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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

IMAGE GALLERY:

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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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cboye18

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I really hope the Mad Max game will be great as well; the new movie kinda butchered Max...

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xsonicchaos

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@cboye18:

It takes a random bloke to tell George Miller how he should portray his own creation. Every cretin on internet is now a frikin professional movie snob.

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cboye18

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@xsonicchaos@cboye18: Well he may be following the example of George Lucas...

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Frozenuxx

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@cboye18:

He was in it? I didn't notice.

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Frozenuxx

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@cboye18@frozenuxx:

They just wanted to use her as a main protagonist but didn't want to scare the fans away.

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TurianShepard

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@frozenuxx@cboye18: "Mad Charlize" would have been a better title.

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Frozenuxx

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@turianshepard@frozenuxx@cboye18:

Seriously.

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Armyboy5

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Game of the Year

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cboye18

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@Armyboy5: AC: Syndicate.........lol who am I kidding.

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Frozenuxx

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@cboye18@Armyboy5:

When it comes to GOTY, anything is possible.

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cboye18

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@frozenuxx@cboye18@Armyboy5: I will permanently leave GS if that happens.

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JDlok

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@frozenuxx@cboye18@Armyboy5: Yeah, fricking DA:I won it. Say that again to yourself out loud.

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TurianShepard

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@Armyboy5: MGS doesn't come out till Sept.

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JDlok

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@turianshepard@Armyboy5: BB

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TurianShepard

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@jdlok@turianshepard@Armyboy5: Yes it is Big Boss in the game, happy to confirm that for you.

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JDlok

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@turianshepard@jdlok@turianshepard: Haha. Nice!

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TurianShepard

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@jdlok@turianshepard@jdlok: For reals though I also loved Bloodborne.

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JDlok

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@turianshepard@jdlok@turianshepard: I'm terrible at stealth games.

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JDlok

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@jdlok@turianshepard@jdlok: 1-3 were.

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Frozenuxx

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@jdlok@turianshepard@jdlok:

Mgs a stealth game...pffff hahaha

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cboye18

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@frozenuxx@jdlok@turianshepard@jdlok: Just like Splinter Cell used to be.

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Frozenuxx

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@cboye18@frozenuxx@jdlok@turianshepard@jdlok:

Even back then Splinter cell was more of a stealth game than mgs.

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cboye18

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@frozenuxx@cboye18@frozenuxx@jdlok@turianshepard: Well they had their differences; I found MGS much more difficult though; it's the ONLY franchise I can't beat on normal difficulty.....ever. The games are quite punishing IMO.

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TurianShepard

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@frozenuxx@cboye18@frozenuxx@jdlok@turianshepard: You must have never done a no kill/no alerts run.

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Frozenuxx

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@turianshepard@frozenuxx@cboye18@frozenuxx@jdlok:

Oh please...

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TurianShepard

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@frozenuxx@turianshepard@frozenuxx@cboye18@frozenuxx: Well?

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TurianShepard

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@frozenuxx@jdlok@turianshepard@jdlok: Depends on how you wanna play it.

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Frozenuxx

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@turianshepard@Armyboy5:

LA LI LU LE LO Fck mgs!

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TurianShepard

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@frozenuxx@turianshepard@Armyboy5: Calm down, Major Zero.

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Frozenuxx

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Pack of wolves are no joke.

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berserker66666

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Witcher 3 and GOTY will go hand in hand this year. It is a freaking masterpiece. Well done CDPR. Can't wait for Cyberpunk 2077.

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JDlok

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@berserker66666: Hopefully there are no horses in that game. I am looking forward to it as well. Cyberpunk is my thing. Neal Stephenson has a new book out today too! Busy week.

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deactivated-60b838d2a137f

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Loving these scores... 9.3 and a 9.75... do they really need to be that specific...? How do you really separate the differences down to a 0.3 or a freakin 0.05 on a scale like this..?! Seems a little redundant...


Silly numbers aside, this game rocks!

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teske4444

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@nl_skipper: I'm assuming the .75 is quarter points, and GS used to go by .1 when they gave out separate scores for different aspects of the game. A formula would give them an X.X score rather than them deciding fractions of points, but I'm not positive if IGN does the same.

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JDlok

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@teske4444@nl_skipper: Hey man you obviously love Demon's Souls (so do I). Have you played Witcher 3 yet? Wondering what your thoughts on combat are?

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teske4444

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@jdlok@teske4444@nl_skipper: Unfortunately I am moving, so I won't be able to play the game until next week sometime. If I remember, I'll post back in here when I check it out, otherwise I'd suggest just watching some streams of it.

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JDlok

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@teske4444@jdlok@teske4444: Cool thanks for your time man.

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teske4444

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@jdlok@teske4444@jdlok: Well, I just recently got internet after moving, so I was unable to DL the game until now. I've only been able to play a few hours, but from what I can tell, the combat requires carefully timed blows, similar to DS, but this get's opened up quite a bit with the added signs. They have a dodge and roll function in the game, but I don't believe there are invincibility frames, although this requires more tactical dodges. I'm only playing on the second hardest difficulty, but this is what I can gather so far. Not sure if you care anymore, but I'd say tactical approach to enemies in DS can be compared to the Witcher.

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cboye18

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@nl_skipper: yeah I'd just give it an 8.5 to be honest.

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deactivated-60b838d2a137f

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@cboye18: Makes more sense than an 8.7...


Maybe you'd like to reconsider that, feels more like a 8.45 to me!

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