The Witcher Trilogy tells the story of Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter navigating a dark fantasy world shaped by war and political intrigue. Along the way, he becomes entangled in the power struggles of rival kingdoms, fights in brutal conflicts and repeatedly faces terrifying creatures. At the heart of all three games lies monster hunting. As a seasoned professional, Geralt is hired to take down supernatural threats – from raging griffins and vicious werewolves to Leshen, forest spirits that command beasts and wield ancient magic.
The gameplay of The Witcher trilogy evolved significantly over the years. The first game switched between an isometric and third-person view and featured a rhythm-based combat system. With The Witcher 2, the series moved to a full third-person perspective and introduced more direct, action-focused combat. The Witcher 3 refined this further, becoming a modern action RPG with smoother, more intuitive gameplay. It also introduced new features such as horseback riding, swimming and ranged combat with weapons like the crossbow.
Despite the series’ evolution, several core mechanics remain consistent throughout all three games. Geralt wields two swords – steel for human foes and silver for monsters. As a witcher, he also uses magical signs like Igni, a burst of flame, and Quen, a protective shield. Preparation is key to every hunt: each monster has unique strengths and weaknesses that must be studied beforehand. Werewolves, for instance, are vulnerable to fire, while airborne griffins must first be grounded. In addition to his weapons and magic, Geralt relies on alchemical tools like potions, oils and bombs to gain the upper hand.
Reviews: Captivating story and expansive open world
Since a full review of all three entries would be too extensive for this article, we’ll focus on The Witcher 3 as reviewed by the German gaming magazine GameStar. The experts revisited the action RPG for its Game of the Year Edition in August 2016 and praised it highly. Highlights included the gripping main story, the vibrant, richly detailed open world and the abundance of engaging quests. Even minor side missions, according to the reviewers, unfold with compelling narratives and unexpected twists. Criticism was limited to a somewhat lackluster main antagonist and occasionally clunky mouse and keyboard controls.
Following the release of the Next-Gen Update in December 2022 – which introduced modern features like ray tracing and dynamic lighting as well as significant visual enhancements – The Witcher 3 received a final score of 94 out of 100 from GameStar, marking one of the highest ratings ever awarded by the magazine. Here is a brief overview of the Steam and Metacritic ratings for all three games:
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Direcor's Cut:
- Steam: Around 57,000 reviews, 89% positive.
- Metacritic: Metascore of 86, User Score of 8.2.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition:
- Steam: Around 76,000 reviews, 89% positive.
- Metacritic: Metascore of 88, User Score of 8.4.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Steam: Around 760,000 reviews, 96% positive.
- Metacritic: Metascore of 93, User Score of 9.1.
88% discount on Steam
The Witcher Trilogy normally costs around $63 on Steam. However, until May 25, the role-playing epic is discounted by 88%, making it available for just under $8. According to SteamDB, the bundle is regularly on sale, but this offer marks its lowest price to date.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.