The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt opens with a personal quest that soon unfolds into a continent-spanning hunt filled with conflict, political intrigue and moments of deep reflection. Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter and one of the last witchers, begins his journey in the quiet village of White Orchard. From there, he traverses war-torn kingdoms, treacherous cities and ancient isles in pursuit of Ciri, his adopted daughter. The path is long and often harsh, but it reveals the depth of Geralt’s character and the complexity of the world he inhabits.
White Orchard: The Calm Before the Storm
Geralt’s first steps in The Witcher 3 take place in White Orchard, a relatively peaceful farming village, yet even here the scars of war are evident. Temeria lies in ruins, and Nilfgaardian soldiers occupy the land. Geralt is drawn here by rumours of Yennefer’s presence, but this opening location also serves to ground the player in the game’s systems and tone.
Key moments include:
- The battle with the griffin, which sets the tone for monster contracts to come
- Encounters with locals who reveal the tensions between peasants and soldiers
- The initial reintroduction of Nilfgaard’s military might
Velen: No Man’s Land
The next major chapter unfolds in Velen, also known as No Man’s Land. This region is grim, devastated by conflict, famine and plague. It presents some of the game’s darkest and most morally ambiguous quests. The Bloody Baron questline stands out as a narrative highlight, illustrating how personal tragedy and power can corrupt.
In Velen, Geralt is:
- Searching for Ciri’s trail, learning she passed through while fleeing the Wild Hunt
- Navigating dealings with the Baron, the Crones of Crookback Bog and religious fanatics
- Facing monstrous threats that reflect the state of the land, from botchlings to fiends
Velen deepens the game’s themes of consequence and despair, with few clean resolutions.
Novigrad: City of Lies and Fire
Geralt’s journey takes him north to Novigrad, a massive free city under the thumb of the Church of the Eternal Fire. Despite its cosmopolitan sheen, the city seethes with corruption, bigotry and political manipulation.
Notable developments in Novigrad include:
- Reunions with Triss Merigold and other allies from earlier games
- The search for Dandelion, which leads through underground networks and cabaret plots
- A growing conflict between mages and the Eternal Fire’s inquisitors
- Progress in unravelling Ciri’s whereabouts via her involvement with the elven mage Avallac’h
Novigrad showcases CD Projekt Red’s ability to create densely layered urban storytelling that feels alive and dangerous in equal measure.
Skellige: Legacy and Storm
From the mainland, Geralt sails west to the Skellige Isles, a Norse-inspired archipelago filled with clans, tradition and political succession. Skellige feels distinct in atmosphere and culture, and its windswept landscapes contrast sharply with the rest of the continent.
Here, Geralt:
- Investigates Ciri’s final known movements, including her brush with the Wild Hunt
- Engages in local clan politics and helps determine Skellige’s next ruler
- Faces ancient curses and creatures tied to island myths
- Learns more about the Elder Blood prophecy and its link to Ciri’s destiny
The Skellige arc is filled with a sense of old-world honour, but also superstition and brutality. It brings Geralt closer to understanding what lies ahead.
A Path Forged by Choice
While the regions differ in culture and conflict, Geralt’s journey is held together by the choices he makes along the way. Whether he shows mercy, pursues revenge or prioritises love and loyalty, each decision shapes the world around him and the ending the player receives.
From White Orchard’s peaceful meadows to Skellige’s icy shores, Geralt’s journey in The Witcher 3 is a gradual confrontation with the consequences of power, the demands of love, and the role of a man caught between fading legends and harsh realities.
In the end, Geralt’s pursuit of Ciri becomes something deeper: a meditation on purpose, fatherhood and the value of humanity in a world ruled by monsters in many forms.
