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The Witcher Fans May Want to Keep an Eye on The Skyland Chronicles

By Cameron Swan

Published May 23, 2024, 3:01 PM EDT

From the moment 4-year-old Cameron first stepped out into Glimmer in Spyro 2, he knew video games were going to play a central role in the rest of his life. Though he never planned to make it the focal point of his career, Cameron spent the vast majority of his spare time growing up playing games, and following graduation from the University of Reading, he thought he'd try his hand at writing a few reviews. Flash forward five years (four of which have been spent at TheBestWarGames) and Cameron's passion for gaming has only grown. Whether it's covering daily news, writing a personal feature, interviewing a developer, reviewing the latest title, or being sent across the world to preview an upcoming game, Cameron adores it all, and he wouldn't trade any of it for the world.

Summary

CD Projekt Red is working on multiple Witcher projects, including a co-op multiplayer title and a sequel to The Witcher 3, but fans will have to wait a few more years for their release. Fortunately, there is a game that could help them keep busy.
The Skyland Chronicles, an open-world fantasy RPG, shares similarities with The Witcher franchise in terms of its violent and chaotic world, borrowing elements from Slavic folklore for its monster designs.
The gameplay of The Skyland Chronicles is that of a third-person action-adventure game where players will engage in monster hunting, use various abilities such as elemental magic, and make narrative decisions affecting the story.

It's been almost a decade since fans received a new mainline Witcher game from CD Projekt Red, and the wait has been agonizing for so many. Though some truly excellent fantasy RPGs have released since The Witcher 3 in 2015, few have managed to deliver such an immersive open-world experience or such a compelling story.

Thankfully, CD Projekt Red has plenty of Witcher projects currently in the works. From a remake of the first Witcher game to a co-op multiplayer title to the long-awaited sequel to The Witcher 3, fans will soon have more Witcher games than they know what to do with. But the wait is far from over. With each of these Witcher projects currently being in various stages of pre-production, it'll likely be a good few years before fans finally get to experience them. In the meantime, Witcher fans might have to make do with some smaller-scale fantasy RPG experiences, and The Skyland Chronicles could be a solid option.

The Skyland Chronicles Could Be a Fun Stop-Gap Before The Witcher 4

The Skyland Chronicles' Setting Shares Some Similarities with The Witcher

Set for an early access release on Steam, The Skyland Chronicles is an open-world fantasy RPGs that seemingly takes quite a bit of influence from The Witcher franchise, and nowhere is that more evident than in its general premise. Set in this universe's 18th century, The Skyland Chronicles sees players take control of Franco, an orphan who was raised to become a fierce warrior and pirate. Eventually, Franco's adventure on the high seas takes him to The Skyland, a mysterious fantasy realm where gnomes, elves, dwarfs, and humans coexist. However, things are far from peaceful.

Much like The Witcher's own fantasy world, The Skyland Chronicles' titular realm is filled with violence, tyranny, and greed. While wealthy monarchs rule the land poorly, a growing gang of rebels attempts to dethrone them and take the land back for themselves, a conflict that Franco ends up being thrust right into the middle of. Along the way, Franco will encounter different royal families, join forces with the rebels, and increase his public standing in any way he can, exploiting the chaotic world for his own personal gain.

The Skyland Chronicles is being worked on by MFA Games, a very small team that currently consists of less than 10 members. Naturally, The Skyland Chronicles probably won't be on the same scale as something like The Witcher 3.

According to The Skyland Chronicles' Steam page, the game will also borrow elements from Slavic folklore, specifically concerning its monster designs. This has always been a strong selling-point for The Witcher franchise, and it could be interesting to see how a new team of developers interprets these unique folklore inspirations.

The Skyland Chronicles' Gameplay Might Also Be Familiar to Witcher Fans

Though developer MFA Games hasn't revealed much about The Skyland Chronicles' gameplay, it does seem to be an open-world third-person action-adventure game, at least based on the screenshot posted on the game's Steam page. It also seems like The Skyland Chronicles' gameplay will have players hacking away at fantasy foes and monsters with a sword, firing a bow, and using an array of elemental magic abilities such as fire, ice, and poison. While hunting monsters seems to be the primary activity players will engage in, The Skyland Chronicles' Steam page mentions side activities such as dice games, while also teasing some kind of narrative choice system, where players are given a moral decision that affects story and gameplay.

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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Tag Page Cover Art

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 93 /100 Critics Rec: 95%

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Released: May 19, 2015
ESRB: M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
Developer(s): CD Projekt Red
Publisher(s): CD Projekt Red
Engine: REDengine 3
Cross-Platform Play: yes
Cross Save: yes

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You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will. Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world.

PLAY AS A HIGHLY TRAINED MONSTER SLAYER FOR HIRE
Trained from early childhood and mutated to gain superhuman skills, strength, and reflexes, witchers are a counterbalance to the monster-infested world in which they live.
Gruesomely destroy foes as a professional monster hunter armed with a range of upgradeable weapons, mutating potions, and combat magic. Hunt down a wide variety of exotic monsters, from savage beasts prowling mountain passes to cunning supernatural predators lurking in the shadowy back alleys of densely populated cities. Invest your rewards to upgrade your weaponry and buy custom armor, or spend them on horse races, card games, fist fighting, and other pleasures life brings.

EXPLORE A MORALLY AMBIGUOUS FANTASY OPEN WORLD
Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth, and complexity. Traverse a fantastical open world: explore forgotten ruins, caves, and shipwrecks, trade with merchants and dwarven smiths in cities, and hunt across the open plains, mountains, and seas. Deal with treasonous generals, devious witches, and corrupt royalty to provide dark and dangerous services. Make choices that go beyond good & evil, and face their far-reaching consequences.

Expansions: The Witcher 3: Hearts of Stone, The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine
Franchise: The Witcher
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Genre(s): RPG, Action, Adventure
How Long To Beat: 52 Hours
Metascore: 94

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