The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A massive open world, memorable quests, and a grumpy guy with great hair. What else do you need?

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“So… I finally played it. Yes, I know I’m late.”

First of all: yeah, I took my time

I know, I know. Everyone and their grandma played The Witcher 3 years ago. It’s one of those games that feels like a rite of passage if you’re even remotely into RPGs. But I somehow dodged it for almost a decade. No idea why. Maybe I was scared of the hype, or maybe I just got distracted by other stuff (looking at you, endless indie roguelikes).

Anyway, I finally dove in — and I’ve got thoughts.

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The world is stupidly big (in a good way)

Let’s start here: the world in The Witcher 3 feels alive. Not in that generic “you can go anywhere” kind of way, but in a “this swamp has seen things” kind of way. Every road feels like it could lead to a weird side quest, or a dead body, or a bunch of drowners yelling at you in Polish (I played with subtitles on, don’t worry).

The sheer scale of it is wild, and yet… it’s not empty. I never felt like I was just riding through filler. Even when nothing was happening, there was atmosphere. Trees creaking, birds flying, peasants muttering about monsters — it all builds this weird sense that the world doesn’t care about you, but you still matter.

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Geralt: monster slayer and grumpy dad

I didn’t think I’d care that much about Geralt as a character. He looks like the kind of guy who listens to metal and doesn’t return your texts. But man — he grows on you. His dry sense of humor, his weird moral code, the way he talks to his horse like it’s his only friend (sometimes it is)… it all works.

And once the main story kicks in with Ciri and Yennefer and all the political nonsense, it actually hits. Not in a “watch me cry on YouTube” kind of way, but it made me want to keep going. To figure out what kind of dad/sword guy I wanted Geralt to be.

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Side quests that don’t feel like chores

This one shocked me. I’m used to RPG side quests being one of three things:
1. Kill 10 things
2. Find 10 things
3. Escort someone while they walk slower than your patience

But The Witcher 3… wow. Some side quests here are better than full games. They have twists, actual characters, weird moral choices that don’t scream “good vs evil.” One time I helped a guy lift a curse, only to realize maybe I shouldn’t have. Another time, I thought I was tracking a monster and ended up solving a tragic love story.

That stuff sticks with you. It made me want to slow down, read the journal entries, actually think about what Geralt would do — or, more accurately, what I would do if I was a hot mutant swordsman.

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Combat: not bad, not perfect

Okay, if I had to nitpick: combat took me a while to enjoy. Early on, it felt clunky. I was just rolling around like a medieval Sonic, swinging wildly and hoping for the best.

But once I started using signs properly and mixing in potions, it clicked. Not in a “this is the best combat ever” way, but it felt satisfying. Strategic. Especially on higher difficulty, where ignoring oil or prep can get you roasted real fast.

Also, there’s nothing more fun than setting a werewolf on fire mid-jump. 10/10 moment.

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Roach, my weird teleporting horse

Let’s talk about Roach. My loyal steed. My glitchy, teleporting, occasionally roof-standing companion.

Roach is part of the charm. She (he?) appears where you least expect her. Sometimes sideways. Sometimes inside fences. Sometimes just refusing to move because a pebble offended her.

I love her anyway.

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Final thoughts (but not really final)

I’m still playing. Dozens of hours in and still discovering caves, bad decisions, and surprisingly deep Gwent strategies (yes, I got addicted).

The Witcher 3 deserves the love it gets — not because it’s perfect, but because it tries. It respects your time, your choices, and your curiosity.

If you’re like me and waited way too long to play it: don’t stress. It’s never too late to start hunting monsters, losing track of quests, and wondering how you spent four hours talking to ghosts in a haunted tower.

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Thanks for reading — if you’ve got your own Witcher stories or hot takes, let me know. I’m probably still somewhere in Velen, trying not to get eaten.

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— Leo