Although they released in 2011 and 2015, respectively, Skyrim and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are still held up as some of the best RPGs of the decade by many. It's pretty easy to see why, as they both enrapture players in various means, whether it's the open-ended, multi-storyline approach of Skyrim or the more-focused and unique The Witcher 3.

Given their standing, it's easy enough for anyone to compare the two games, but as it stands, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is better than Skyrim in a number of ways.

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The Chosen One Archetype

For those unfamilar with this concept, the Chosen One archetype is a style of hero is chosen to complete their quest. It's one of the most common elements in video games, and while it works, it's often relieving when a story does not incorporate. As such, Skyrim has a clear Chosen One archetype, whereas The Witcher 3 does not. In Skyrim, players are the Dragonborn, a sole individual capable of absorbing dragon souls and defeating Alduin. There's another Dragonborn in DLC, but nothing that really undermines this concept.

In The Witcher 3, though, Geralt is not really chosen and there more than just a handful of Witchers (even if there are far less after a massacre at Kaer Morhen). Geralt basically finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, cast into a destiny alongside Ciri and her prophecy, so he stands out more as a character because of this.

Unique Monsters

Witcher 3 Mod Support Now Available - Geralt battling monster

Every video game has its fodder enemies, whether it's the basic necrophages and drowners often fought in The Witcher 3 or the Draugr in Skyrim, yet Skyrim doesn't really go much further than this. The majority of the enemies fought in Skyrim are either human, dragon, or some basic form of beast, whereas The Witcher 3's deep lore and various monsters offers plenty of variety. Even as something as basic as a Vampire, which is found in both games, has more depth and variety in The Witcher 3.

The Lore Matters

witcher 3 wild hunt geralt triss yennefer

Skyrim inherits the grand lore of the Elder Scrolls franchise, including everything from the Daedric princes and racial relations to the geography and timeline of the game. Yet, it doesn't really do much with any of it. It's clearly there, but when compared to The Witcher 3, Skyrim's lore seems like a gray backdrop. In The Witcher 3, there's simply so much that it can be overwhelming, but it's always at the forefront of the overarching story.

Combat System

Both games have a combat system befitting of them, but Skyrim's requires little thought. Once equipment or spells are selected, it's pretty much just hitting an enemy until they die. It can get tense, and sometimes, players have to change up their approach in Skyrim. But that's little compared to the Witcher 3, where equipment depends on the enemy being faced, where concoctions depend on the enemy, and where which Witcher sign to use depends on the enemy. Players who prefer Igni will occasionally find themselves using Yrden, players who prefer just to straight up hack and slash will have to stop and think about their approach frequently, and survival is a key element—all of which doesn't really require thought in Skyrim.

The Ending

 

Once Skyrim players defeat Alduin, who loses all real threat by the time most players approach him, that's pretty much it. Players then go about their business in whatever regard they wish, as it doesn't really have any major implications for the game. The Witcher 3, on the other hand, has a plethora of epilogues based on decisions made in the game, and it seems safe to say that different playstyles beget different endings. Someone playing just for story will likely receive a different ending than a completionist, but either way, The Witcher 3's ending carries more weight than Skyrim's.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

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