5 Mysteries Likely to Go Unanswered With The Witcher 4's…

Summary

The Witcher 4's projected 100-year time skip may leave unanswered questions and unsolved mysteries from the previous installment, disappointing fans.
The choice mechanism in The Witcher 3 resulted in unique endings, including the possibility of Ciri's death, creating discussions about subsequent editions.
The narrative inconsistencies and lack of explanations in The Witcher 3, such as Dandelion's presence in Novigrad and Geralt's exemption in the Witch Hunters' execution, leave fans puzzled.

Unraveling riddles is an essential dynamic of all categories of RPGs, and players don't mind the odd unsolvable tidbits or cliffhangers in playthroughs of their favorite titles. The Witcher, CD Projekt Red's prize jewel, is no stranger to this dynamic, teasing its player base over the years with its odd character designs and enthralling storyline interwoven with pieces of uncertainty. The most recent installment, Wild Hunt, featured some narrative inconsistencies and ended with a number of questions players expected answers to in the next release, but with news of The Witcher 4's projected 100-year time skip, it is likely a few mysteries will go unanswered.

Over the years, fans of The Witcher have gotten accustomed to Geralt of Rivia's flowing white hair akin to that of House of the Dragon's Targaryens as the face of the franchise, but The Witcher 3's events threw the protagonist's return in the upcoming installment up in the air. The choice mechanism resulted in unique endings based on player decisions, the worst of which ended in Ciri's death while battling the White Frost and possibly that of Geralt, giving rise to discussions about subsequent editions. With the time skip comes the possibility of not every character returning in The Witcher 4, and some unfinished plotlines will inevitably vanish in the transition to the new age.

Some Events in The Witcher 3 Don't Add Up

Games like The Witcher often run into a narrative problem stemming from getting caught up in too many sub-plots and flimsy character interactions due to their sheer scale, and Dandelion's chronicles in Novigrad are a prime example of the phenomenon. Geralt goes on a killing rampage to break Dandelion out of captivity when he is awaiting execution, and it would stand to reason for the escapee to slink out of town unnoticed. Instead, Dandelion settles in Novigrad and even opens a cabaret in his name, and fans have been puzzled by this, to say the least.

Novigrad is the center of another Wild Hunt mystery, and this time Geralt is the subject of confusion. The city is buzzing with Witch Hunters who are capturing witches, alchemists, and non-humans for execution, but Geralt waltzes into the town unharmed despite his mutant status, and there is no explanation for his exemption. Vampires also contribute to the mysteries of The Witcher 3, and the Blood and Wine expansion pack informed players that only a vampire can kill another vampire.

However, Geralt is clearly an exception to the rule, and players have wondered why the Witcher could accomplish this feat. Another head-scratcher is Geralt's activities with the secretive Wild Hunt group, who have surprisingly little lore despite their heavy involvement in The Witcher 3. Geralt made a deal with the group and became one of its riders in a bid to save Yennefer, but there is no information about his time with the Wild Hunt or how their agreement came to an end, and with The Witcher 4's new protagonist, it is unlikely for the mystery to be unraveled.

The most impactful missing piece of lore in The Witcher 3 is Ciri's destruction of the White Frost. The entire plot of The Witcher 3 harped on Ciri's ability to destroy it due to her elder blood, and different methods of defeating the White Frost were suggested by supporting characters. However, the destruction is anti-climactic, as the White Frost dissipates once Ciri steps into the Tower of the Eagle, and there is no scene showing what she did to bring it to an end. With The Witcher 4's events occurring 100 years after Wild Hunt, it wouldn't be remiss to expect CD Projekt Red to gloss over The Witcher 3's ending, leaving behind an unsolved mystery.