Sometimes, it seems like it’s difficult to have a discussion about the greatest RPGs of all time without someone bringing up The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. And of course, there’s usually that one person who’s ready to challenge this claim by pointing out the game’s awkward mechanics and rather underwhelming combat. In any case, there seems to be one thing that most people can agree on, and that’s just how good the game’s story actually is. The writing, and therefore its narrative, has everything players could wish for, which has certainly earned its reputation as one of the most well-written titles out there.
However, being great at storytelling doesn’t automatically mean that the mechanics are just as good. And this is important, because once a player experiences the repetitive combat and clumsy character progression, they might start reconsidering whether the game’s overall reputation is entirely justified. And although CD Projekt Red has already proven with Cyberpunk 2077 that they can create a much more engaging RPG experience, maybe it’s time to question whether The Witcher 3 is actually a better story than it is a game.
The Witcher 3’s Repetitive Combat Makes Monster Preparation Feel Pointless
One of the biggest issues with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has always been its combat system, and most people seem to agree that its repetitiveness can get old pretty quickly. Yes, Geralt has access to both silver and steel swords, and he can use magical Signs, dodge attacks, and even throw the occasional bomb, but even with all of these tools, many fights can be handled by just using the same old combination of sword attacks and dodging. In a game like The Witcher 3, this could easily be deemed unforgivable simply because the game has a great foundation for making its encounters way more interesting.
Fit the 9 games into the grid.
For example, the Bestiary provides information about different creatures, while the oils and potions are great for pre-battle prep. So, the concept of preparation is there, but once you reach the battle, you quickly find out that there really wasn’t much to prepare for in the first place, which many people label as a huge waste of opportunity. At least with a story as great as the one we have here, one could always turn a blind eye to these shortcomings and focus on the story instead, which it seems like many players are already doing anyway.
Cyberpunk 2077 Shows What The Witcher 3’s RPG Progression Is Missing
Unfortunately for The Witcher 3‘s defenders, maybe combat is not the only area where their favorite game struggles to compete with Cyberpunk 2077. When it comes to character progression, Geralt certainly has plenty of abilities to unlock, but the sad truth is that there’s only so much players can do with him. Yes, they can invest in Combat, Signs, and Alchemy, but in general, Geralt will always be just Geralt, regardless of how you distribute the points. And although this doesn’t seem like much of an issue when a game is built around an established protagonist, it definitely limits to what extent players can change their approach. In an RPG, most people would expect a lot more freedom when it comes to character builds and how their choices affect character progression.
Cyberpunk 2077‘s Update 2.0 introduced a major overhaul of the game’s perk trees and cyberware systems in September 2023.
On the other hand, we have Cyberpunk 2077, where players can specialize in everything from stealth to melee combat and firearms, which creates characters with genuinely different strengths. Especially after Update 2.0, the game’s progression system became even more flexible, shifting toward perks that unlock more substantial abilities. Moreover, cyberware adds yet another layer of customization by allowing players to install technological enhancements that improve their abilities even further. In other words, while The Witcher 3 revolves solely around making Geralt better at what he already does, Cyberpunk 2077 gives players considerably more freedom to decide what type of character they want to be.
Maybe The Witcher 3’s Brilliant Storytelling Overshadows Its RPG Shortcomings
Of course, none of this criticism changes the fact that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has exceptional writing. Geralt’s decisions have insane consequences that extend far beyond the regular conversation quest and even affect other characters. This is certainly impressive, especially considering that the decisions players are presented with are usually quite complicated as well. However, there’s a difference between being one of the greatest written games ever made and being one of the best RPGs of all time.
Cyberpunk 2077 is a great example of what CD Projekt Red is actually capable of delivering when it comes to combat and character progression, and maybe this distinction proves that The Witcher 3‘s shortcomings could actually have been avoided. In any case, it would be interesting to see whether The Witcher 3 would still be held in such high regard if it wasn’t for the exceptional writing. But one thing cannot be denied—very few games have stories so compelling that players are ready to overlook just about everything else.
- Released
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May 19, 2015
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
