2015's gaming industry is a peculiar beast; we've seen the entire middle tier of game development drop out altogether - leaving triple A money-swathed firework displays of code right next to the most innovative and original indie games struggling to get noticed.
There are occasional exceptions on the horizon (the creative madness of Metal Gear Solid V stands out as having an overwhelming lack of restraint for the best, and No Man's Sky is receiving quite the PR push at the minute too), but CD Projekt RED's The Witcher series truly earned its current place in the spotlight more than most.
Set in motion through a series of short stories by the mind of Andrzej Sapkowski in 1986, the game series that's come to define the character and mythos in the West have been going far stronger in Poland for years. Sapkowski's name for his original work was "Wiedźmin" (meaning Witcher), although since blowing up the franchise has been adapted into a TV series, movie - and of course the trilogy of incredible games.
It's been something of a slow burn for CD Projekt over the years getting the recognition they deserve, as the first game wasn't without its problems and part two Assassin's of Kings only introduced a few more people to the brilliant world of Geralt and all his friends. However it's landmark release Wild Hunt that's proven to truly be the defining title everyone was waiting to check.
From a tiny team of 15 that struggled to get the first game out the door, to around 200 and counting for Witcher 3, it's time to celebrate this phenomenal franchise and everything it stands for.
12. In Witcher 3, Geralt's Beard Grows In Real Time
You may have caught onto this in the game's pre-release interviews or coverage, as such a random thing tends to get shared more than what really matters in today's climate.
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However, as the entry title states, the developer implemented the actual growth of Geralt's beard in real time (within the game world), meaning you actively have to seek out a barbers and get a shave - or let it grow out into such a mane fit for a demon-slayer.