CD Projekt Red’s critically acclaimedWitcherseries has had three mainline games, a number of spin-off titles like the popularGwent: The Witcher Card Game,and two incredible and substantive DLC packs forThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.With an already illustrious list of releases under its belt, the franchise has established itself as a beloved name within the RPG community, and the future ofThe Witcherlooks equally bright as well. With a remake of the original game in the works and two other upcoming titles,Witcherfans have lots to look forward to.
First confirmed in March 2022,the next installment inThe Witcherseriesis still very much a mystery at the moment, although players do know that it will be the start of a brand-new saga. The upcoming game, codenamed “Polaris”, is aiming to be the first of a new trilogy, which opens up many different avenues for the future of the franchise. Whether this explores a new Witcher School or focuses on a new monster-hunting main character is yet to be determined, but there are some things the next installment should keep from the original games, and some it should definitely leave behind.
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Elements Of The Witcher Trilogy To Take Forward
The majority of praise that the originalWitchertrilogy receives is aimed at its narrative. From their stories and characters to the worldbuilding, the originalWitchergames are foundational for any RPG fan, and have lots to recommend them.The next chapter of theWitchersagashouldn’t lose that commitment to telling amazing stories in an engaging world through compelling characters, and alongside entertaining gameplay, the narrative should be a main focus.
The nextWitchergame should also retainthe size and detail of the world ofThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, or continue to build upon it. With its hours of exploration and irresistible open world, the last mainlineWitchergame has a lot of elements that fans will undoubtedly want to see make a return, or at least inspire the next title. The interwoven nature of the side quests, which not only played out like mini chapters in a wider plot but also had impacts on the world around the player as well was also a great dynamic. Contracts similarly seem like an integral feature of aWitchergame and tie into not only the character of the protagonist, but also the role-playing elements of the title.
Aspects Of The Witcher Trilogy To Leave Behind
While CD Projekt Red has been clear that this is the start of a new saga, it’s going to be tempting to retain a lot of the classic elements of the original trilogy that drew fans in and that became so integral to the previous games' success. One of these aspects is the original trilogy’s characters, with protagonist Geralt becoming an iconic presence in the RPG genre alongsideother fan favorites like Ciriand Yennefer. However, it might be best for the next trilogy of games to leave these characters behind and explore new tales, no matter how beloved they are.
The next games could also use this as a chance to expand theWitcheruniverse beyond its focus on the School of the Wolf, which fans already know is happening withthe introduction of the School of the Lynx. This new chapter represents an opportunity to explore new dimensions of the familiar world of the Continent, and while there are chances to make plenty of narrative changes, the nextWitchershould also leave behind some of the aspects of the original trilogy’s gameplay. This could include a reworking of the upgrade system, a more fluid traversal system, and a focus on avoiding technical glitches for an overall smoother experience.
