average of 92.5, although it still fell victim to some of the franchise’s previous faults, such as loading times and bugs in the animations. However, the storyline, the sheer scale of the playable area, the number of quests available and the attention to detail in the characters contribute to many critics calling this one of the greatest RPGs available and a benchmark for new releases to this day.
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