8 Witcher 3 Details That Seem Completely Strange When You Overanalyze Them

Everyone who's ever played The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt knows how extensive The Continent is, and how much there is to discover both in the base game and the DLCs. The lore in The Witcher universe is enough to keep even the most avid readers busy for hours, and this has been the case since the books and the first installment of the video game franchise came out.

However, even in a fantasy world where everything seems possible, there are a few things that stand out. And the more you think about them, the stranger they seem. Here are some things you've probably wondered about in The Witcher 3.

8 The Crones of Crookback Bog

Local Gods Feared by Many

The concept of a powerful group of beings ruling over a godforsaken land is not new, and neither can it be attributed to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt as its point of origin. In Velen, the Crones of Crookback Bog are such beings, and they are more than an old wives' tale to scare children into finishing their porridge or going to bed when told to.

The Crones are often worshiped through several means, including sacrifices and other offerings, which keep them somewhat satisfied. However, it just seems strange to me that, even if it's out of fear, the inhabitants of Velen relinquish their most valuable things/people to such evil creatures without putting up more of a fight. If you've already completed "The Whispering Hillock" quest that's related to them, I'd recommend making a different choice next time to make your Witcher 3: Wild Hunt second playthrough different.

7 The Concept of "Monsters"

The Term Seems a Bit Harsh

Let me dive a little into the moral aspects of the game, as there are a few things that I find totally unfair and honestly absurd. Throughout the game, and even in the trailer, you'll see that Geralt doesn't always hunt down creatures, even if they're non-human, and that he sees evil humans as monsters as well.

Considering that the atrocities many monsters commit are a result of their nature, it's understandable that they need to be put down. But that also makes me wonder whether individuals like the Witch Hunters of Novigrad also deserve the same treatment with similar justification, as many of them seem to enjoy cruelty. It's such moral questions that, in my opinion, keep The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt the golden standard for fantasy RPGs.

6 The Marginalization of Non-Humans

They Came First

If you've taken the time to read a little about The Continent and The Conjunction of the Spheres, you probably already know that long before the first humans appeared on the land, non-humans inhabited the world. This suggests that humans and non-humans have coexisted for millennia by the time the game takes place, and in that case, I can't help but wonder why there still seems to be a division between them.

The more you ponder this, the more it seems like non-humans should be the ones marginalizing humans, merely because they had more time to develop their societies and establish dominance. The best way to learn more about these sociopolitical issues is by traversing The Continent and doing sidequests. After all, that's what makes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's exploration feel unpredictable—you never know who you'll come across.

5 The Advancements of the Nilfgaardian Empire

Completely Different From the Rest of Society

Here's something I never understood. I can get behind the concept of a world power being more advanced than, say, a hidden tribe in the middle of an island. But then there's the Nilfgaardian Empire, and everyone else. Most of the society in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is strictly medieval, even with the fantasy and magic elements present that make otherwise impossible things possible.

However, when you actually analyze the Nilfgaardian Empire, it seems asynchronous with the rest of civilization, with the former appearing to be closer to The Renaissance, and the latter being seemingly stuck in the Dark Ages.

4 The Power of Energies

Blood Feuds and Grudges Hold Unmeasurable Power

This one makes a lot more sense than other entries on this list, so I won't try to make it sound absurd or question it. It's just surprising, that's all. As you explore The Continent, you'll often come into contact with people and entities that are afflicted by a curse or are simply tied down to this plane due to a very strong feeling of hatred or unresolved matters.

I find this concept very interesting, as it proves that, on The Continent, intentions, blood feuds and holding grudges, are sometimes more powerful than steel, silver, or fire. And the fact that there are multiple endings in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, goes to show you how important certain decisions and conflicts are.

3 The Selfishness of Higher Vampires

Their Thirst for Blood Makes No Sense

Everyone loves a good vampire story, and, in my opinion, the Blood and Wine expansion delivers an outstanding one. There are many reasons to make this argument, but I believe that one of the strongest is the concept of Higher Vampires like Regis or Dettlaff, since, as opposed to lesser beings, they don't need blood to survive.

Instead, they indulge in it as a human would an alcoholic beverage. It is merely hedonism. This ties back to what I said in an earlier entry about the moral concept of killing for sustenance versus killing for pleasure as a monster. That idea was stuck in my head for a while as I played the Blood and Wine DLC, but then, it was quickly erased, as I focused on finding all the Grandmaster Witcher sets instead.

2 Alchemy and Mutagens

Geralt's Usage of Them Raises a Few Questions

If we get a bit philosophical here, Geralt's consumption of monster Mutagens raises a ton of questions and just seems odd overall. I can understand how they give him an edge in battle and permanently increase his abilities. However, where's the limit? At what point does he stop being himself and starts becoming the creatures which he hunts?

In this scenario, Geralt is like The Ship Of Theseus, and while I know it sounds like I'm overanalyzing things and grasping at straws, I won't lie and say it isn't something that I often think about as I'm playing and upgrading him. Maybe I'll play through the game again soon and forego Mutagens all together while solely focusing on the strongest potions in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to see what that's like.

1 Gaunter O'Dimm

All Powerful, but Extremely Reserved

I could go on all day about Gaunter O'Dimm and how I find him to be one of the most interesting characters of the entire series. Instead, I'd like to focus on something that's never really sat right with me, and that is the inverse correlation between his enormous power, and how little he seems to use it to his advantage.

I mean, the man can literally stop time and do whatever he pleases. He could topple empires, end or start wars and eliminate anyone who dares to inconvenience him. Maybe it's knowing that he can do virtually anything that ironically makes doing most things feel pointless, but still.