The Witcher (video game)
A monster hunter's choices shape a dark fantasy world.
The Witcher is an action role-playing game released in 2007 for Windows and OS X, developed by CD Projekt Red. It draws from the fantasy novel series of the same name by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, and its story occurs after the main book saga concludes. Critics gave the game positive reviews.
A console version called The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf was planned for 2009, using a completely new engine and combat system, but it was halted due to payment disputes with console developer Widescreen Games. The sequel, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, came out in 2011, followed by The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in 2015. A fourth main installment, The Witcher 4, is scheduled for 2028. A remake of the original game was announced in October 2022, previously teased under the codename "Canis Majoris." Titled The Witcher Remake, it will use Unreal Engine 5, the same engine planned for the second trilogy. Fool's Theory is the primary developer, with full creative oversight from the Witcher series staff and CD Projekt Red.
The game offers three camera styles: two isometric perspectives where the mouse controls most actions, and an over-the-shoulder view that brings the player closer to combat but limits vision. Controls can be set to mouse-only or a mix of keyboard and mouse.
Set in a medieval fantasy world, the story follows Geralt of Rivia, one of the few traveling monster hunters with supernatural powers, known as witchers. Players choose among three fighting styles for different situations and enemies. The fast style delivers rapid, lighter attacks with a better chance of hitting quick foes; the strong style deals heavy damage but is slow and less accurate against fast enemies; and the group style uses sweeping attacks when surrounded. Players can switch styles at any time. Geralt's two main swords have distinct combat styles and purposes: the steel blade for humans and flesh-and-blood beings, and the silver sword for supernatural monsters and beasts, against which steel may be useless. With precise timing, players can link attacks into combos for more damage.
Alchemy plays a major role. Players create potions that boost health or endurance regeneration, grant night vision, or provide other benefits. Recipes are learned from scrolls or by experimenting. If a player creates an unknown potion, they can drink it, but a failed potion poisons or harms Geralt.
Quick Facts
- Title
- The Witcher
- Developer
- CD Projekt Red
- Director
- Jacek Brzeziński
- Producer
- Maciej Miąsik
- Designer
- Michał Madej
- Programmer
- Maciej Siniło
- Artist
- Adam Badowski
- Writer
- Artur Ganszyniec · Sebastian Stępień · Marcin Blacha
- Composer
- Adam Skorupa · Paweł Blaszczak
- Engine
- Aurora Engine
- Platforms
- Windows, OS X
- Released
- EU · 26 October 2007 · NA · 30 October 2007 · AUS · 9 November 2007Enhanced EditionWindowsNA · 16 September 2008 · EU · 19 September 2008 · AUS · 30 September 2008 · OS X · 5 April 2012
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Witcher is set in a medieval fantasy world on the Continent, following Geralt of Rivia, a genetically enhanced monster hunter known as a witcher. The game begins with Geralt awakening at the School of the Wolf's mountain fortress Kaer Morhen with no memory of his past. After an attack by the Salamandra faction, which steals key mutagens and witcher-creation formulae, Geralt travels to the Temerian capital Vizima to pursue them. Along the way, he encounters Alvin, a magically gifted peasant child identified as a Source, and becomes entangled in the conflict between the religious Order of the Flaming Rose and the elven terrorist group Scoia'tael. The plot culminates in Geralt confronting Jacques de Aldersberg, the Grand Master of the Order, who reveals he is Alvin from the future, having traveled back in time. The game features a time-delayed decision-consequence system, where player choices affect later events and encourage replayability.
Reader's Guide
The Witcher is notable as CD Projekt Red's debut title, establishing the studio's reputation for narrative-driven role-playing games. Its adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski's novels brought the series to a global audience, despite Sapkowski's initial lack of interest in video games. The game's alchemy system, three combat styles (fast, strong, and group), and moral ambiguity—often forcing players to choose between lesser evils—became hallmarks of the franchise. A console version, The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf, was planned for 2009 but suspended due to payment problems with developer Widescreen Games. The game's success led to a sequel, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (2011), and later The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015). A remake, The Witcher Remake, was announced in October 2022, developed by Fool's Theory under CD Projekt Red's supervision using Unreal Engine 5, as part of a planned second trilogy.
Did You Know?
- The game's story takes place after the events of the main novel saga.
- A console version titled The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf was suspended in 2009 due to payment problems with Widescreen Games.
- The remake, announced in October 2022, was formerly teased under the codename 'Canis Majoris'.
- Andrzej Sapkowski sold the rights for about 35,000 zloty, wanting all payment upfront rather than royalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who made The Witcher (video game) and when did it come out?
CD Projekt Red developed this action role-playing title, which launched in 2007 for both Windows and OS X. It became one of the studio's earliest major releases before they went on to create the much larger sequel entries.
What is The Witcher (video game) based on?
The game adapts the dark fantasy novel series written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. Its narrative picks up after the events of the main book saga, placing Geralt of Rivia in a world where a monster hunter's decisions ripple through a morally grey landscape.
What camera perspectives does The Witcher (video game) feature?
Players can switch between two isometric angles and an over-the-shoulder view, giving them flexibility in how they observe combat and explore the world. This multi-angle system was relatively uncommon for single-player RPGs at the time.
Why was The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf never released?
A console adaptation was planned for 2009 using a brand-new engine and redesigned combat, but the project was scrapped after payment disputes arose between CD Projekt Red and the developer Widescreen Games. The game never reached players, and the franchise moved forward with its sequel instead.
What came after The Witcher (video game)?
The direct sequel, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, arrived in 2011 and expanded the scope of the series significantly. It was later followed by The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, completing the mainline trilogy.
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