Forecast for 2025’s new games

Surely one of the most important years in video game history will be 2025. Like in past years, developers postponed at least one significant role-playing game until the next year to prevent overshadowing the one before it, therefore providing 2025 with a competitive edge. The most eagerly awaited video games of 2025 are briefly summarized here:

Grand Theft Auto 6

Action-Adventure

Rockstar’s 2025 debut is the most-awaited game of the year, returning to Vice City with a criminal pair evocative of Bonnie and Clyde. No PC release date has been disclosed, but this will be the largest launch of the calendar year — barring any delays, which is still possible.

Doom: The Dark Ages

First-Person Shooter

Doom, the protagonist of one of the most groundbreaking first-person shooter series, will be transported to a bleak fantasy precursor setting in the Dark Ages in the next installment. A third excellent Doom game in ten years would be fantastic.

Civilization 7

4X Strategy

Major improvements are coming to Civilization in the upcoming installment of this groundbreaking 4X series. This time, Firaxis advocates a “layered” vision of history with new civilizations at the start of each age and fewer, longer periods.

Avowed 

Role-Playing Game (RPG)

The next Obsidian RPG Avowed will be a fantasy open-world game based on Pillars of Eternity. Obsidian would like nobody to call it Skyrim, yet that is basically what it is. But we believe the most essential thing is that the distinctions are what really sell it.

Monster Hunter Wilds

Action Role-Playing Game (ARPG)

It seems like Wilds could be the last installment in a string of excellent Monster Hunter games that have been going on for a while. With a more responsive simulated open world full of monsters to hunt, it seems to be the advancement we were looking for from Monster Hunter World.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows 

Action-Adventure / Stealth

The long-awaited return to the series’ origins will continue with Assassin’s Creed in Japan. Shadows return the focus on stealth, following in Mirage’s footsteps, in contrast to the open-world action Creed games of recent years.

Death Stranding 2 

Open-World Adventure

Once more, Sam Bridges sets out on an open-world expedition to rescue humanity from an end-of-the-world scenario. From what we can see, it will be as bizarre as everything else Kojima has done. We can’t wait to see if it’s PC-friendly and released that year.

The Witcher 4 

Role-Playing Game (RPG)

CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 4 will star Ciri over 10 years after the third chapter. Players may anticipate a huge open world, improved visuals, and meaningful narrative choices influencing the story. The moral depth and magic-based gameplay will undoubtedly revolutionize role-playing games.

Two Point Museum

Simulation / Strategy

You and your friends assume the position of a museum curator in this commercial strategy game developed by the same team behind Two Point Hospital. Manage personnel, security, and priceless treasures as you construct, expand, and market your museum. Two Point Museum brings a new twist to the simulation genre, focusing on innovation and fun. 

Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered

Action-Adventure / Platformer

This updated trilogy allows fans of the renowned archaeologist Lara Croft to relive her exploits. These games provide a contemporary take on classics with updated graphics and visual style swapability. A wider audience will be able to enjoy the remaster since it is optimized to work on modest technology.

Star Wars: Episode I: Jedi Power Battles

Action Role-Playing Game (ARPG)

This Star Wars-themed fantasy RPG incorporates lightsaber duels and Phantom Menace narrative point continuation. Featuring both single-player and multiplayer modes, the upgraded edition brings new characters and better gameplay while retaining the vintage charm.

Mafia: The Old Country

Action-Adventure

In this cinematic action-adventure, Hangar 13 and 2K Games explore the mafia realm of Sicily. Navigating the ethically complicated life of Enzo Favara, players will balance loyalty, retribution, and survival in this 1900s-set game. Fans of narrative-driven games will find this game exceptional due to its deep plot and Unreal Engine 5 visuals.

Morsels (Furcula)

Indie

The first reveal trailer for Morsels captivated viewers with its unique visual style and innovative concept, distinguishing it from other exceptional independent films scheduled for release in 2025. Players take control of a mouse that, when leveling up, has the power to morph into a Morse code in this roguelike creature collection game. To conquer whatever obstacle they encounter while exploring the bizarre and fantastical realms of Morsels, players can shift into other creatures whenever they choose.

With the variety of games to play that will rock 2025, you and your device should be prepared. With such a wide roster, 2025 is shaping up to be a momentous year for gamers across platforms, including consoles, mobile, and PC. Prepare for a year of memorable gaming!

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What are Game Updates and Why do they matter? 

Game updates are the constant changes that developers make to improve gameplay, fix different bugs, add new features, or modify existing mechanics. Even though the updates improve the player experience, they also have a considerable effect in competitive arenas like esports.

Balance Changes: Developers tend to modify the abilities of the character, item stats, or map configurations to prevent any one strategy from becoming the dominant meta (the most effective way to play at any time). This keeps the game exciting and encourages innovation among professional players.

Patches: Regular software updates can include bug fixes, performance improvements or entirely new content. These can break established strategies and force teams to adapt fast. For esports bettors being ahead of the curve is key because these changes affect team performance, player reaction and betting odds.

Immediate Market Response

When major updates hit, the betting market freezes for a bit. Bookies need time to figure out how the changes affect team performance and playstyles. This is a window where experienced bettors who quickly understand patch implications can find value.

For example, when a popular champ in a MOBA gets nerfed, teams who play that strategy will see their odds get longer. When a weapon is buffed in an FPS game, teams that weren’t considered good before can suddenly become viable.

Team Adaptation Periods

Professional teams react differently to patches. Some adapt fast, others struggle. This adaptation period creates interesting betting opportunities:

• Top teams might underperform initially as they adjust
• Lower ranked teams can surge if the patch favors their playstyle
• Teams with flexible strategies usually perform more stable
• Specialist teams might see big swings in their win rate

The speed of adaptation often correlates with the team’s infrastructure. Teams with analysts and practice squads adapt faster, they are safer to bet on during transition periods.

Impact on Different Betting Markets

Patches affect different betting markets differently:

Tournament Winners: Long-term bets become riskier as multiple patches can drop before the tournament ends. Smart bettors usually avoid tournament winner bets straight after a big patch.

Match Betting: Match odds fluctuate more after a patch. Early matches in a new patch create opportunities for those who adapt fast.

Map-specific Bets: Changes to the maps or objectives can completely flip certain betting markets. A small terrain change can impact an entire map’s win rate.

Player Performance: Player stats markets need a big adjustment when character abilities change. Over/under bets that were Previously reliably become unpredictable.

Game Update Tips for Esports Betting

1. Stay Current: Keep up with the latest patches and balance changes. Follow official game developer channels, esports news sites, and community forums to stay informed about upcoming and recent updates.
2. Read Patch Notes: When an update drops, read the patch notes. Knowing what’s changed can give you an idea of how it will impact gameplay and team performance.
3. Observe Player and Team Reactions: Pay attention to how different teams and players react to updates. The information on how they are adapting can be gotten through social media, player streams,s and interviews.
4. Look out for Value: Game updates also create value bets that you must look out for. As the market adjusts, there might be a hike in the value of underdog teams or players who are less affected by the changes.

Smart Betting

Smart bettors look for opportunities when updates hit:

1. Following teams with strong analytical teams that adapt quickly
2. Watching scrimmage results for early clues
3. Tracking player tweets
4. Reading update notes before placing bets
5. Watching pro matches on a new patch
6. Following pro player streams for meta discoveries

Regional Differences

Regions interpret and adapt to updates differently:

• Asian teams find new meta strategies first
• Western teams stick to old patterns for longer
• Smaller regions take longer to optimize new strategies
• Cross-region tournaments become more unpredictable
• Regional metas develop independently
• Scrim partner availability affects adaptation speed

These regional variations create opportunities in international betting.

Updates bring a special sauce to esports betting that rewards analysis and quick thinking. While it increases market variance, it also gives knowledgeable bettors an edge who know the game and the market. To win, you need to stay up to date on updates and how they affect play patterns. As esports moves forward, adapting to updates is becoming more and more crucial for a solid betting strategy.

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Improve Hand-Eye Coordination

Whether you’re an athlete looking to improve your game or simply want to enhance your overall dexterity, improving your hand-eye coordination is an incredibly useful skill to have. The ability to accurately and efficiently coordinate the movements of your hands and eyes is essential for a wide variety of activities, from playing sports and video games to cooking and writing. Fortunately, there are a number of exercises and techniques you can use to hone this important skill, such as juggling, playing catch, and using a reflex ball. With patience and practice, you’ll soon notice a marked improvement in your hand-eye coordination, which can translate to increased confidence and competence in all areas of your life.

Increase Problem-Solving Skills

Problem-solving is an essential life skill that can be applied in both personal and professional settings. Those who possess strong problem-solving skills are often better equipped to navigate challenges and make critical decisions with ease. However, if you find yourself struggling in this area, know that this is a skill that can be actively developed and improved over time. For instance, taking the time to thoughtfully analyze a problem, seeking alternative solutions, and incorporating feedback are all excellent ways to enhance your problem-solving abilities. By honing these skills, you’ll not only boost your confidence in tackling complex problems but also become a strong asset in whatever field you pursue.

Enhance Memory and Attention Span

Our daily lives can be hectic, filled with endless tasks and distractions that can make it challenging to focus and retain information. Enhancing memory and attention span through various activities and techniques can help us become more productive and effective in our daily pursuits. Simple habits such as getting enough sleep, staying physically active, and eating a nutritious diet can significantly impact our cognitive abilities. Engaging in activities that challenge the mind, such as puzzles, games, or even learning a new language, can also sharpen memory and critical thinking skills. By incorporating these practices into our everyday lives, we can improve our ability to recall information, stay focused, and ultimately achieve our goals with ease.

Improve Social Interaction and Teamwork

Improving social interaction and teamwork is essential for success in both personal and professional settings. By fostering an environment that encourages collaboration and communication, individuals are better equipped to work together towards a common goal. Social interaction strengthens relationships, builds trust, and facilitates better decision-making among team members. Effective teamwork requires clear communication, respect for diverse perspectives, and a willingness to work toward a shared vision. Investing in team-building activities, workshops, and training can help individuals develop strong interpersonal skills, enhance their ability to work in a team, and ultimately achieve greater success both personally and professionally.

Help Combat Stress and Anxiety

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s no secret that stress and anxiety have become increasingly prevalent. From the pressures of work to the constant barrage of news and information, it can be difficult to disconnect and find peace of mind. Fortunately, there are a variety of proven techniques that can help combat stress and anxiety. Meditation and mindfulness exercises can help quiet the mind and alleviate tension, while exercise and physical activity can release endorphins to boost mood and reduce anxiety. It’s also important to prioritize self-care, such as getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and taking breaks when needed. By incorporating these strategies into your daily routine, you can find greater peace and resilience amid life’s challenges.

Develop Confidence and Self-Esteem

Developing confidence and self-esteem can be a challenging journey, but it’s an important one. Feeling confident in your abilities and worth can improve your mental health, relationships, and overall quality of life. It’s important to remember that building confidence is a process that takes time and effort. Start by setting small goals for yourself and celebrating your successes, no matter how small. Be kind to yourself and practice positive self-talk. Surround yourself with supportive people who uplift and encourage you. Remember that self-esteem comes from within and is not based on external factors such as appearance or accomplishments. With dedication and self-compassion, you can build the unshakable confidence and self-esteem you deserve.

Conclusion

Ultimately, a person’s ability to benefit from playing video games goes far beyond the time they spend actively engaging with the game. With all of the social, cognitive, and emotional benefits that come along with gaming, it is no surprise that this activity has become so popular around the world. From sharpening hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills to helping fight stress and anxiety and enhancing memory and attention span – video games can help develop self-confidence, social interactivity and teamwork. This technological marvel can provide many ways for people to connect emotionally in ways traditional board games never could. Whether enjoyed alone or together in groups, video games are here to stay!

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Get to know your gaming platform and every aspect of its controls 

As a gamer, you know how important it is to have a solid grasp of every aspect of your platform’s controls. From getting the most out of your console or computer to nailing those tricky combination moves, taking the time to study your gaming platform in depth can pay off with more wins and higher scores. To truly compete with the best, you need to know your platform inside and out. So get to know those buttons, master those menus and discover all the tricks and shortcuts that can help you level up your gaming skills. It won’t be long until you’re dominating the leaderboards and impressing your fellow gamers with your expert moves.

Use the practice mode to perfect your skills and strategies 

Are you looking to improve your skills and strategies in any given area? One effective way to do so is by utilizing practice mode – an invaluable tool for honing your abilities. Whether you’re interested in mastering a new language, perfecting your swing on the golf course, or achieving greater proficiency in a video game, practice mode is the key to unlocking your potential. By providing a low-pressure environment in which to experiment and learn, practice mode allows you to make mistakes and try out new tactics without fear of defeat or embarrassment. So why wait? Start using practice mode today and see your skills and strategies flourish like never before!

Spend time researching and watching streaming tutorials on YouTube or Twitch 

With the rise of digital content creation, the internet has become a hub of learning resources. Among them, YouTube and Twitch stand out as two of the most popular platforms for tutorial videos. You can always download videos from YouTube and watch them later. Whether you’re an aspiring artist, musician, gamer, or just someone looking to learn a new skill, there’s likely a tutorial out there with your name on it. From step-by-step guides to in-depth discussions, these platforms offer a wealth of knowledge and insight from experts in their field. So, why not spend some time exploring the world of online tutorials? Who knows, you might just discover your next favorite hobby or even a new career path.

Find a gaming community that can help you stay motivated and provide feedback on gameplay

Are you tired of playing games in isolation? Do you want to be part of a community that shares your love for gaming? Look no further, as there are many gaming communities out there that can help you stay motivated and improve your gameplay experience. These communities offer a platform for gamers to connect, share their experiences, and provide valuable feedback on each other’s gameplay. Whether you are a casual player, a competitive gamer, or a streamer, there is a community out there that caters to your needs. Joining a gaming community not only helps you improve your gaming skills, but also provides a sense of belonging and camaraderie that can make your gaming experience more enjoyable. So why play alone when you can be part of a supportive community of gamers?

Utilize the replay feature to review past matches and analyze your opponents’ strategies 

One of the key components to improving in any competitive game is analyzing your opponents’ strategies. The replay feature available in many games offers an opportunity to review past matches and identify trends in your opponent’s gameplay. By utilizing this feature, you can identify weaknesses in your strategy and refine your overall game plan. Whether you are a seasoned pro or a casual player, taking the time to review your past matches can improve your gameplay and lead to more victories. So next time you finish a game, take advantage of the replay feature and start analyzing. Who knows, you might just uncover the key to dominating your opponents.

Take regular breaks to help you focus better when you go back in-game

When it comes to gaming, it’s easy to get lost in the action and forget about the outside world. However, taking regular breaks is essential to help you stay focused and perform better in-game. Stepping away from the computer screen for a few minutes can do wonders for your eyes, posture, and mental stamina. It allows you to stretch your legs, eat something, or take a moment to clear your head, so you can go back in-game refreshed and ready to win. Remember, the key to success in gaming is not about how long you play but how well you play. So, listen to your body, take breaks often, and see how much difference it makes in your performance.

Conclusion

Ultimately, gaming is about having fun and enjoying the process of improving your skills. So take a deep breath and don’t worry if you can’t master the game right away. Everyone has to start somewhere, so use all the tools and resources available at your disposal. Get to know the features of your gaming platform, practice your gameplay through tutorials or practice mode, use helpful feedback from other gamers, analyze replays of past matches, and review every aspect that you can potentially improve upon. Don’t forget to take breaks too as it will help sharpen your focus when you go back in-game. Go step by step and soon enough you will see those improvements come to fruition! Good luck on your gaming journey–you can do this!

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The events of The Witcher 2: Assassins of the Kings take place one year after the assassination attempt on the king of Temeria Foltest, which Geralt prevented. After that, Geralt stayed with the monarch as his personal bodyguard during the investigation of the assassination attempt. As time went on, the investigation came to a standstill. Geralt accompanied the king throughout Temeria on his march, the purpose of which was to quell all sorts of pockets of civil war. However, no sooner had the ground dried with blood than the Baroness of La Valette rebelled against the King, infuriated by the fact that Foltest was unwilling to legitimize the children born to her without giving them the right to the succession. With the support of part of the earldom, she intended to diminish the monarch’s influence and undermine his authority in the eyes of the nobility. The king immediately marched with an army and laid siege to La Valletta Castle, and then launched an assault, in which the witch doctor also participated. After the successful assault, the king and the witch doctor went to fetch his children, whom he was going to take with him to the capital. However, at the most unexpected moment, a new assassination attempt occurs on the king, which this time Geralt was unable to prevent. The king dies, and Geralt, in the absence of any witnesses to what happened, is accused of the monarch’s murder and thrown into prison. Now the hero has to figure out who and why killed the king, and restore his name by proving his innocence.

From the very beginning of the story campaign the game plunges the player into an abyss of intrigue and suspense, luring in interesting questions and situations. The protagonist, as well as the player himself, seems to be in a fog, in which sometimes barely discernible outlines of significant events emerge. This allows the game to sustain a special atmosphere of mystery and invisible scale of events. Who is responsible for the death of the king? Who benefits from the weakening of one of the strongest states of the North? Who is behind all these events? Although some of the answers lie on the surface, the script skillfully takes the player’s attention in another direction, leaving simple answers out of his sight.

In general, The Witcher 2 has become a real political thriller. From now on the decisions made by the player depend on the fate of entire states, and the witch will meet with several rulers of the northern lands, each of which will pursue their own goals, completely opposite to the other participants in the events. And therein lies the problem. On the one hand – it is very interesting to watch and even take part in such large-scale political events, having a direct impact on the fate of the North, but on the other hand – the game itself seems to not understand what it wants to be: a story about Heralt or a story about the North. The constant shift of emphasis from the witch’s personal story to the history of the kingdoms and back creates a feeling of inferiority in both story arcs and leads to a lack of proper empathy for the characters.

But despite this, the story of The Witcher 2 still manages to catch and hold the player’s attention, immerse in the atmosphere and tell a rather interesting story about a little witch in a huge geopolitical mechanism of the North. In addition, unlike the first and the third parts of the series, the plot in The Witcher 2 can be called really non-linear. Yes, in the end all events will lead to one of two opposite outcomes, but the opportunity to pass the game though only two, but VERY different ways – really pays off. In fact, dramatically changed only one chapter of the three, but even that is enough to re-pass, because it allows you to look at the same events based on different points of view. True, and in this barrel of honey has a fly in the ointment. It’s about the consequences of choices made in the original The Witcher. What’s wrong with them? They just aren’t there. And yes, perhaps for some it’s something not very significant, but personally for me, the choices made in the first part were very important both emotionally and logically. And the sequel… just flushes it all down the toilet, telling the player, sorry, but you’re going to play by my rules. And yes, I understand that this was necessary in order to create a coherent and coherent story, but you could have at least explained it somehow. Because of this, it was much easier for me to make some “hard” and emotional choices as I went along, simply because I was already preparing myself for the fact that these choices would have no real consequences for the plot of the entire trilogy. And, spoiler alert, I turned out to be right, but that’s a whole other story.

Back to the characters

The characters in Assassins of Kings are real gold. Every more or less significant character that appears on the screen evokes a palette of different emotions. Some the player will wholeheartedly despise, some will respect, but what each character succeeds is to instill in the player the belief that they are real, that each of them is a person. Each of the characters pursues their own goals through their own methods, and few of them can be reproached for being too grotesque. As a result, by the end of the game you don’t want to part with them at all, even those who evoked sharply negative emotions.

Even the in-game communication with the characters became much more lively. The characters are not just talking heads as they were in the first part, now they gesticulate in every possible way, interact with objects, and in the end do not stand still. In general, the production in the game has reached a new level. Epic battles, magical cataclysms, and eventually sex! The Witcher is now not only enjoyable to play, but also enjoyable to watch.

However, it’s time to talk about the gameplay, which was the most ambiguous part of The Witcher 2. The gameplay concept compared to the original The Witcher is almost unchanged. In front of us is still a full-fledged Action RPG with a third-person perspective, with a focus on combat, which in comparison with the first part of the extremely strongly evolved. Henceforth the combat is not a mini-game where you have to press the attack button for a continuous combo, no – now the combat system has become a complex and demanding to the attention and tactics of combat. Opponents hurt, and The Witcher has become somewhat less agile. These conditions force the player to be constantly on the alert, to have time to block or dodge the blows of opponents, choose good moments for a counterattack and be able to make a tactical retreat in time. That said, a bit of a problem for me was the intuitiveness of the controls, which I spent a good portion of the game constantly confused, leading to unpleasant and seemingly unfair deaths.

The game has introduced an energy mechanic, which Geralt spends on using signs or blocking blows. Energy is spent for each individual active action and is restored gradually. Fighting stances are gone, so in battle with different types of enemies (which, by the way, is much less than in the original The Witcher) have to adjust to their style of battle is not a change of stance, and their own tactics and various devices, such as traps, bombs or throwing knives, as well as the competent use of the signs, which have also been redesigned. From now on signs began to work not on the area, but point by point on each individual enemy, which the player has chosen as his target. This greatly complicated the battle against a large concentration of opponents, as now you can not, for example, knock down several opponents at once with the Aard to seize the initiative, now signs have to be used more thoughtfully and try not to waste energy in order not to remain defenseless at the most inopportune moment. Due to the inability to block all blows, as there is not enough energy, from now on the sign Kwen became the most useful and used sign, leaving the others far behind in terms of frequency of use. Because of this poking skills associated with other characters almost lost meaning, because the usefulness of them has become much less.

Speaking of pumping. It too has undergone significant changes and has become more simple and familiar to the modern RPG. From now on skill points do not differ by level of their application (bronze, silver, gold talents in the original The Witcher), and represent the most common skill points, issued for the achievement of a new level, which can be spent to improve the available abilities in each of the four branches of skills – basic, alchemical, weaponry and magic. And, as in the first part, the alchemical skills are only useful at high difficulty levels.

Difficulty

In The Witcher 2 the situation is very strange. The difference between difficulty levels here is built disproportionately and unevenly. On a light difficulty you don’t have to worry about combat tactics, but as soon as you try to increase the difficulty to medium, the game becomes much harder and more demanding, as if you’re playing not on medium, but on high. And the high level of difficulty itself is practically the same as the medium. Began to pass the game on medium the first time, because of unpreparedness, I could not overcome the first boss, and when I decided to pass it on easy, just shut him up with a sword in a few seconds. The game is very lacking balanced medium difficulty, which would not be too much bother to customize the build, but do not relax more than necessary to get pleasure from not the easiest victory.

The game has introduced an energy mechanic, which Geralt spends on using signs or blocking blows. Energy is spent for each individual active action and is restored gradually. Fighting stances are gone, so in battle with different types of enemies (which, by the way, is much less than in the original The Witcher) have to adjust to their style of battle is not a change of stance, and their own tactics and various devices, such as traps, bombs or throwing knives, as well as the competent use of the signs, which have also been redesigned. From now on signs began to work not on the area, but point by point on each individual enemy, which the player has chosen as his target. This greatly complicated the battle against a large concentration of opponents, as now you can not, for example, knock down several opponents at once with the Aard to seize the initiative, now signs have to be used more thoughtfully and try not to waste energy in order not to remain defenseless at the most inopportune moment. Due to the inability to block all blows, as there is not enough energy, from now on the sign Kwen became the most useful and used sign, leaving the others far behind in terms of frequency of use. Because of this poking skills associated with other characters almost lost meaning, because the usefulness of them has become much less.

Speaking of pumping

It too has undergone significant changes and has become more simple and familiar to the modern RPG. From now on skill points do not differ by level of their application (bronze, silver, gold talents in the original The Witcher), and represent the most common skill points, issued for the achievement of a new level, which can be spent to improve the available abilities in each of the four branches of skills – basic, alchemical, weaponry and magic. And, as in the first part, the alchemical skills are only useful at high difficulty levels.

The main incentive for the player to get into all these battles, as usual, are the quests. Both the main and additional tasks, in comparison with the first part, became more varied and diverse. Sometimes you need to solve a riddle, and sometimes even pass the level on a curve, but still stealth. Many additional tasks can be performed in different ways and get completely different results in making your own decisions, which, again, contributes to the replayability.

The only problem is the locations themselves and the endless backtracking, which became though less than in the original The Witcher, but still a lot. Locations became more compact, but at the same time Geralt cut the speed of movement, so I had to pump up the skill roll to the maximum, just to roll faster and more to reduce the time of empty running.

And perhaps this running would not be so depressing if the environment did not introduce boredom. The game locations, in general, can’t be called terrible, but they lack some… charm, some atmosphere, or something. They are rather monotonous and quickly get bored because of the constant running back and forth. And because of the not very handy map, navigating the area often becomes very problematic, which leads to even more running. Of course, my point of view on the location design is pure subjectivity, but even I remember the damn Swamp from the original The Witcher more than any location from The Witcher 2.

But what you can’t take away from the game is the really beautiful visuals. Compared to the first part of the series, the graphics level is on a cosmic level. Shadows, textures, characters’ faces and especially the lighting – everything looks great even today. Furthermore, we want to highlight the design of the characters. Costumes, hairstyles, makeup, various features of appearance – all this makes you fall even more in love with any fleeting hero. Only minor optimization problems and, of course, bugs and crashes, of which I had quite a few, overshadow this idyll. Almost every third quick save caused crashes, which at one point made me quit the game for 2 months. Perhaps this problem is rare enough, but extremely unpleasant and painful.

And with what there is no problem – it’s the way the game sounds. There were no revelations and no revolutions, but the game sounds and the soundtrack generally work well for atmosphere and dynamics, intelligently highlight accents and in the end just please the ear. It doesn’t reach the level of the original The Witcher, but it doesn’t fall to the level of “average”.

So what’s the bottom line?

Is The Witcher 2 worth the time invested? In my opinion – definitely worth it. Yes, the game is uneven, in some places it is problematic. But after I’ve completed the game three times, I really enjoyed it. It is completely different from its predecessor, and so it was more interesting to get to know. I loved The Witcher for its ambiguous but interesting, challenging combat, memorable characters, interesting story, and beautiful visuals. But I also disliked it for its abundance of backtracking, its dragging out in places, and its technical state. And no matter how many times I polled people who played The Witcher 2, I never heard the same opinion. And that’s the sign of a true work of art.

Pros

Thrilling story; interesting combat system; memorable characters; overall picture quality; non-linear narrative and quests; soundtrack and overall game ambience; memorable bosses.

Cons

Technical condition (crashes, bugs, FPS slumps); poor environmental design; lack of balanced difficulty; little variety of enemies; unintuitive controls; lack of results from the original The Witcher decisions; plenty of backtracking.

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