Despite the game being available for 10 years, a fan of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt stated that it took them over 1,000 hours of gameplay before discovering that an NPC could be saved from being burned at the stake outside the gates of Novigrad. Given that this minor character's salvation can only be seen early in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, this scene is understandably easy for most players to overlook.

This New Wild Hunt Release is Hopefully a Sign of What's to Come With Witcher 4

Originally released in May 2015, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is considered one of the best open-world games of all time, with ports to platforms like the original Switch and the PS5 happening years after its initial launch. Compared to its predecessors, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt kept a focus on Geralt's interactions with the people of the Northern Realms, along with seeking out dangerous monsters that call untamed lands their home. With additions like New Game+ that were included in post-launch updates, each new playthrough of The Witcher 3 can feel like a fresh experience with some added benefits.

A Witcher Player Witnesses a Hidden Scene After 1,000 Hours of Gameplay

While The Witcher series is home to some scary secrets throughout its troubled lands, there are also moments where its protagonist, Geralt of Rivia, can step in and be someone's hero. On The Witcher 3 subreddit, a Reddit user named Skip13ayles shared a video that showed Geralt encountering a man being burned at the stake by Redanian witch hunters. Rather than avoid a confrontation with the guards, Skip13ayles chose to free the burning man, which resulted in a quick scuffle with the Redanians. Skip13ayles stated that, despite logging over 1,000 hours of gameplay, they had no idea that the man being burned outside Novigrad could be spared from his fiery demise.

In the aftermath, the man was revealed as the sorcerer Moritz Diefenthel, who was arrested by the Redanian guards for practicing magic. Though other The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt fans discovered that Moritz could be saved from the witch hunters, Skip13ayles' video uncovered another dialogue option available to Geralt after completing the quest, "A Matter of Life and Death." Rather than chiding Moritz for pointing out Geralt in a crowd, the titular Witcher instructs Moritz to go find their mutual acquaintance, Triss Merigold, whom Moritz previously insulted during a masquerade ball. Geralt reveals to Moritz that Triss and several mages are fleeing Redania to escape King Radovid's tyranny.

The Witcher 3 Triss Cosplay

If Geralt does the ensuing quest "Now or Never" after saving Moritz, he is confirmed to be with the other mages on their successful flight from Redania. With The Witcher 4 still in development, it remains to be seen if Geralt's successor, Ciri, will have similar encounters in the upcoming title.

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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Tag Page Cover Art
9 /10

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
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RPG
Action
Adventure
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Systems
super greyscale 8-bit logo PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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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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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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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
Steam Deck Compatibility
verified
Genre(s)
RPG, Action, Adventure
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
How Long To Beat
52 Hours
X|S Optimized
yes
PS Plus Availability
N/A