As we are several months into 2020 The Witcher III Wild Hunt is revered as the RPG (role-playing game) of the decade. It won over 800 awards, winning the game of the year in 2015 for “IGN”, “Gamespot”, and “The Game Awards.” The game’s awesome story, aesthetic fantasy grim-dark genre, freedom the player has, and the massive amount of gameplay are some characteristics that make the game as popular as it is.

The Witcher III Wild Hunt is the final product in a three game saga. The portagonist is the Geralt of Rivia, a monster slayer for hire. As Geralt you “track down the child of prophecy, a living weapon capable of untold destruction.” The game is an open-world RPG, which means the player chooses to roam around and do what they please. Whether it be disposing of bandits in the countryside, doing the main campaign, or taking a contract to hunt down a monster, the choice ultimately comes down to the player. 

The world that the player roams around is beautifully crafted. The player travels from White Orchard to Velen; war-torn places where the powerful armies of Nilfgaard have laid waste to. As the player levels up they travel to Novigrad; a sprawling medieval city with places to explore and obscure quests to complete. Then comes Skellige, a Viking isle where mountains are aplenty, and sprawling forests are filled with wonder, and danger. Dedicated players reach the final domain: the Duchy of Toussaint. A place where everything is beautiful, yet at night Elder Vampires prowl; contracts that most Witchers shy away from. 

Avid players of RPG games could compare the Witcher III with Skyrim and Fallout New Vegas. The Witcher has the open-world, freedom-feeling of Skyrim; while Fallout New Vegas has similar dialogue options. In terms of dialogue options when playing the Witcher III there are several that pop up whenever you speak to someone, and what you say matters. What you say influences what goes on later in the game, and what kind of character you choose Geralt to become. Whether Geralt is more evil, good, or neutral is up to the player and what choices they make along their journey with Geralt. 

There are many other contenders for ‘RPG Game of The Decade’. Contenders are God of War, Elder Scrolls Skyrim, Fallout 4, Fallout New Vegas, Zelda Breath of the Wild, or the Dark Souls trilogy. Gamers have their own opinions about their favorite RPG. However, gamers across the board can agree that the Witcher III offers an unparalleled sense of escapism when players decide to dive deep into the game itself. If you enjoy RPG games and are ready to dedicate at least 230 hours of gameplay I highly recommend embarking on Geralt’s Journey. I part with a quote that sums up a quintessential theme in The Witcher: Evil. “Evil is Evil. Lesser, Greater, Middling, Makes No Difference. The Degree Is Arbitrary, The Definitions Blurred. If I’m To Choose Between One Evil And Another, I’d Rather Not Choose At All.”