8 Witcher 3 Locations That Still Feel More Immersive Than Most Modern Open Worlds

The Witcher 3 is undoubtedly one of the most immersive open world games of all time, and set an all-new benchmark for what was deemed possible in the RPG genre. CD Projekt RED's deeply atmospheric dark fantasy title owes much of its success to the environment it creates for its players. Inspired by European history and folklore, The Continent is home to many diverse regions with their own distinct landscapes, wildlife and cultural staples.

However, there are some places, even with The Witcher's eccentric world, which stand out more than others. The following locations are the ones in which we most often lost ourselves, and remember fondly as though they were lifelike. With the release of The Witcher 4 drawing nearer and nearer with every passing week, we can only hope that it is able to create the same level of authenticity and immersion as its predecessor.

8 Kaer Mohren

The Final Holdout of The Witchers

The fortress home of the Witchers, Kaer Mohren is certainly among the most spectacular locations in the game. The giant, mountainside castle gives a real sense of immersion to the secluded and outcast lives of the Witchers. Particularly from the outside, the fortress looks like it is being repurposed by a much smaller group than before, and hasn't quite fallen into total ruin as many other locations in the game have.

One aspect which might pollute the immersion of this location relative to others is the fact that the tutorial missions take place here. It's to unsee certain boxes and barriers which have been clearly placed for you to jump over in the opening chase sequences. With that said, the calm atmosphere of the surrounding mountains and the loud, echoing halls really do give Kaer Mohren a homely feel.

7 Crow's Perch

A Quintessential Medieval Town

Centered in the province of Velen, Crow's Perch is one of the first settlements you come across in The Witcher 3 and immediately showcases a masterclass in environmental storytelling. From the battered defenses and collapsed bridges to the recently burned out rooftops of some of the main buildings, the town shows all the signs of a recent battle and has clearly fallen into a state of neglect despite still being well populated.

It quickly becomes evident that the reason for this is that the mad Baron, known more commonly as The Bloody Baron, is its ruler. As soon as you arrive, you're immediately struck by the desperate poverty of the town's inhabitants as they trudge through the mud and grime to complete their daily chores. The guards and townsfolk alike constantly sulk and moan about the current state of affairs, but the town is contructed with such staggering detail, it's hard to think of any other comparison than Kingdom Come Deliverance.

6 Crookback Bog

Nasty Place, Full of Enemies...

Entering Crookback Bog for the first time is one of those moments that's hard to forget. The immediate sense of unease which accompanies the bare trees, the strange effigies and misty swamplands is hard to describe, but nothing can prepare you for the true horrors that lurk deeper inside.

Home to the infamous Crones who perform all kinds of demonic sorcery on unsuspecting victims, Crookback Bog has a very odd way of feeling familiar. While there is a tinge of the supernatural in the air from the moment you first spot the bright red flowers adoring the dead trees along the entrance path, the whole place feels uncomfortably normal — and all this before even encountering the Crones in their various, hideous forms.

5 White Orchard Battlefield

A Tragic Landscape of Desolation

One of the most striking areas you'll come across in the early game is the Battlefield in White Orchard. The area is ruined with the chaos and debris of a recently fought battle and is littered with armor-clad corpses, destroyed supply wagons, half-built fortifications and abandoned flags being carried only by the breeze. While it may be a relatively lifeless area, it is still one of the most fascinating in the entire game.

Not only is it an immediate reminder of the political turmoil of the region, but it also shows some of the wider effects of war as large caravans of refugees flee along the main roads, small groups of desserters form bandit groups in the forests and lone supply carts and up fodder for all kinds of demons, villains and miscreants.

4 Oxenfurt

An Up-Market Academic Town

Like many human settlements in the Witcher universe, Oxenfurt is a former Elven town now occupied by humans, and it has a distinct classiness to it compared with the other cities. The town is also home to the prestigious Oxenfurt Academy, where history and archaeology are the primary focus.

It's a noticeably lively town both during the day and at night, with theater productions taking place in the street and taverns overflowing at all times. If you were a human, you could imagine Oxenfurt being one of the nicer places to live, but unfortunately for you, you're a witcher. While you might receive the usual snarky comments from civilians, there's still plenty of fun to be had and all kinds of useful vendors around this beautiful town.

3 Beauclair

A Spectacular Southern Monument

The city of Beauclair is one of the most vibrant and interesting places in The Witcher 3 and can be explored as part of the Blood & Wine DLC. This majestic city, with an unmistakable Mediterranean style compared with those of the North, serves as the capital of Toussaint and is capped off by a magnificent palace and a giant lake upon which it sits.

Not only is Beauclair the gleaming centerpiece for the entire region, but it is even better to see it up-close. Just as every view from the countryside gives you a nice view of the city, the reverse is true from inside its walls, and nearly every window or balcony frames a picture-perfect view of the luscious surrounding landscape. There is a real artistic feel to the region and a slower pace of life, which is a lot more pleasant than the disease-ridden, war-torn Northern Realms.

2 Ard Skellige

Peace and Tranquility — Relatively Speaking

The Skellige Isles are some of the most picturesque places to explore in The Witcher 3. Dotted with small, rural communities and coastal fishing villages, the colossal mountainscapes really stand out as distinct from the mainland. At any time of day or night, this island will take your breath away with its dense forests, mountain vistas and spectacular coastlines.

It makes for a welcome break from the inescapable political turmoil of many of the game's other locations, and the Norse influence makes for a peaceful and simultaneously magical setting. It's one thing to build a hand-crafted, believable city, but very few games are able to make their wilderness feel quite so immersive as this one. The Kaer Trolde mountain also stands out as one of the tallest mountains in the entire game.

1 Novigrad

One of the Best Cities in Gaming

There's a reason why Novigrad is widely considered one of the most immersive and fun-to-explore cities in all of gaming, let alone just The Witcher 3. Taking inspiration from Eastern Europe's rich medieval history, this port town is the heart of commerce and industry in the Northern Realms and a key location in game's story. The markets and harbors are so full of life that it's easy to forget the rest of the outside world.

From the clay-tiled towers to the congested, busy back gardens, it's easy to get lost in the city and there's always plenty to do. From taverns and churches to brothels and theaters, there is a real medieval-metropolitan vibe to the streets. It's not just the smaller details that make the city so impressive, though, it's also built on an impressively large scale, which puts the likes of Bethesda's open worlds to shame.