"The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" - How did this game change the RPG genre?

1. Open world: details and freedom of choice
One of The Witcher 3's greatest achievements was creating a vast open world that feels alive and organic. If earlier RPGs could boast of large locations, then The Witcher 3 presented endless opportunities for exploration, where every corner of the world has its own meaning.

The game world is not just an array of territories, but a complex ecosystem with fauna, flora and cultures that reflect a living, dynamic world. Players could explore a variety of regions, from lush forests and mountains to abandoned villages, where every element of the world felt like part of a larger story.

One of the biggest innovative steps is the integration of player choice into every aspect of the game. Your actions were not limited to the main line, but also had a direct impact on the world around you. Helping or ignoring local residents, choosing who to ally with, how to react to conflicts all changed the outcome of events, which in turn made each playthrough unique.

2. Complex moral choices and deep storylines
Another significant feature of The Witcher 3 is the depth of moral choices that the player must make throughout the game. All choices, even the smallest, can lead to drastic changes in the development of the plot. The game does not offer an obvious choice between a "good" and a "bad" path - instead, it constantly presents the player with complex ethical dilemmas where there is no single right solution.

This was very different from many RPGs of the time, where the choices were often reduced to banal "black" and "white" decisions. The Witcher 3 forced players to question their moral beliefs, which brought elements of emotional depth to the game. For example, even choosing whether to save or leave a certain character can have far-reaching consequences for the entire plot.

The developers did a great job of building storylines that combined elements of folklore, history, and mythology, which allowed to create a multifaceted world full of not only great battles, but also deep emotional experiences.

3. A hero with a rich inner world: a character different from others
The game's protagonist, Geralt of Rivia, has become one of the most memorable characters in video game history. This is not just a hero who needs to save the world - Geralt has his own moral system, sense of duty and doubts that shape his actions throughout the game. It's not perfect, it's real. He has his weaknesses, conflicts and personal goals, which makes him a more human and understandable player.

This was a big step forward for RPGs, where often the main characters looked like archetypes or ideal heroes. Instead, Geralt is a character with his own issues and thoughts, allowing players to get to know and connect with him more deeply.

4. Graphics and visual achievements
The Witcher 3 set new standards for graphics in RPG games. With realistic graphics that retain high detail even in remote corners of the world, the game offered players not only visual enjoyment, but also an atmosphere that conveys the emotional mood of each stage of the game. Landscapes, lighting, and various weather effects created an incredibly realistic world in which you want to spend hours.

An important part of the graphics was also the animation of the characters, which made it possible to perfectly convey the emotions, feelings and reactions of Geralt and his companions, which in turn further immersed the player in the world.

5. Innovations in combat and combat systems
The combat system of The Witcher 3 has been significantly improved compared to previous games in the series. It combined elements of strategy and dynamism, allowing the player to combine different attack styles using swords, magic and elixirs. Battles became more tactical, with a variety of opponents, each of which required a different approach.

Of particular note is the weather system and its impact on fights. For example, in rainy weather, some types of magic became stronger, while others, on the contrary, became less effective. These small details made the battle even more exciting.

6. Impact on subsequent games
The Witcher 3 not only set new standards for RPGs, but also influenced many other games in the genre. Other studios began to focus more and more on creating open worlds with a huge number of choices that had consequences, as well as adding deep moral dilemmas to their plots. The game became a benchmark for many modern RPGs, such as Cyberpunk 2077 (also from CD Projekt Red), Elden Ring, Red Dead Redemption 2, which took many elements from The Witcher 3.

Conclusion
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was a revolutionary game that was able to change the way a modern RPG should be. It introduced innovative elements in various aspects of the game, from the open world to complex moral choices and deep characters. This is a game that not only changed the genre, but also changed the video game industry itself. The Witcher 3 proved that RPGs can be not only big, but also emotionally deep, making it one of the best RPGs of all time.