The Witcher 3 Vs Skyrim

Between The Witcher 3 and Skyrim, you’ll need hundreds of hours for a full completionist run. That’s precious time we don’t always have with our busy adult schedules. There are simply so many characters to talk to and so many things to do in the vast, full-blown worlds of the Continent (The Witcher 3) and Tamriel (Skyrim). 

So your time is fully respected; it’s important to know which game is the best of the two, the must-play entry every gamer ought to give a chance. 

Despite both games being open-world fantasy action RPGs, there are pretty substantial differences between them that make one game better than the other. Let’s find out which franchise outdoes the other in our The Witcher 3 Vs Skyrim article today.

What is The Witcher 3?

First things first, The Witcher 3 is an open-world, action RPG released in 2015, that follows a monster hunter called Geralt of Rivia. The franchise originates from the fantasy books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. These have transitioned into Netflix, running for four seasons at present, and a video gaming format by developer and publisher CD Projekt.

While there are three mainline entries in The Witcher series, the third game, called The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, is the most successful, thanks to its impeccable main quest, story and writing. Its portrayal of the Continent is also the best yet, full of rich detail, NPCs, and lots of compelling places to explore.

What is Skyrim?

Besides The Witcher 3, the other open-world RPG to hit high review scores is The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It was launched in 2011 by Bethesda as part of the Elder Scrolls games. It’s the fifth entry, after Arena, Daggerfall, Morrowind, and Oblivion. 

It might surprise you to learn that Arena launched in 1994. And since then, the franchise has crafted such a vast and immersive open world of Tamriel. The franchise has been most popular for its sandbox gameplay. The best of which is in Skyrim, where players can freely do whatever and talk to whoever they want.

Story

So, what sets The Witcher 3 apart from Skyrim? For starters, the stories are entirely different. The Witcher 3 follows protagonist Geralt of Rivia and his monster-hunting escapades. The game structures its plot via a main quest about finding your adoptive daughter, Ciri. She has a special Elder Blood, which the Wild Hunt is targeting, and could potentially lead to the end of the world.

And so, Geralt embarks on a heroic journey, filled with mystery, danger, and romance. You traverse the Continent, currently war-torn, fighting monsters, navigating socio-political drama, and intermingling with NPCs, past lovers and ordinary folk alike.

Skyrim, though, follows the Dragonborn main character. They’re tasked with stopping Alduin, a dragon known as “the World Eater,” from ending the world. There is a lot of rich lore to wrap one’s head around, exploring the history of Tamriel and the conflicts within it. You navigate political turmoil and civil war, and the return of the dragons prophesied to destroy Tamriel.

Gameplay

How you explore these two stories and worlds is different. On the surface, The Witcher 3 and Skyrim both offer exploration, tactical combat, and a non-linear story. Both offer main missions, with plenty of side quests. However, The Witcher 3’s protagonist is already created for you, while Skyrim allows you to create your own unique character.

It’s this freedom that continues to dominate your playthrough. On the one hand, The Witcher 3 tells a more linear story that is astoundingly deep in its themes of family, war, and presents you with morally ambiguous choices. Sure, you can wander off the beaten path and explore the open world, but not like Skyrim, where the player’s freedom is richer with lots of places to explore, enemies to fight, and loot to grab.

Meanwhile, The Witcher 3 is more cinematic for movie and film nerds. However, Skyrim inclines more toward giving the player freedom to craft whatever stories they want, even when it’s not always linked to the main story.

Combat

The Witcher 3’s swordplay comes across as more stylish than Skyrim’s, which makes it more satisfying. However, Skyrim does offer more loot and freedom over your build and fighting style. Whether skilled archer, mage, or warrior, it’s up to you to hone.

Graphics

There’s no winner in the graphics, either, as both games came out a while ago. However, The Witcher 3 does look more polished and detailed, with more diverse regions to explore. In contrast, Skyrim continues to have its strength lie in more open, vast areas, alongside a strong modding community. 

Verdict: The Witcher 3 Vs Skyrim

Story-wise, The Witcher 3 and Skyrim both tell similar stories. Both protagonists embark on heroic adventures to save the world. However, the stories are set in vastly different worlds. The Witcher 3 draws inspiration from Slavic folklore, and Skyrim has its own medieval mythologies and lore. 

But that’s not all. In The Witcher 3, the NPCs you talk to are so compelling that they even integrate romantic dramas. Plus, you make choices that have a powerful impact on your journey and the story’s outcome. Skyrim, however, gives the player freedom to roam freely. You talk to random NPCs who may lead you down new stories that aren’t always related to the main quest.

Still, the Continent and Tamriel are rich with detail and wonder. And exploring both is blissful. It just varies on how deep and meaningful the story is, when you focus on a linear path versus having more freedom to discover smaller sub-stories. 

If you’re looking for a compelling story of the journey of a hero protecting his adoptive daughter, The Witcher 3 is for you. The strong characters and memorable plot will satisfy your craving for an epic tale. Gameplay is a little tricky, as exploration of both the Continent and Tamriel comes rich with detail and diverse regions to get lost in. 

Skyrim’s strength comes in its player freedom. From character creation and progression to exploration, you essentially have free rein over how you want your adventure to unfold.