The Witcher 3 has just about everything going for it – stellar storytelling, fun combat, intriguing characters, and a beautiful immersive world. And with a new Witcher game confirmed to be in development, a lot of players’ action-RPG itch is back in full swing.
If you’re in the mood for another epic adventure after completing Geralt’s story, we’ve compiled a list of the best games like The Witcher 3 to help you satisfy your craving.
Games Like The Witcher 3
10. Horizon Forbidden West
Developer: Guerilla
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform(s): PS5, PS4
While the tropical paradise of Horizon Forbidden West might seem a little out of place in The Witcher 3’s renaissance setting, the two games are more alike than you think. Both games feature huge, sprawling landscapes filled with creatures to battle, side quests, secrets, and other objectives to complete aside from the main story.
The story takes place around six months after the first game, Horizon Zero Dawn, so you might want to give its equally brilliant prequel a playthrough to fully understand the plot.
Set in a post-apocalyptic version of the Western United States that’s riddled with animalistic machines, you play as a skilled hunter called Aloy. The game focuses heavily on melee combat, but you can also use a variety of bows to eliminate enemies from afar.
Horizon Forbidden West improves on many elements of its predecessor, including revamped cinematics, climbing mechanics, as well as the ability to swim underwater. Aloy also has several new tools to utilize and traverse areas with ease, such as the Shieldwing and Pullcaster.
9. Monster Hunter: World
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
Geralt of Rivia is the ultimate monster slayer, but the player character from Monster Hunter: World certainly gives the White Wolf a run for his money. You play as a hunter who’s tasked with tracking down ferocious beasts across various habitats.
Similarly to The Witcher 3, Monster Hunter: World’s world is vibrant, rich, and detailed, with its environments split into several large maps to explore. You can kill monsters using a huge range of weapons, including great swords, dual blades, lances, hammers, and bows, which allows you to fully customize your playstyle.
Successfully eliminating or trapping a monster rewards you with monster parts and other components so you can craft weapons, armor, and other equipment, allowing you to take on stronger foes.
Although not as narrative-driven as The Witcher 3, there is a simple plot to follow with plenty of lore to uncover as you traverse the lands. Better yet, Geralt of Rivia is a playable character in the game, with his own contracts, armor and weapon sets, abilities, and more to unlock.
Ciri’s armor and weapon are also available to craft, giving you another reason to get stuck into Monster Hunter: World.
8. Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
Developer: 38 Studios, Big Huge Games, Kaiko
Publisher: 38 Studios, Electronic Arts, THQ Nordic
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a remaster of the 2012 game Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, which like The Witcher 3, takes place in a fantasy setting and features all the RPG elements you know and love, like a progression tree, weapon and gear upgrades, and as many side quests as you could ever want (there’s over 200, if you were wondering).
You play as a mortal known as the “Fateless One”, but you’re able to select your appearance, race, and class from several options. Combat varies depending on which class, weapons, and skills you focus on, which allows for a staggering number of playstyle options.
There’s a persuasion system you can sink your skill points into to discover additional information from NPCs or snag some extra goodies, not dissimilar to Geralt’s Axii sign. You can also rob and kill NPCs if you fancy being a baddie, but doing so will have consequences.
7. Fable Anniversary
Developer: Big Blue Box, Lionhead Studios, Flaming Fowl Studios
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Platform(s): PC, Mac, Xbox Series X & S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Xbox
Despite being initially released in 2004, Fable still holds up pretty well today, even more so with the remastered Anniversary edition. If you’re unfamiliar with the Fable series, they’re fantasy RPGs packed with humor and silliness, making for a more light-hearted approach to the traditional RPG genre.
In the first game, you play as a young boy on a journey of heroism after bandits murdered his parents and kidnapped his sister. Fable largely focuses on moral choices, not unlike The Witcher 3. Each decision you make, be it good or bad, will influence the game’s ending, as well as your appearance and how NPCs view you.
You can defeat foes with magic, melee, and ranged attacks, but a lot of what makes Fable so great is its massive number of side quests and activities, including boxing, theft, exploring, trading, mini-games, and even some Witcher-style romance.
6. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Developer: Monolith Productions, IUGO
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360
If you’re itching for more fantastical goodness and monstrous opponents to eliminate, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a solid choice. Set in Mordor in the fictional universe of Middle-earth, the game takes place somewhere between J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
You assume the role of a ranger named Tailon who becomes possessed by a wraith after he is killed, along with his wife and son, by Sauron’s forces. Stricken with grief and anger, he decides to take revenge and bring down those responsible for his loved ones’ murders.
Shadow of Mordor’s gameplay is a combination of melee combat and stealth, similar to the Assassin’s Creed series. Abilities can be unlocked via a skill tree with two paths: Ranger and Wraith. The former focuses more on stealth and melee combat, whereas the latter revolves primarily around supernatural abilities.
You can use a few different weapons, including a sword, all of which can be equipped with numerous runes to improve their efficacy and provide other effects.
5. GreedFall
Developer: Spiders
Publisher: Focus Entertainment, Game Source Entertainment
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X & S, Xbox One
Set in a Renaissance-era fantasy island known as Teer Fradee, GreedFall offers a thrilling RPG experience and intriguing politically-charged story shaped by the choices you make during your journey.
The game puts you in the shoes of De Sardet, the Legate of New Serene and a relative of the colonial governor representing the Congregation of Merchants faction. You’re able to change your sex and appearance, though some relationships with companions will differ depending on whether you play as a male or female.
Combat is what you’d expect with a fantasy RPG, with three classes to choose from: Warrior, Magic, and Technical. Unfortunately, Greedfall’s visuals and combat can feel a little outdated and basic at times, especially compared to The Witcher 3.
However, its well-developed companions and world design are really where it shines. Teer Fradee is filled with treasures, magic, secrets, and mystical beings to fight. There are five companions to meet (four that are romanceable), each with their own abilities, personalities, political beliefs, and opinions on your decisions.
4. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch
While The Witcher 3 hits the nail on the head with its immersive world design, intricate storytelling, stunning visuals, and memorable characters, some players believe the combat is a bit clunky at times.
If you’re after something a little more complex and fluid, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, a remaster of the 2012 original, could be right up your alley. It takes place in a fantasy world called Gransys and follows a human on a quest to eliminate an evil dragon.
The game is filled with fantastical creatures like chimera, direwolves, dragons, and harpies to defeat, with a wide variety of class options to choose from. Each class greatly changes the gameplay and the tactical options available to you.
The game’s most unique feature is its “pawn” system. This allows you to give commands to the companions in your party, the latter of which are normally controlled by AI.
3. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft Montreal
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X & S, Xbox One, Stadia
Another game with similar aesthetics, gameplay, decision-based narrative to The Witcher 3 is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. It’s primarily set between 872 to 878 AD and follows a Viking raider called Eivor.
As Eivor attempts to form a new Viking clan in England, they become entangled in some conflict between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order. The game features a different formula from recent entries in the Assassin’s Creed series, with the narrative told through numerous story arcs rather than one standalone plot.
Side quests have also been reworked into World Events, which involve Red Dead Redemption-style stranger missions. There are a staggering number of other side activities to do, including powerful beasts to slay, flytings to perform, viewpoints to survey, treasures to find, and much more.
If you enjoyed The Witcher 3’s style of exploration, you’ll no doubt feel at home in Valhalla. Better, yet, there’s even a fun dice mini-game called Orlog for those Gwent enthusiasts.
2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, PS3, Xbox Series X & S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch
If you’ve managed to go the last decade without playing Skyrim, which is pretty impressive considering its staggering number of ports, now’s as good a time as any to pick up this gaming great.
Playable in either first or third-person, the game takes place 200 years after the events of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. It’s set in Skyrim, an icy mountainous region in the north of Tamriel.
The narrative follows a mortal known as the Dragonborn tasked with destroying a dragon who is predicted to destroy the world. There’s a wide selection of customization options, including appearance, race, and class.
As you explore through the expansive lands, fight creatures, rob civilians, murder helpless victims, join guilds, and generally muck about, you’ll be able to develop your skills and perks to become the ultimate dragon slayer.
1. Dragon Age: Inquisition
Developer: BioWare
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360
While many believe BioWare has been steadily on the decline for years, Dragon Age: Inquisition shows there’s still hope for the developer yet. It may not be as beloved as Dragon Age Origins, but Inquisition is a solid addition to the series nonetheless.
It’s also a must-play if you enjoyed The Witcher’s 3 atmospheric environments, story-driven narrative, and worldbuilding.
Set in the continent of Thedas, you play as a character known as the Inquisitor who is tasked with closing the Breach, a strange tear in the sky that has caused demons to flood the lands.
The game features multiple semi-open worlds to traverse, with the Inquisitor and your party members playable in either third-person perspective or a traditional RPG top-down camera angle.
Like many of Bioware’s games, Dragon Age: Inquisition allows you to completely customize your character and make numerous choices that change the outcome of the story. And if you’re in the mood for romance, Dragon Age: Inquisition has you covered in that department, with multiple relationships available to both male and female Inquisitors.
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