What does it take, in my humble opinion, to be the best game? Is it the fun factor? Is it the moment to moment gameplay, happening while we’re playing and nothing else? Is it how interesting the concept is? Or is it the story, the world and the people of our games? Or is it something else?

Maybe it’s everything. Maybe it’s how the game makes us feel or how it impacts us on a personal level and on the gaming industry as a whole. I could have chosen a lot of games that fit these criteria such as God of War or Skyrim, two games which I have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy endlessly. But in the end, I’d have to choose The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Now I didn’t pick The Witcher 3 cos it’s anywhere near perfect, any one as soon as they boot up the game can realise there is something deeply wrong with the control system, it’s clunky, stiff and downright awkward indoors, moving through small houses, alleyways and doors is a pain the ass. Moving in combat can feel inelegant due to soft lock-on. Take Roach out on some bumpy terrain or up a rocky mountain and you’ll end up with a migraine. The controls are unruly and unyielding, and you’ll basically hit every object you can.

The Wild Hunt and Nilfgaard are also really underdeveloped. We never really see Nilfgaards diversity in culture, which is mentioned in the books. In The Witcher 3 it seems they are only there as invaders for narrative purposes, you will have to go far out of your way to learn anything about them of substance and still then it’s not that much, the same goes for The Wild Hunt. Both groups are missing a degree of characterisation you’d expect, especially since the rest of the game is so rich. Considering The Witcher 3 is not a game of black and white, The Wild Hunt is depicted as a generic evil. Ask yourself, who’s your favourite villain in The Witcher 3? I highly doubt you’d say Eredin.

Onto combat. Is it great? I wouldn’t say it’s bad, but it’s definitely not the best part of the game. It can be clunky, and it does not flow very well on the whole. The alchemy system is not as influential and can be seen as an afterthought especially on easier difficulties, and the game overall is not that hard. Even on Deathmarch I barely felt I was in danger even against the toughest of foes.

Now you might be thinking, “How is this his favourite game when he’s literally ripped into it for 3 paragraphs?” Well it’s simple really, every game has its flaws, even the best of games. Some games take their flaws to the grave, eaten alive by the disproportion of the frequency, but The Witcher 3 does not. It is a game that has a stunningly amount of care put into making the story and the world and the immersion feel unforgettable, its dynamic and thought provoking, full of choices and densely packed with twist, turns and nods to prior games. At every corner something interesting seems to happen, A Tower of Mice, Where the Wolf and Cat play, No Place Like Home, Paperchase and so many more interesting quests, not presented in some generic way though, but complicated, cloudy and very different, especially the cast.

Imagine reading the Bloody Baron synopsis on a sheet of paper: Alcoholic man, hurts family and seeks forgiveness for what he’s done. Not the most original idea is it? I’m sure every one of us has seen the same scenario in some form, whether it be tv series, book or another game, looking to portray the same emotions and character, but does it turn out any other way than you expect? Does it ever get as twisted and knotty and morbid as in The Witcher 3? A simple troupe turned multi-hour spiderweb of intricate detail, full of immediate player choice in the matter, with no one ending up the same in the end, whatever road they take. It hits on every emotional peak and valley and it’s only one questline in the game. How about this headline? Woman plays love song in a tavern. Or Ciri? It’s the classic Chosen One on the run troupe.

The framework of The Witcher 3 is quite basic, but it’s intention and presentation are extraordinary. Content has an amazing amount of characterisation and intricacy, taking you into these beautiful lands full of strange faces and interesting things to see, these characters have real stories, many of which the player can partake in, often influence outcomes as well. How can you not care, when so much work has been put in the game? Even the monsters, gross as they may be, are not black and white. Werewolves with feelings, Vampires, are they friends or foes? Mutants we might pity and more, even a ghost in a tree has a developed story. If you find something in The Witcher 3, chances are that it is well fleshed out and exciting, unlike most other titles. It can be incredibly engrossing to those willing to dive off into the deep end, into The Witcher 3’s tale, as you learn so much about why you are playing and what it means to the people in it.

It’s got many flaws, as I mentioned earlier, but they don’t detract from the immersion. It is a beautiful game, an enchanting adventure and a complicated masterpiece, with some flaws which you can easily ignore, when all is said and done.