The Witcher 3: Wild Huntis one of the greatest games ever made. That should not be a controversial statement. Developed by CD Projekt Red and released in 2015,The Witcher 3garnered near-universal praise for its ambitious storytelling and immersive setting. The game’s success propelled the somewhat niche franchise into the mainstream.
In this long and sprawling adventure,The Witcher 3concludes Geralt’s journeysatisfyingly… and that’s not even getting into the awesome combat, graphics, characters, lore, and everything else along the same lines. There aren’t many games that feel as fresh as CD Projekt Red’s masterpiece, but for any person who wishes to enjoy a similar experience, here are some of thebestgames likeThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Updated on June 12, 2025 by Mark Sammut:The Witcher 3 is primarily hailed for its writing and storytelling, but sometimes nothing is more satisfying than taking down a few massive creatures. Consequently, a Capcom franchise has been added as a recommendation, one that can scratch that Witcher itch despite being, ultimately, a very different experience.
OK, this recommendation is a bit of an odd one since, in many ways, Capcom’s franchise is the antithesis ofThe Witcher. While CD Projekt Red’s trilogy shines in its storytelling, world-building, single-player content, and character writing,Monster Hunteris all about combat, co-op, and engaging in a seemingly endless loop for better loot. Their core appeals could not be any more different, and if somebody is specifically craving an engaging and lengthy narrative, they 100% need to look elsewhere as they will not be satisfied byMonster Hunter’s tutorial-esque stories.
That said, Hunters and Witchers are pretty similar, with both “professions” specializing in tracking down and killing monsters.The Witcher 3combines these operations with a story, whileMonster Huntergenerally removes that element in favor of emphasizing the hunt itself. Even if the execution is different, they follow similar structures, with both games encouraging players to carefully prepare themselves before jumping into an encounter. Especially on higher difficulties, Geralt (and players) should be preparing potions to reduce the threat presented by monsters.Monster Hunterplays outsimilarly toThe Witcher, with players picking the ideal weapon, armor, and other items to counter a monster’s strength and target their weaknesses.
Monster Hunter Wildshas been highlighted due to recency bias, as the 2025 release is the latest entry in the franchise. While shaking up the formula in a few ways, this entry is still a traditionalMHexperience, one that offers a lot of content, multiplayer support, and a learning curve for newcomers. As fun as this project is, its predecessors are still great, withMonster Hunter WorldandRisebeing valid options. Even older entries likeMonster Hunter Generations: Ultimateare worth consideration, particularly for players craving a higher difficulty.
Path of Exileis arguably the best free action RPG of all time. Grinding Gear somehow managed to create one of the most complete experiences in the genre without resorting to pay-to-win mechanics, and the original 2013 release is still an easy recommendation for anybody craving an alternative toDiablo.The Witcherfans should check it out as well, as long as they understand they are getting into a very different type of RPG. Honestly, the same can largely be said for the sequel, which debuted in early access on July 16, 2025.
Path of Exile 2will be free-to-play once it makes its full debut. However, the early access version is not free.
For the most part,Path of Exile 2builds on the core ideas of its predecessor, offering a challenging campaign fueled by loot, character customization, co-op, and the road to the endgame. The full release will have six chapters and twelve classes, although only roughly half of those are currently in the early access version. While by no means bad, the story is fairly straightforward, telling a standard good vs evil tale that is relatively typical for isometric RPGs set in dark fantasy worlds. To be fair,The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s main storyline is pretty similar, at least if the nuance is removed.
Path of Exile 2excels in its world-building, dropping players in a fully-realized realm that is a blast to explore. The customization features are also top-notch, with players having access to what feels like endless options through gems and equipment.
One of the highlights of 2024, Capcom’sDragon’s Dogma 2builds nicely on its 2012 predecessor, delivering a more fine-tuned overall experience that still adheres to the original game’s blueprint. For better or worse, this sequel is moreDragon’s Dogma, albeit with most areas being slightly improved. While that should not discourage people from giving it a go, they should be aware that this action RPG is very much its own thing and does not take all that much influence from popular open-world games that launched after 2012.Dragon’s Dogma 2is not trying to beThe Witcher 3, but it has enough similarities to warrant a recommendation for fans of CD Projekt Red’s masterpiece.
As the Arisen, players travel through a fairly large dark fantasy kingdom in search of a dragon, and their journey will be defined by unexpected danger and combat. The latter is by farDragon’s Dogma 2’s strongest feature, with Capcom developing a robust battle system that supports animpressive range of weapon typesand vocations (classes). UnlikeThe Witcher 3, the 2024 release lets players create their own characters along with Pawns, who are essentially companions. Most of the campaign revolves around taking on traveling quests, with players having to protect themselves and usually NPCs from roaming threats.Dragon’s Dogma 2crafts a tangible sense that death could be around any corner, and battles are emergent and feel almost random.
Elden Ringtook the gaming world by storm in a way that the popular but still nicheDark Soulsgames never quite managed. Set in a vast world that demands to be explored,Elden Ringmostly leaves players to their own devices as they traverse the unknown in search of the Great Runes. Unsurprisingly, this journey proves to be extremely difficult.
Honestly,Elden Ring’s combat, lore presentation, and pacingare not that similar toThe Witcher 3 –FromSoftware’s game is very much its own beast. That said, when it comes toaction open-world RPGs, both releases were game-changers and deliver experiences that are hard to top. Rather than a direct alternative toThe Witcher 3,Elden Ringworks well as a companion piece that excels in the inverse areas as CD Projekt Red’s game.Elden Ring’s flexible class system, challenging combat, and loot are among the best in the action RPG genre. While executed very differently than inThe Witcher 3, FromSoftware’s title still features fantastic world-building and writing, with the latter largely being limited to environmental storytelling and lore drops.
Shadow of the Erdtreeexpands beautifully on the base game, and it is long enough to keep somebody engaged for dozens of hours.
DescribingPlanescape: Tormentas an “action RPG” is generous since its combat is static and one-note. That said, the bland battles are worth putting up with to experience everything else this classic has to offer. WhileThe Witcher 3is generally treated as the standard-bearer for quality writing in RPGs,Planescape: Tormentheld that title for a very long time.
More importantly, the game’s story, world-building, and dialogue have aged quite well. Permitting someone goes in with realistic expectations,Planescape: Tormentis still a must-play RPG and one of the best extensions of theDungeons & Dragonsuniverse.
Any of the last fewAssassin’s Creedgames are safe picks for those seeking epic adventures; however,Odysseygets the nod when it comes togames likeThe Witcher 3since it marked the point when Ubisoft’s series fully embraced role-playing elements. Dialogue options and branching paths are integrated into the storyline, providing players more agency than in previousAssassin’s Creedtitles.
The open-world is enormous and blends history with fiction, creating a landscape littered with jaw-dropping vistas and neat details. Although not quite reachingThe Witcher 3level,Odyssey’s story is solid enough, as are the combat and progression systems. Despite its British Isle setting being closer toThe Witcher 3,Valhallais far more bloated and polarizing than its predecessor, along with having arguably weaker combat.
Kingdoms of Amalurexcels in different areas thanThe Witcher 3. Its story is a bit uninspired and doesn’t become anything more than just serviceable; conversely,the game’s combat is smooth, fast-paced, flexible, and creative. The protagonist lacks Geralt’s personality; however,Kingdoms of Amalur’scustomization options provide players with plenty of room to create their own heroes.
The Witcher 3andKingdoms of Amalurboth take place in rich fantasy settings that are visually captivating, although the latter’s world is far more colorful than the former. For those seeking an action-heavy RPG, this gameis the way to go.
This should not be much of an issue due to the 2012 version’s scarcity, but new players should pick up 2020’sKingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning.
Placing the player in the boots of a noble emissary exploring a mostly undeveloped island,GreedFalloffers a large and dynamic map to uncover. The third-person view that mixes a nice range of melee weapons and firearms gives this ARPG a unique feel that will resonate well with fans ofThe Witchergames.
There are a ton of cool, original monsters to meet and slay, though the vibrant natural world offers more than just combat. Players can romance various companions along the way, build diplomatic relations with powerful politicians, and bring peace to the divided factions crowding the island.
CD Projekt Red’s follow-up toThe Witcher 3had big shoes to fill; unfortunately,Cyberpunk 2077’s launch was anything but smooth, with the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game being riddled with bugs. On PC and next-gen consoles, theaction RPGis a far more enjoyable experience, allowing for the game’s strengths to shine through more clearly. The 2.0 update made things considerably better, as did the Phantom Liberty expansion.
Cyberpunk 2077’s greatest achievement isNight City, a bustling metropolis filled with skyscrapers stamped with the sigils of corporations that tower over gang-torn streets. Although it trades a third-person perspective for FPS gameplay,Cyberpunk 2077’s engrossing storytelling, convincing NPCs, and dense world are deeply reminiscent ofThe Witcher 3.
Similar to howThe Witcher 3set a new standard for writing in RPGs, particularly for side quests, 2000’sDeus Exraised the bar when it comes to player freedom. Blending first-person shooter gameplay with RPG concepts like customization and non-linear levels, Ion Storm’s masterpiece was well ahead of its contemporaries in many areas. Even all these years later, few games come close to matchingDeus Ex’s stellar level design and immersion, and that includesits highly-regarded sequels.
Deus Exis a very different experience thanThe Witcher 3, but they both represent the RPG genre at its best. Although dated in some ways, Ion Storm’s classic holds up very well overall; in fact,Deus Excan be described as timeless.
