11 Years Ago, CD Projekt Red Revolutionized Open-World RPG Video Games, Releasing 'The Witcher 3'
In 2026, open-world RPGs are a dime a dozen, whether it's the latest entry in the popular Assassin's Creed series, upcoming releases like The Blood of Dawnwalker, or classic games going open-world, like Diablo 4. It's been more than a decade, though, since one studio redefined the entire genre.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026, marks the 11th anniversary of the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, a game that would go on to be frequently referenced as inspiration for future games. The title was the third mainline entry in The Witcher series, based on The Witcher fantasy novels and short stories by author Andrzej Sapkowski.
In The Witcher 3, players take on the role of Geralt of Rivia, a monster slayer, otherwise known as a Witcher. Geralt must travel across continents searching for his adopted daughter, Ciri, who has been targeted by the Wild Hunt. Ciri is also playable for brief sections of the story.
From a third-person perspective, players are able to explore the fantasy world and discover monsters to slay, people to help, and stories of NPCs that flesh out the world of the game.
Probably most notable was the approach to side content. In The Witcher 3, the game's side content is organically integrated into the main narrative and overarching world, featuring the same high-quality writing and urgency as the main storyline. The design choice is a departure from how most open-world RPGs design side content, and that decision led to The Witcher 3 being widely considered one of the greatest video games ever made.
According to Metacritic, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is sitting at an impressive 92 metascore, making it the third-best reviewed game of 2015, just behind Bloodborne and Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. The game would go on to win Best RPG and Game of the Year awards at The Game Awards 2015.
Since its release, The Witcher 3--especially its side content design--would serve as inspiration for titles such as Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and the recent Crimson Desert. The game's DLC expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, would also see similar critical acclaim for their strong narratives and be widely regarded as two of the greatest DLC expansions ever released.
As of May 2025, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has sold more than 60 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games of all time.
A sequel, titled The Witcher 4, is in development and will see Ciri stepping into the lead role.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 12:01 AM.