10 Essential Gameplay Features Fans Want in The Witcher 4

At this year’s Game Awards, the highly anticipated announcement of The Witcher 4 has stirred excitement among fans of the franchise, eager for insights into what the new installment will bring. Following the immense success of The Witcher 3, which is celebrated for its compelling narrative, dynamic combat, and rich assortment of enemies, it’s crucial to evaluate certain aspects that could be refined or streamlined in the upcoming game. This is particularly important to ensure that The Witcher 4 does not replicate the shortcomings of its predecessor.

In The Witcher 3, players often found themselves grappling with issues related to inventory and quest management, cumbersome combat and leveling systems, and an overwhelming amount of loot. Below, we explore ten essential features from The Witcher 3 that warrant significant improvement or rethinking for The Witcher 4.

1. Enhanced Mount Mechanics and Mobility

Roach’s Control Issues

Geralt petting Roach in Witcher 3 next-gen update.

For players who depend on mounts to navigate quests, intuitive and responsive controls are indispensable. While Roach has stood by Geralt through thick and thin, the horse’s handling was often problematic, frustrating many new players. Given that Roach is used not just for travel but also competitive quests, control robustness should take priority in The Witcher 4. Modern games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Elden Ring exemplify seamless mount mechanics, setting a high bar for Ciri’s steed.

2. Underwater Combat Similar to Ground Combat

Underwater Combat Limitations

A kikimora holds Geralt underwater in The Witcher season 1, episode 1.

The open-world design of The Witcher 3 offers ample opportunities for exploration beneath the waves; however, Geralt’s combat abilities are severely restricted underwater. Lacking access to swords or signs, players must rely solely on the crossbow to fend off aquatic foes, which can detract from overall immersion. The Witcher 4 should provide Ciri with more versatile combat options in aquatic environments, ensuring underwater engagements are as dynamic as those on land.

3. Transmogrification or Alteration Features

Gear Customization Options

Ciri grits her teeth amid dark woods in a screeenshot from The Witcher 4.

Despite the variety of gear styles in The Witcher 3, the absence of a transmogrification feature left many players feeling frustrated. This oversight feels particularly glaring, especially since Cyberpunk 2077 successfully implemented such a system. The Witcher 4 should prioritize gear customization to enhance player experience, allowing them to select desired aesthetics without impacting gameplay.

4. A Streamlined Loot System

Refining the Loot Experience

An unknown character with a fearful expression in the woods in a screenshot from The Witcher 4.

While The Witcher 3 boasts an impressive array of powerful gear, it is often accompanied by needless clutter. Players frequently find themselves overwhelmed by an extensive collection of low-level items and materials that become obsolete quickly. To improve user experience, The Witcher 4 should feature a more organized loot system with clear item descriptions, making it easier to navigate and understand inventory contents.

5. A Revamped Inventory Management System

Improving Item Organization

Split image of vanilla The Witcher inventory and the mod's inventory

The multitude of items in The Witcher 3 is impressive; however, the inventory system was often cumbersome. Players faced difficulty distinguishing between similar items due to indistinguishable icons. Given the history of inventory management challenges since The Witcher 1, it is crucial that developers address these issues in The Witcher 4 to facilitate a better player experience.

6. A Revamped Quest Management Framework

Streamlining Quest Navigation

A shot of The Witcher III's journal menu system

Similar to inventory management, the quest system in The Witcher 3 can feel unwieldy at times, leading to player frustration. The excessive reliance on map markers can be overwhelming, especially in vast areas like Skellige. The Witcher 4 should consider simplifying quest organization to enhance player experience, maybe through clearer categorizations, to make navigating various tasks less daunting.

7. Enhanced Alchemy Systems for Crafting

Revitalizing the Alchemy Mechanic

Geralt looking up from a book and smiling in The Witcher 3.

In The Witcher 3, players often found that once they crafted a potion or bomb, the need to gather ingredients diminished, transforming alchemy into a repetitive chore. Furthermore, the lack of detailed descriptions for potions and recipes hindered gameplay clarity. For The Witcher 4, an improved alchemy interface should provide comprehensive information, enhancing its strategic significance.

8. Robust Narrative Development

Telling Stories With Depth

The Witcher 4 Ciri being held against a wall. — CD Projekt Red

Given the pivotal role of storytelling in The Witcher series, players are keenly aware of narrative pacing. Past moments in The Witcher 3, like Djikstra’s swift fate, left fans yearning for more development. In The Witcher 4, there should be no rush to resolve plot points, allowing stories to unfold in rich detail. Drawing from substantial source material could provide an endless well of narrative depth.

9. Smoother Movement and Fall Damage Mechanics

Refining Movement Dynamics

Geralt pulling a thumbs up in The Witcher 3

Taking note of available mods that enhance character movement in The Witcher 3, it’s clear that controls can become jittery and frustrating. As Ciri is set to lead the next installment, ensuring her movements are fluid and responsive is essential. Furthermore, fall damage mechanics should be reevaluated; currently, it feels illogical that a short fall can be fatal when characters endure significant hits from enemies.

10. Enhanced Difficulty and Combat Scaling

Balancing Game Difficulty

Ciri in the woods in the trailer from The Witcher 4, and the lynx amulet lying in snow from the game's original announcement. — Custom Image by Lee D’Amato

A notable criticism of The Witcher 3 is the game’s diminishing challenge as players advance. Even experienced players found the highest difficulty settings less daunting as they mastered game mechanics. In The Witcher 4, a refined difficulty scaling system is crucial to ensure that enemies present a formidable challenge as players progress while still accommodating casual gamers.

Reflecting on The Witcher 3, it’s clear that while the game introduced countless enjoyable features, there remain several critical areas for enhancement in the sequel. With Ciri as the lead character, The Witcher 4 holds immense potential for elevating gameplay dynamics, combat systems, and storyline intricacies, generating palpable excitement as fans await its release in 2025.

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