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Witcher 3 Review Roundup

Here's what the critics are saying about CD Projekt Red's open-world RPG.

582 Comments

After years of development and multiple delays, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt it out now across console and PC. So how is the game, originally due in 2014, holding up with critics?

Check out some review scores and editor opinions below. For more on the critical reception for The Witcher 3, check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic's extended coverage.

  • Game: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
  • Developer: CD Projekt Red
  • Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
  • Release Date: May 19
  • Price: $60

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GameSpot -- 10/10

"Where the Witcher 2 sputtered to a halt, The Witcher 3 is always in a crescendo, crafting battle scenarios that constantly one-up the last, until you reach the explosive finale and recover in the glow of the game's quiet denouement. But while the grand clashes are captivating, it is the moments between conflicts, when you drink with the local clans and bask in a trobairitz's song, that are truly inspiring." - Kevin VanOrd [Full review]

IGN -- 9.3/10

"Though the straightforward and fetch-quest-heavy main story overstays its welcome, the option of joyfully adventuring through a rich, expansive open world was always there for me when I'd start to burn out. Even if the plot isn't terribly interesting, the many characters who play a part in it are, and along with the excellent combat and RPG gameplay, they elevate The Witcher 3 to a plane few other RPGs inhabit." - Vince Ingenito [Full review]

Game Informer -- 9.75/10

"The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt encompasses what I hope is the future of RPGs. It stands out for its wonderful writing, variety of quests and things to do in the world, and how your choices have impact in interesting ways. Usually something is sacrificed when creating a world this ambitious, but everything felt right on cue. I still think about some of my choices and how intriguing they turned out--for better or worse." - Kimberley Wallace [Full review]

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Kotaku -- "Should You Play This Game? Yes"

"Wild Hunt is a grand adventure that feels distinctly of its time. It manages to set new standards for video game technology while accentuating the fleeting nature of technological achievement as an end unto itself. It is a worthy exploration of friendship and family, mixing scenes of great sorrow with scenes of ridiculous lustiness, tempering its melancholy with bright splashes of joy and merry monster guts. Come for the epic showdown between good and evil; stay for the unicorn sex." - Kirk Hamilton [Full review]

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Kakaroti4

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The more I play the Witcher 3 Wild Hunt (20 hours played so far, and haven't even scratched the surface!) The more I think this is the best open world action RPG I have ever played due to the immersion, storydriven quests with fleshed out characters and many choices with real consequences.

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nomailx

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Funny how Gamespot needs to justify the score they gave. That's so professional. "Hey look! Others gave this piece of crp a good score too! So you know!".


In 2 weeks, when everyone will have finished the Witcher 3 storyline, they will stop playing it and realize the true score of this game. An easy "6". No player will come back to this game. It's a huge drag, it's boring. I hit the Skip button like 100000 times till now. They think that drowning the player into unnecessary quest givers background story brings depth to the game. Well it doesn't. It just forces the Player to skip all the crp to get to the "Kill that monster" part.


Zero gameplay value and Zero replay value. The action sequences are hyper boring. The protagonist is boring. There's nothing worth playing this game except some stories maybe thus the "6" and not "1".

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Notorious1234NA

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@nomailx: the primary lore of Witcher series is the story......


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w0rmy

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I've really enjoyed this game but I certainly wouldn't call it a 10/10. I'd give it a strong 9. It's fun to play but there are actually quite a few flaws and lots of visual glitches. The issues aren't game breaking but it can be distracting and on occasion, frustrating.

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csward

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Not as good as the reviews make it out to be, but it will amaze most people. I'm kinda of worn out on games like this from Skyrim and Dragon Age Origins. This game is better, but has its share of flaws too...

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Justicar_1

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I was going to get this game despite what any game sight said about it.

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xXKiLLeRzPr0Xx

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would like to know how does it compare with witcher 2. which game is better (lets exclude graphics since witcher 3 is next gen) asking about combat, gameplay, story etc. right now, i am planning to finally complete the witcher 2 that i bought almost a year ago on steam :P

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DanielCorfour

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@xxkillerzpr0xx: better, definitely. Graphics weirdly aren't in certain regards: foliage in the Witcher 2 is much better than in Wild Hunt. But both combat, story and scope are immensely better, which is saying a lot.

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xXKiLLeRzPr0Xx

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@DanielCorfour: well then its worth getting during the summer sale even f it does not get a big discount. the combat in witcher 2 is already quite good for me, so witcher 3 must be amazing

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igordonin

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Whatever you do, don't buy it from uPlay!!! Don't fall for sales and don't believe in their good deals. If you deal with uPlay and Ubi you're doing a bad deal right from the start. STAY CLEAR FROM UPLAY!

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Pelican170

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Man if this game got a 10/10, I seriously am retiring from gaming... uugghhh

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Justicar_1

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@Pelican170: Well, it got a 10/10 here. Sad to see you go.

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Pelican170

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@justicar_1@Pelican170: Well it clearly isnt a 10/10 game. Payoff's perhaps? hmmnnn

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Justicar_1

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@Pelican170@justicar_1: Well. it's clearly your opinion to which you are entitle to.

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Pelican170

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@justicar_1@Pelican170: Seems like its the opinion of most. I also think Gamespot is the only site to give it a perfect score. The games pretty good, but it has its issues so im not sure how anyone can truly think its a 10/10...

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BlbecekBobecek

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Many sites gave it 10/10. GameTrailers, Guardian and Telegraph to name a few.

And its well deserved, Im gaming since early 90s and The Witcher 3 might very well be the best game I have ever played. The writing is amazing.

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Pelican170

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@BlbecekBobecek: GameTrailers gave it a 9.8, not a 10. Guardian gave it a 4/5 stars...


Its not a 10/10 game, it definitely has its flaws...


Ive been playing since the 80's and I just dont share that same opinion. im probably about 7 hrs or so into the game it i cant help but feel a bit bored at this point already. Seems a bit repetitive to me but I guess all games are in a sense.

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nickfitz_99

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@Pelican170@BlbecekBobecek: been playing since the 70's. Whippersnappers need to appreciate, not game hate.

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Pelican170

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@nickfitz_99@Pelican170@BlbecekBobecek: There's no hate, but if you cant see the flaws, then, old man, you need to get your eyes checked...

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pentraksil

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@Pelican170@nickfitz_99@Pelican170: You keep saying flaws and you never mentioned one...and if by "major flaws" you mean a couple of glitches in a huge open world game.....then I really feel sorry for you, not being able to enjoy the game because it is obviously "not perfect"

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Pelican170

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@pentraksil@Pelican170@nickfitz_99@Pelican170: Ummnn you dont read well. I have listed the one major flaw that was on day one that would crash the game. Besides that one major problem, the game had numerous frame rate issues along with other funny quirks. Not a big deal, but definitely not perfect.

And dont look into it so much fanboy. I am enjoying the game. Just because I said it doesnt deserve a 10/10 because its not a perfect game does not mean that I havent enjoyed it... Im not gaga over it like a lot of people. It think its pretty good I guess but not head over heels...

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Justicar_1

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@Pelican170@justicar_1: As you say, "the opinion of most" is not the opinion of everyone, the opinion of most that you are talking about is but a boisterous minority online, the other thing is that, one can never please everyone, there will be always someone unhappy about something.

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Pelican170

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@justicar_1@Pelican170: Sure, but when you give out a game that needs a day one patch to clear things up, its not a 10/10 game... Especially when I sat to play it and during a tutorial it would make the game crash... (Gwent tutorial).

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pentraksil

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@Pelican170@justicar_1: "Sure, but when you give out a game that needs a day one patch to clear things up, its not a 10/10 game"

And just before this you said GTA V deserved 10/10 a game that needed a couple of patches to make it stable.....very nice and objective of you

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Pelican170

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@pentraksil@Pelican170@justicar_1: Yup, you are right actually. I had forgotten that it needed patches day one.

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CelticSentinel

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@Pelican170@justicar_1: Go and make a game like this without any bugs then? You're bummed out about the card game crashing when you have everything else to do..... I feel sorry for you.

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Pelican170

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@CelticSentinel@Pelican170@justicar_1: Hey m0ron, why dont you try to understand the issue people were having. The card game is part of a tutorial. So following the tutorial, the whole game would crash and you would have to restart it. Now if you think a crashing game from a game tutorial isnt a problem, then you are a complete and utter fanboy...


And I dont mind some bugs, but when there are bugs, its not a 10/10 game. If you think so, then I feel sorry for you because you truly dont know what a perfect game is. They dont make them anymore unfortunately, a few gens too late..
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pentraksil

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@Pelican170@CelticSentinel@Pelican170: and for the 102375959 time, 10/10 is not a perfect game, same as A in school doesn't mean you had a perfect test. And again you said that GTA V deserves 10/10 and the game also had a lot of glitches (which is perfectly normal with the games of this size and scope)

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Pelican170

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@pentraksil@Pelican170@CelticSentinel@Pelican170: 10/10 is a perfect game. Maybe you dont think so, but the majority of people will judge it that way. When you get graded in school and its done on numbers 100/100 is a perfect score...

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Pelican170

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@CelticSentinel@Pelican170@justicar_1: Hey moron, why dont you try to understand the issue people were having. The card game is part of a tutorial. So following the tutorial, the whole game would crash and you would have to restart it. Now if you think a crashing game from a game tutorial isnt a problem, then you are a complete and utter fanboy...


And I dont mind some bugs, but when there are bugs, its not a 10/10 game. If you think so, then I feel sorry for you because you truly dont know what a perfect game is. They dont make them anymore unfortunately, a few gens too late..

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marcuskwill

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@Pelican170: Name a few games that are better then the witcher that deserves 10/10 and if you plan on saying call of duty please don't reply

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Pelican170

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@marcuskwill@Pelican170: Hahaha, definitely not COD..

No games out for the next gen deserve a 10/10. The closest one would be GTAV.


I havent really liked any next gen games except the remakes.


The Witcher tries to be like Skyrim but fails in comparison.

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Flash4255

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Its nothing like skyrim. It actually tells a tale. Instead of me having to read about how I am dragonborn and nobody seems to care except for a.few character NPCs. Loved Skyrim, but Witcher 3 just structurally defeats it.

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Pelican170

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@flash4255: I guess its a matter of opinion. Im not into The Witcher nearly as much as I was with Skyrim.

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naomha1

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@Pelican170@marcuskwill: You're smoking some stupid if you think The Witcher 3 was "trying to be like Skyrim". Period. It SURPASSES Skyrim in almost every way. Meaningful quests, a player character that actually talks (WHAT?), REAL choice and consequences, graphics, combat, monster design, sound design, level design. Man, everything.


Get over Skyrim already. That game is 4 years old and looked like it was already 4 years old when it came out. Static npcs in dialogue, huge open world to explore with no real consequences for your actions or choices. Same exact npcs, monsters, wildlife, etc, as in last 3 games. A completely MOOT magic system. Don't get me wrong, I liked playing Skyrim. Got about 200 hours into it. However, now the Witcher 3 is here and it easily surpasses anything Skryim tried to do. Hands down.

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wgerardi

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Was able to spend about an hour yesterday playing this and I must say......... GAHDAMN! I can already tell I'm in for one hell of a time.

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Pelezinho777

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IGN -- worst -- website -- ever ! How they still exist I'm not sure. ..

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cldmstrsn1

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@Pelezinho777: about the same as gamespot if we are going by comments and quality of articles.

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UltimateBastard

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You seem to have sorely underestimated the number of wankers in the gaming community

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I cannot believe my PC can run this at a good framerate, at 1080p, looking as good as it does. I was willing to play it at 720p but if it runs this well at 1080p, works for me!

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