9 best games like The Witcher 3 to play in 2024
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Published
9th May 2024 15:56
To me, The Witcher 3 is about three core things: preparing to hunt monsters, actually hunting monsters, and the feeling that you’re in a living, breathing world.
Of course, the game has also got phenomenal writing and Geralt in a bathtub, but since no game will be exactly like it, these are the three criteria that seem best to focus on if you’re looking to scratch that Witcher itch.
Best games like The Witcher 3
#9 - Ghost of Tsushima
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5
- Release date: 2020
- Key features:
- Feudal Japan setting
- Loud or quiet combat options
- World design
If you want something like The Witcher but in a Japanese setting, Ghosts of Tsushima is the closest you'll currently get. While more of an open-world action-adventure game than an RPG, it's still got a solid gameplay loop with a variety of choices for how you can approach situations.
It takes place on Tsushima island during the first Mongol invasion of Japan, and takes a lot of inspiration from classic Samurai films, giving it an air of authenticity that just sucks you in from minute one.
#8 - Elden Ring
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
- Release date: 2022
- Key features:
- Tough boss battles
- Tonnes of build options
- Gorgeous world to explore
Elden Ring has only a few similarities to The Witcher 3 but is a very different kind of RPG, requiring patience, focus, and composure against even some of the simplest enemies you'll come across. It's an open world Soulslike where you set off on an adventure to become the Elden Lord.
With some of the hardest boss fights in video games, you'll be rewarded well for preparation and learning. Don't let the difficulty put you off though, as there are tonnes of ways to play that can make some of the harder parts much easier.
#7 - Horizon Zero Dawn & Forbidden West
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5
- Release date: 2017/2022
- Key features:
- Robot dinosaurs
- Crafting
- Thrilling sci-fi mystery
Fans of Geralt will also enjoy playing as Aloy, and not just because they both have luscious hair. The Horizon games feature a wide variety of mechanical monsters that inhabit specific biomes and require proper planning to take down effectively. Aloy can craft various bombs and ammo types out of salvaged robot dinosaurs.
With a thrilling post-post-apocalyptic sci-fi story and absolutely gorgeous graphics, monster hunting has never been so fun. This doesn’t have the mercenary aspect of The Witcher, but the thrill of the hunt is still very much present.
#6 - Bloodborne
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PS4
- Release date: 2015
- Key features:
- Lovecraftian monstrosities
- Frenzied combat
- Blood... so much blood...
A hunter should hunt beasts, and that’s exactly what you’ll do in FromSoftware’s blood-drenched, gothic horror. Step into the hunter’s dream, set in the twisted city of Yharnam, inspired by the most horrifying place of all: London.
Murderous, Lovecraftian nightmares infest the streets, and it’s your job as a hunter to put them out of their misery using trick weapons with two forms, giving you the upper hand. You’ll cleave your way through flesh and sinew and bathe yourself in the blood of your fallen foes. Sink deeper into the nightmare and pray you emerge with your spirit intact.
#5 - Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
- Release date: 2018
- Key features:
- Realistic and punishing gameplay
- Nonlinear quests
- Real-world locations
Kingdom Come: Deliverance takes the living world aspect of The Witcher 3 to the extreme. If you enjoy simply existing in the Continent, trying to survive the Kingdom of Bohemia, this is one of the most realistic RPGs ever made - almost to a fault. While the appeal of many games lies in the power fantasy, Deliverance puts you in the shoes of a medieval peasant and then thoroughly kicks your butt.
There are no classes; you level up skills as you use them, so do what you want. Your clothes and armour wear and get dirty over time, and perishable food will spoil. Quests can be completed in a multitude of ways, and your reputation is decided by your words, actions, and even how long you take to respond during conversations. This is as close as you’ll get to a simulation of living in the past.
#4 - Skyrim (Survival Mode)
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
- Release date: 2011
- Key features:
- Immersive world and mods
- Challenging
- Stealth archers
Vanilla Skyrim is only like The Witcher insofar as it’s set in a high-fantasy world with magic and trolls. With the free Survival mode added to the Special Edition, the game hits the same sweet spot that The Witcher does.
The Dragonborn now needs to eat, sleep, and stay warm, and health doesn’t automatically regenerate. This means going through a long dungeon feels like a real challenge, and the bosses at the end are truly hard to overcome once your supplies have been whittled down. Completing Skyrim with Survival mode active requires patience, planning, and a solid knowledge of the world around you - the perfect challenge for a Witcher.
#3 - Monster Hunter: World
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
- Release date: 2018
- Key features:
- Monsters
- Hunting
- Lots of weapons and playstyles
The clue’s in the name with this one. If you like hunting monsters, you’ll love Monster Hunter. Go it alone or team up with friends and strangers, just don’t go unprepared. There are plenty of weapons to master and dozens of unique monsters to take down.
More action than RPG, World features multiple styles of combat for you to master. You can also interact with the environment too, meaning your brain is just as much of a weapon as your charge blade. Remember, Witchers aren’t just strong, they’re smart.
#2 - Red Dead Redemption 2
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
- Release date: 2018
- Key features:
- Living, breathing, rootin’ tootin’ Wild West world
- Emotional story
- Plenty of minigames
This is Rockstar’s masterpiece, a living, reactive world that you can lose yourself in for hundreds of hours. Go hunting, fishing, look for herbs, play poker, shoot some bandits, hold up a pharmacy, the choice is yours.
The Wild West may seem a far cry from magic and monsters, but the freedom is sure to appeal to any Witcher fan, and the monsters you hunt in Red Dead Redemption 2 are the ones within.
What is the best game like The Witcher 3?
#1 - Dragon's Dogma 2
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
- Release date: 2024
- Key features:
- High fantasy world
- Epic monster fights
- Engaging class system
Dragon's Dogma 2 is the standalone follow-up to the first, taking place in a different world entirely, but the same plot involving a dragon that stole your heart. Featuring Shadow of the Colossus-esque climbable monsters, a robust character creation, and some of the most devastating magic spells I’ve seen in a video game, this is one you need to play.
Limited fast-travel options mean you often need to trek across the large world, fighting off deadly monsters as your supplies dwindle and you rush toward the comfort of the tall city walls.
Check out our list homepage for more recommendations. We've also covered the best Xbox Game Pass games, the best Steam Deck games, the best games like Red Dead Redemption 2, and the best games like Elden Ring.
