10 Best Open-World Video Games Of 2015

3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

In the intro to this piece I mentioned how the open-world genre can really be like stepping through a portal into another realm. The Witcher 3 is that analogy redefined; it's a truly epic, endlessly rewarding RPG with just as much depth and refinement in its character motivations and combat options, as there is in the realisation of Andrzej Sapkowski's original novels and mythology. Every NPC, every being from the main cast to the cavalcade of creatures you'll set out to take down has a backstory. There's always a reason for everything you're doing, be that tracking down the elusive Ciri or taking a break to save a small village from a nearby beast. Many reviewers seemed to miss the point that Geralt is forever beholden to being a titular Witcher (a monster-slaying protector of the lands) and chose to use this as a remark on how indulging in side-quests breaks the pace of the main story. However, that's entirely the point and unique attribute that makes Wild Hunt so phenomenal. You're supposed to balance the main quest with the frequency of fulfilling your duties, and the fact that CD Projekt RED managed to do so with some of the best production values is testament to their proficiency as one of the finest developers working today.
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Gaming Editor
Gaming Editor

WhatCulture's Head of Gaming.