I just finished playing all three games plus the DLCs in a row, completing every side quest available along the way. In the third game, there are three possible endings for Ciri, based on five key choices you make regarding her throughout the story. During my playthrough, I tried to be the best dad possible.

I noticed online that many people say if you got the bad ending, it meant you didn’t trust Ciri or let her be herself. I strongly disagree, in my opinion, a good father should guide their children, teaching them to be responsible and emotionally strong. My Geralt was extremely supportive of Ciri but led by example, so I didn’t let her steal the horses in that side quest or destroy Avallac’h’s office.

When I reached the "bad ending", where Ciri goes into the portal to face the White Frost and never returns, and saw Geralt’s actions in the epilogue, I was devastated. After reflecting on this and watching the other two endings, I came to believe that the one I got, while sad, was actually the best. The White Frost was introduced in the first game as an inevitable threat to the entire world, and in the third game we learn that Ciri is the only one who can stop it. By teaching her responsibility and maturity, she realizes that she must make the ultimate sacrifice to save not only her loved ones but the world itself.

From this perspective, the so-called “good ending” is actually the worst, as it’s selfish, Ciri chooses to doom the world just to spend time as a Witcher with Geralt. After finishing the game, I played both DLCs, and in Blood and Wine, seeing Yennefer come to Corvo Bianco to stay with Geralt and retire softened the bitterness I felt from the bad ending. Even though Geralt lost his child, she died a hero he could be proud of, and he still found a measure of happiness.

One more thing, knowing that Ciri is alive in the next game makes this ending even better, because then we know for sure she didn’t die stopping the White Frost. She somehow succeeded and saved the world. What do you think about that?