The Witcher 3's Side Quests: Unlocking a New Standard for Fantasy RPGs

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt offers an extensive gameplay experience, even without its expansive expansion packs. Its immersive narrative takes place in a world where nearly every non-player character has a captivating story to share. While Skyrim paved the way for open-world games, the RPG genre suffered a flood of games that presented vast yet empty worlds, with shallow side quests that were better suited for MMOs rather than single-player games.

However, The Witcher 3 managed to elevate side quests to the same level of importance as the main quest. The lives of ordinary people in the game's intricately designed world, known as the Continent, were deeply intertwined with cause and effect. In essence, these side quests made these smaller NPCs meaningful, turning The Witcher's world into a vibrant and expansive living entity that surpassed the scope of CD Projekt Red's creation.

The Witcher 3 Quests Create a Living World

Side quests in The Witcher 3 are activated through various means such as finding them on Notice Boards, hearing about them in conversations, stumbling upon them in the wilderness, or receiving job offers from NPCs. Geralt's profession as a witcher provides the perfect opportunity for him to be involved in these scenarios and drive the plot forward. Being a witcher allows Geralt to travel and interact with people from all walks of life, as everyone occasionally requires the services of a monster slayer.

Rather than sticking to simple monster-slaying tales or typical MMO-style fetch quests, CDPR chooses to prioritize the theme of the series: "Evil is evil... If I'm to choose between one evil and another... I'd rather not choose at all." This concept is present in many of the Witcher side quests, leaving a lasting impact on Geralt and the player. Engaging in these quests not only offers rewards but also presents increasingly complex situations, going beyond simple tracking and killing. The best quests in The Witcher 3 challenge the player to make moral choices for Geralt.

The Themes of The Witcher 3 Are Found in its Side Quests

Instead of solely incorporating this theme in the main storyline, it permeates the everyday lives of ordinary people on the Continent, which becomes highly relevant to Geralt's own story. His experiences are shaped by the petty grudges and choices made by individuals who possess powers such as curses and monsters. Unlike sporadic mentions in the main plot, this theme is constantly present and intensifies as the player progresses, allowing for a growing perspective.

This approach transforms The Witcher 3, preventing it from being a game filled with meaningless tasks that make the vast world feel empty. Instead, it seizes the opportunity to provide players with fulfilling side quests. This expectation is established early on, during the prologue section set in White Orchard, where small side quests unveil a world where people strive to survive under conquest.

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The Witcher 3 revolutionized RPG side quests, just like Skyrim transformed open-world RPGs. With its deep focus on character and story, the game shattered expectations by showing that nothing is as straightforward as it seems. Players are encouraged to uncover the truth, adding a vibrant and immersive quality to the game's world. This groundbreaking approach has forever changed the way RPG video games are played.

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