8 Best Exploration Features in The Witcher 3

When The Witcher 3 came out back in 2015, neither the video game franchise nor the literary one was in its infancy. However, it’s safe to say that neither enjoyed the mainstream success they have now, even if they already had a devoted fanbase at the time.

In my opinion, this title is one of the best open-world RPGs of the last 15 years, as it not only offers an interesting narrative to players but also has outstanding combat mechanics, a branching choice system, and noteworthy folklore. Not to mention that it gives a fitting conclusion to the trilogy.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s a certain unpredictability when it comes to traversing the massive open-world The Witcher 3 has to offer. Here are some of the key elements that make exploring The Continent so enticing.

8 Enemy Level Scaling

Keeping It Off Makes Encounters More Challenging

One of the greatest things about this game is how varied the enemies are and the fact that a lot of them are based on actual Scandinavian folklore. Regular enemies that can be found in the wilderness and within cities are somewhat challenging, but those that deserve praise and respect are the hardest bosses in The Witcher 3.

Even those foes that aren’t meant to be the ultimate challenge of a quest or area can be a decent threat if the option for enemy scaling is turned off. This is a double-edged sword, as it can either put you in a position where you’re overpowered or underleveled. If it’s the former, you could be exploring a forest at level 5 and suddenly run into a level 20 or higher enemy that will one-shot you without even breaking a sweat. This is completely optional, of course, but I’d recommend turning off enemy scaling for the ultimate level of entertainment.

7 Illusions And Secrets

The Eye Of Nehaleni Transforms The Experience

The Continent is full of surprises and secrets to be discovered, and one of the most valuable and useful tools to uncover them is the Eye of Nehaleni.

Given to Geralt by Keira Metz during the "Wandering in the Dark" quest in the early stages of the game, this item dispels magic illusions. It serves its purpose during said quest, but it also comes in quite handy while exploring the wilderness and other areas of the map to reveal secret entrances, cave openings, hidden rooms, and passageways.

In The Witcher 3, nothing is what it seems. The fact that behind a seemingly normal concrete or vine wall, there could be a vault filled with treasure or a cave that serves as the lair of a vicious monster, is something that makes exploration fascinating and unpredictable.

6 Deep Sea Sailing

Skellige Is Home To Many Vicious Creatures

The Skellige Isles are a matter of debate, as some players love them, and some others aren't as fond of them. In either case, it's undeniable that this area ups the challenge significantly and offers an interesting shift in the narrative that feels like a breath of fresh air. While exploring this remote region, you'll likely encounter some new, powerful foes that will put your skills and Witcher reflexes to the test.

A great example of this is the hunt for Spoils of War that you can encounter while sailing through the vast seas surrounding the isles. The loot you can obtain from seeking out said wreckage is worthy of a king, but you'll often have to deal with vicious foes, which makes the whole treasure-hunting experience much more enticing.

5 Quests Have A Snowball Effect

Starting A Quest Can Lead To An Adventure

There are so many quests in The Witcher 3 that even while focusing on the main path, you can expect to spend a considerable amount of time dealing with monsters, helping villagers, and uncovering mysteries. One of the things that makes open-world exploration so interesting in this title is the fact that sometimes, what would seem like a simple quest can easily turn into a snowball effect that leads you to a completely different situation.

A great example of this is finding all Witcher Gear sets, as it starts out as something interesting, yet not outstanding by that point in the narrative, and it quickly turns into one of the most intricate and detailed treasure hunts in the entire game. One that will reward you with an armor kit that you will never want to part ways with.

4 Dynamic Weather Mechanics

A Few Things Change With The Weather

Although the weather system isn’t as intricate in The Witcher 3 as it is in other titles, especially modern ones, it still leaves nothing to be desired. Not only do the weather dynamics make exploring the world much more immersive, but they can also affect how certain potions and decoctions work. For example, the Superior Thunderbolt Potion and the Foglet Decoction work much better in cloudy weather than they would on a sunny day.

The time of day also affects the type of enemies you’ll encounter, as foes like Noonwraiths and Nightwraiths are dependent on it. Personally, I think that when a game’s experience changes in any way depending on the weather or the time of day, that deserves praise, and this title nails it to perfection.

3 Area Lighting Can Be An Obstacle

Having The Right Tools Is Critical

While The Witcher 3 isn’t the only game to challenge players with pitch-black darkness and having to navigate through endless caves while completely blind, it definitely adds to the experience. Naturally, like similar titles that pose those obstacles, you are provided with a few solutions to deal with this. A torch is a surefire way to light the way, but alternatively, you can also drink a dose of Cat, which, given its usefulness, is one of the strongest potions in The Witcher 3.

Before I knew of this wonderful concoction, I was forced to explore the depths of The Continent with nothing but my courage and intuition, hoping to avoid falling to my death or having to fight a hellish creature in the darkness. And while it was greatly inconvenient, it definitely made exploring the open world a lot more interesting than if things had simply fallen into place for me.

2 Unexpected Monster Encounters

Sometimes, Things Are Not What They Seem

Another great aspect of The Witcher 3 experience is the fact that sometimes, things are not what they seem. At various points during your travels, you’ll encounter contracts on noticeboards that describe a certain creature or apparition, only to discover that you’re dealing with something even more powerful and macabre than you originally thought.

The best part about this is that it’s something that could happen in real life if monsters were real. Villagers, in their ignorance of creatures and their classifications, see what looks like a ghost, and they describe it as such, which would prompt you, a seasoned Witcher, to think you’re about to fight a regular Wraith, a Nightwraith, or any other specter in the game.

But the moment you get to deal with the actual threat, you might suddenly realize that you’re actually dealing with a Penitent, or something of the sort that requires greater focus and potions or gear you didn’t know you needed. Things like these make exploring the open world unpredictable in the best sense of the word.

1 Branching Consequences

Every Single Decision Matters

Lastly, there are branching consequences, which can greatly affect how the story unfolds and the ending you’ll get. As you play through the story and the side quests of the game, you’ll often have the chance to make your own choices. A great example of this is the “Whispering Hillock”, which, in my opinion, is one of the best quests of The Witcher 3.

The decisions that you make during this quest will greatly determine the fate of several innocent and not-so-innocent souls, forever changing the course of many lives and sealing the fate of other characters in the story. The fact that there are consequences for almost every decision in the game gives weight to each one of them, making the experience much more interesting and unpredictable.