Cyberpunk 2077 vs The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

• Perspective: First-Person (Third-Person while driving and in photo mode/some cutscenes)
• Multiplayer: None (Single-Player Only)
• Setting: Night City, Free State of Northern California, Year 2077
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia (discontinued)
• Unique Feature: Deep Character Customization & Lifepaths, Extensive Cyberware System, Branching Narrative with Meaningful Choices, Johnny Silverhand (Keanu Reeves), Dense Vertical City Design, Braindance Investigations.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: None (Single-Player Only)
• Setting: The Continent (Velen, Novigrad, Skellige Isles, Kaer Morhen, Toussaint - DLC)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
• Unique Feature: Deep Branching Narrative with Meaningful Choices, Mature Storytelling, Gwent Card Game, Witcher Signs Combat, Extensive Alchemy & Crafting, Monster Contracts.

• Johnny Silverhand (Digital Ghost): Resides in V's head due to the Relic biochip. Provides constant commentary, opinions, and guidance (often unsolicited). During specific story moments or side jobs ('Chippin' In'), V can allow Johnny to temporarily take control of their body, leading to unique interactions and gameplay segments where Johnny's combat style is emphasized.
  Digital Construct / Human (Formerly)
• Jackie Welles (Temporary): V's initial mercenary partner. Fights alongside V in early game missions, providing combat support with his dual pistols and aggressive style. His presence is limited to the prologue and first act.
  Human
• Story-Specific AI Companions (Panam, Judy, River, Takemura, etc.): During their respective questlines, key characters like Panam Palmer, Judy Alvarez, River Ward, Goro Takemura, and others will accompany V on missions, providing combat support, unique dialogue, and specialized skills (e.g., Panam's driving and sniper skills, Judy's tech/braindance expertise). They are AI-controlled and their presence is scripted for those missions.
  Human
• Summoned Drones/Turrets (Tech Perks & Cyberware): Through certain tech perks or cyberware, V might be able to deploy small combat drones or turrets that act as temporary AI companions, attacking nearby enemies.
  Robotic
• Pets (Cat 'Nibbles', Iguana): V can adopt a cat (Nibbles) and hatch an iguana in their apartment. They are non-combat companions, primarily adding a touch of domesticity and life to V's living space.
  Felis catus / Iguanidae

• Ciri (Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon - Temporary Playable & AI): During specific story segments, the player takes control of Ciri. She has a unique combat style focused on teleportation (Blink), fast sword attacks, and powerful Elder Blood abilities. When not playable, she sometimes fights alongside Geralt as an AI companion in key narrative moments.
  Human (Elder Blood User)
• Story-Specific AI Companions (Yennefer, Triss, Eskel, Lambert, Zoltan, Vesemir, Roche, Letho, etc.): During various main story quests and major side quests, key characters will temporarily join Geralt as AI-controlled companions. They provide combat support according to their abilities (e.g., Yennefer uses powerful magic, Lambert fights with Witcher skills, Zoltan uses his axe). Their presence is scripted for those missions and they are not persistently commandable.
  Human, Witcher, Dwarf, Sorceress
• Roach (Geralt's Horse): Geralt's loyal steed and primary means of long-distance travel. Can be called almost anywhere in the open world. Allows for mounted combat (swinging swords, using Signs/crossbow from horseback). Can be equipped with saddles (stamina), saddlebags (inventory capacity), and blinders (reduce panic). Trophies can be attached for passive buffs.
  Equus caballus (Various Breeds/Colors)

• Iconic Weapons: Unique named weapons with special abilities, stats, and often unique visual designs. Obtained from specific enemies, as quest rewards, or found in hidden locations. Can be upgraded.
• Tarot Card Graffiti (Mystical Murals): 20 (base game) + 2 (Phantom Liberty) large, glowing tarot card murals painted on walls throughout Night City and Dogtown. Finding them is part of the 'Fool on the Hill' side job and they are narrated by Misty, tying into themes of fate and V's journey.
• Cyberpsycho Sightings (Mini-Bosses): 17 individuals who have succumbed to cyberpsychosis. Regina Jones tasks V with neutralizing them (lethally or non-lethally) for study. Each encounter is a unique mini-boss fight.
• NCPD Scanner Hustles (Reported Crimes): Numerous dynamic events marked on the map, including Assaults in Progress, Reported Crimes, and Organized Crime Activities. Completing them by neutralizing criminals and looting evidence provides XP, street cred, and money.
• Shards (Lore & Skill Shards): Data shards containing text logs, audio recordings, or even software that grants a free Perk Point or levels up a skill. Found extensively throughout Night City, providing lore and character progression.
• Johnny Silverhand's Belongings (Car, Gun, Clothing Items): Various iconic items that belonged to Johnny Silverhand can be found or acquired by V, allowing them to partially adopt his look and use his signature gear. Part of the 'Chippin' In' side job line.
• Vehicles (Purchasable & Stealable): While not 'collectibles' in the traditional sense, acquiring a garage full of diverse vehicles (cars, motorcycles) by purchasing them from Fixers or finding/stealing unique ones is a major side activity for many players.

• Witcher Gear Diagrams (Scavenger Hunts): Hidden diagrams required to craft and upgrade Witcher School armor and swords. Found by following Scavenger Hunt quests, often in dangerous ruins, caves, or monster lairs across all regions.
• Places of Power: Glowing standing stones found throughout the world. Interacting with one for the first time grants Geralt one Ability Point and a temporary significant buff to a specific Witcher Sign. Marked on the map once discovered nearby.
• Gwent Cards: Collectible cards for the in-universe card game, Gwent. Acquired by winning matches against NPCs, purchasing from merchants, or as quest rewards. There are hundreds of cards across different factions (Northern Realms, Nilfgaard, Scoia'tael, Monsters, Skellige - DLC). A major side activity with its own questline ('Collect 'Em All').
• Hidden Treasures & Smuggler's Caches: Marked on the map as '?' points of interest, often guarded by enemies or monsters. Contain loot chests with gear, crafting materials, money, or diagrams. Smuggler's Caches are typically found underwater in Skellige.
• Monster Nests & Bandit Camps: Locations overrun by monsters or bandits. Geralt must defeat all enemies and destroy the nest (for monsters) or loot the main chest (for bandits) to clear the area, earning XP and rewards.
• Guarded Treasures: Specific locations marked on the map, usually guarded by a powerful monster or group of enemies, protecting a valuable loot chest.
• Persons in Distress (Rescues): NPCs captured by bandits or monsters. Rescuing them often unlocks new merchants, Gwent players, or provides other minor rewards. Marked as '?' until approached.
• Spoils of War (Underwater Treasures): Sunken ships or chests in bodies of water, particularly around the Skellige Isles, containing valuable loot. Often requires use of the crossbow against Drowners.
• Books, Letters, Notes (Lore Items): Found extensively throughout the world in houses, ruins, on corpses, etc. Provide rich lore, backstory, hints for quests, or initiate new quests. Contributes to the in-game glossary.

• Cyberpunk
• Transhumanism
• Corporate Power & Dystopia
• Megacities
• Identity & Self
• Immortality
• Rebellion
• Artificial Intelligence
• Inequality
• The Price of Fame
• Loss & Memory
• Cybernetics

• Monster Hunting
• War & Politics
• Moral Ambiguity & Choice
• Destiny & Prophecy
• Found Family
• Love & Loss
• Prejudice & Xenophobia
• Folklore & Slavic Mythology
• The Lesser Evil
• Nature vs. Civilization

• Power Weapons: Conventional Firearms (Ricochet)
  Standard firearms (pistols, SMGs, rifles, shotguns, LMGs) that fire conventional bullets. Bullets can ricochet off surfaces, allowing for trick shots. Most common weapon type, highly customizable with scopes, muzzles, and mods.
• Tech Weapons: Electromagnetic Firearms (Charge & Penetrate)
  Advanced firearms that can be charged up to fire powerful projectiles capable of penetrating cover and hitting enemies behind walls. Often have a distinct visual and sound design. Require Technical Ability attribute for full potential.
• Smart Weapons: Guided Projectile Firearms (Homing)
  Futuristic firearms that fire self-guided projectiles that can track and home in on tagged enemies, even around cover. Require a Smart Link cyberware implant in V's hands to use effectively. Often tied to Intelligence attribute.
• Melee Weapons (Blades & Blunt): Close Quarters Combat (Various)
  Includes katanas, knives, machetes, baseball bats, crowbars, hammers, and unique iconic melee weapons. Combat style varies from fast slashes to heavy stunning blows. Can be modded.
• Cyberware Weapons (Arm Implants): Cybernetic Melee/Ranged
  Powerful weapons integrated directly into V's cybernetic arms: Mantis Blades (extendable arm blades for lethal melee), Gorilla Arms (enhance strength for blunt melee and ripping open doors/turrets), Monowire (a charged fiber optic whip for slicing enemies), Projectile Launch System (fires various explosive or non-lethal projectiles).
• Throwables (Grenades): Explosive/Utility
  Various types of grenades including Fragmentation, EMP, Incendiary, Recon (tags enemies), and Biohazard. Used for area denial, crowd control, or specific tactical advantages.
• Iconic Weapons: Unique Named Variants
  Special, named versions of existing weapons (Power, Tech, Smart, Melee) with unique appearances, enhanced stats, and often special properties or effects. Found as quest rewards, looted from specific enemies, or crafted from specs. Highly sought after.

• Steel Swords: Melee (Primary vs. Humans & Non-Monsters)
  Geralt's primary weapon against human opponents and common animals. Various types exist (e.g., Longclaw, Vitis, various relic swords) with different stats, rune slots, and appearances. Can be crafted or found.
• Silver Swords: Melee (Primary vs. Monsters)
  Geralt's specialized weapon for fighting monsters, as silver is effective against most supernatural creatures. Similar variety and upgrade paths as steel swords (e.g., Aerondight, various Witcher school silver swords).
• Crossbows: Ranged (Utility/Underwater)
  A secondary ranged weapon. Primarily used for grounding flying enemies, underwater combat against Drowners, or triggering environmental interactions. Various bolt types can be crafted (standard, broadhead, explosive, tracking).
• Bombs (Grapeshot, Samum, Dancing Star, Northern Wind, Dimeritium, Moon Dust, Devil's Puffball): Throwable (Area of Effect, Debuff, Utility)
  Craftable alchemical explosives with diverse effects: Grapeshot (shrapnel damage), Samum (stuns), Dancing Star (fire), Northern Wind (freezes), Dimeritium (blocks magic/mutations), Moon Dust (reveals invisible foes), Devil's Puffball (poison cloud).
• Fists (Brawling): Melee (Unarmed)
  Geralt can engage in unarmed combat, particularly during fist fighting side quests and tournaments.
• Witcher Gear Swords (Feline, Griffin, Ursine, Wolven, Viper, Manticore): Craftable/Upgradable (Steel & Silver)
  Specialized sets of swords belonging to different Witcher schools. Each set offers unique stat bonuses and visual styles, often complementing the armor sets of the same school (e.g., Feline swords for fast attacks and bleed, Ursine for strong attacks and adrenaline).
• Relic & Magic Weapons (Unique Named Items): Varied (Steel & Silver)
  Unique named swords found as quest rewards, loot from powerful enemies, or in hidden locations. Often have special properties, higher base damage, or unique visual designs (e.g., Aerondight, Iris, Winter's Blade).

• Outer Clothing (Jackets, Coats, Vests): Provides Armor rating, which contributes to damage reduction. Can have mod slots for adding passive bonuses (e.g., increased critical chance, resistance to specific damage types, reduced recoil). Style varies greatly.
• Inner Clothing (Shirts, Tops, Bodysuits): Provides Armor rating and potentially mod slots. Contributes to overall look and protection.
• Headwear (Hats, Helmets, Glasses, Masks, Kerchiefs): Provides Armor rating and often mod slots. Glasses/visors can sometimes offer minor UI enhancements or zoom capabilities through mods. Masks used for anonymity or aesthetic.
• Facewear (Masks, Cybernetic Faceplates): Provides Armor and sometimes unique perks or mod slots. Cybernetic faceplates are more integrated.
• Legwear (Pants, Skirts, Shorts): Provides Armor rating and can have mod slots.
• Footwear (Boots, Shoes, Sneakers): Provides Armor rating and sometimes mod slots for perks like quieter movement or reduced fall damage.
• Special Outfits / Full Body Sets: Complete outfits (e.g., corpo suit, netrunner suit, nomad gear) that provide an overall Armor rating and sometimes set bonuses or unique appearances. Some are iconic or tied to specific factions/quests.
• Subdermal Armor (Cyberware): A type of cyberware implant that directly increases V's base Armor rating. Multiple tiers available for increasing damage resistance.

• Witcher School Gear Sets (Feline, Griffin, Ursine, Wolven, Viper, Manticore): Sets of matching Chest Armor, Gauntlets, Trousers, and Boots belonging to different Witcher schools. Each set offers specific stat bonuses tailored to a playstyle (e.g., Feline for light armor/fast attacks/crit, Ursine for heavy armor/strong attacks/adrenaline, Griffin for medium armor/Sign intensity). These sets can be crafted using diagrams found via Scavenger Hunt quests and upgraded through multiple tiers (Basic, Enhanced, Superior, Mastercrafted, Grandmaster - with DLC).
• Common, Magic, Master, Relic Armor Pieces: Non-Witcher gear armor pieces found as loot, purchased from merchants, or crafted. Categorized by rarity (Common - grey, Magic - blue, Master - yellow/orange, Relic - gold/brown) which influences their base stats, number of rune slots, and potential for unique perks. Can be mixed and matched.
• Armor Runestones & Glyphs: Enhancements that can be socketed into armor pieces with available slots. Runestones (typically for swords) and Glyphs (for armor) provide passive bonuses like increased Sign intensity, elemental resistance, health regeneration, or reduced damage from specific enemy types.
• Heavy, Medium, Light Armor Types: Armor pieces are generally classified as Light, Medium, or Heavy, affecting Geralt's stamina regeneration rate (Light armor regenerates stamina fastest, Heavy slowest). Certain character skills in the General tree can mitigate these penalties or provide bonuses based on armor type.

• Outerwear (Jackets, Coats, Vests): Extensive selection of jackets (biker, bomber, trench coats, armored vests, etc.) in various styles (corpo, nomad, streetkid, netrunner) and materials. Offers Armor and mod slots.
• Innerwear (Shirts, T-Shirts, Tank Tops, Bodysuits): Wide variety of shirts and tops, from casual to formal, often reflecting different subcultures of Night City. Provides Armor and mod slots.
• Headwear (Hats, Caps, Helmets, Bandanas, Headbands, Visors): Large assortment of headgear. Helmets offer more protection. Visors and some cybernetic headwear can have unique properties or mod slots.
• Facewear (Glasses, Goggles, Masks, Cybernetic Optics): Includes sunglasses, protective goggles, gas masks, decorative masks, and cybernetic eye/face implants. Can offer Armor and mod slots.
• Legwear (Pants, Trousers, Skirts, Shorts, Leggings): Diverse options for lower body clothing, including jeans, cargo pants, corporate slacks, tactical pants, and more. Provides Armor and mod slots.
• Footwear (Boots, Sneakers, High Heels, Sandals): Variety of shoes to match different styles, from heavy combat boots to stylish sneakers or formal shoes. Offers Armor and sometimes mod slots for perks like quieter movement.
• Special Outfits / Full Body Sets (Netrunner Suit, Corpo Suit, Nomad Gear, Hazmat Suit, etc.): Complete, pre-designed outfits that often provide a cohesive look and good Armor. Some are tied to specific factions, professions, or quests. Can have multiple mod slots.
• Wardrobe & Transmog System (Post 1.6 Update): Players can save created outfits in their apartment wardrobe and use a transmogrification system to apply the appearance of any owned clothing item to their equipped gear, allowing for optimal stats with desired aesthetics.

• Witcher School Gear (Armor Sets: Feline, Griffin, Ursine, Wolven, Viper, Manticore, Grandmaster variants): Geralt can craft and upgrade full sets of armor (Chest, Gauntlets, Trousers, Boots) belonging to different Witcher schools. Each set provides unique stat bonuses tailored to specific playstyles (e.g., Feline for light armor/fast attacks, Ursine for heavy armor/strong attacks, Griffin for Sign intensity). Visuals change with each upgrade tier (Basic, Enhanced, Superior, Mastercrafted, Grandmaster).
• Common, Magic, Master, Relic Armor Pieces: A vast array of non-Witcher gear armor pieces found as loot, purchased, or crafted. These include gambesons, leather jackets, plate armor pieces, trousers, boots, and gauntlets. Categorized by rarity, influencing stats and rune slots. Can be mixed and matched.
• Formal Attire (Doublets, Pourpoints - e.g., for Novigrad/Toussaint noblesse): Specific outfits required for certain quests or to fit in with high society, particularly in Novigrad and Toussaint. Often more ornate and less combat-focused.
• Dyes (Blood and Wine DLC): The Blood and Wine expansion introduced armor dyes, allowing players to change the color of most Witcher gear and some other armor pieces using specific dye formulas and ingredients.
• Hairstyles & Beards: Geralt can visit barbers in towns and cities to change his hairstyle and beard style. His beard also grows dynamically over time if not shaved.
• Trophies (Monster Trophies for Roach): Defeating certain powerful monsters or winning horse races can reward Geralt with trophies that can be equipped to his horse, Roach, providing small passive bonuses (e.g., +% gold, +% dismemberment chance). These are also visually displayed on Roach.

Night City is a vast and incredibly dense urban open world, divided into six main districts: Watson (run-down, industrial, diverse), Westbrook (upscale, Japantown, corporate plazas), City Center (corporate heart, skyscrapers), Heywood (residential, diverse socio-economic areas, Valentinos turf), Santo Domingo (industrial, working-class, 6th Street turf), and Pacifica (once a resort district, now impoverished and dangerous, Voodoo Boys turf). The surrounding Badlands (desert outskirts) are also explorable. The city is known for its verticality and intricate layout.

The game features several large, distinct open-world regions rather than one single contiguous map. These include: White Orchard (prologue area), Velen & Novigrad (a massive combined region of swamps, forests, battlefields, and the large city of Novigrad), Skellige Isles (an archipelago of mountainous, Viking-inspired islands), Kaer Morhen (a smaller mountainous region with the Witcher keep), and later through DLCs, Toussaint (a vibrant, fairy-tale duchy). The total landmass is estimated to be very large (e.g., Velen/Novigrad alone is often cited as over 100 sq km, with Skellige adding another significant portion). Each region is densely packed with quests, points of interest, monster nests, and hidden treasures.

• Cars (Economy, Executive, Sport, Hypercar, Heavy Duty, Utility): Land Vehicle (Wheeled)
  A vast selection of cars across numerous fictional manufacturers and classes, reflecting Night City's diverse automotive landscape. Vehicles can be purchased, stolen, or awarded. Extensive visual customization is limited, but performance varies. Some vehicles feature mounted weapons (added post-2.0/Phantom Liberty).
• Motorcycles (Street, Sport, Chopper): Land Vehicle (Two-Wheeled)
  Various motorcycles for fast and agile urban traversal, including iconic bikes like Jackie's Arch or the Kusanagi Yaiba. Offer a different driving experience and allow V to use one-handed weapons while riding.
• Trucks & Vans (Industrial, Commercial): Land Vehicle (Wheeled - Heavy)
  Larger vehicles like pickup trucks, vans, semi-trucks, and industrial vehicles. Slower but more durable. Some can be used for specific missions or carrying large items.
• Armored Vehicles & Weaponized Vehicles (Post 2.0 / Phantom Liberty): Land Vehicle (Combat Focused)
  Certain vehicles, especially those added or enhanced with later updates and the Phantom Liberty expansion, come equipped with mounted machine guns, rocket launchers, or other offensive capabilities, enabling vehicle combat.
• AVs (Aerodynes - NPC/Mission Specific): Aerial Vehicle (Flying Car - Primarily NPC)
  Flying vehicles (AVs) are a common sight in Night City's skies, used by corporations, law enforcement, and the wealthy. While V cannot freely pilot them in the base game, they feature prominently in cutscenes and specific mission sequences. Some limited player control might occur in scripted events.
• Public Transit (NCART Metro - Fast Travel): Mass Transit System
  The Night City Area Rapid Transit (NCART) system features metro stations across the city. Initially just fast travel points, later updates allowed players to actually ride the metro trains and look out at the city.

• Roach (Geralt's Horse): Primary Mount / Living Vehicle
  Geralt's loyal and ever-present horse (regardless of how many times a 'Roach' might perish, the next one is also named Roach). Essential for traversing the vast open world. Can be called with a whistle. Allows for mounted combat, and can be equipped with saddles (for stamina), saddlebags (for increased inventory weight), blinders (to reduce panic), and trophies (for passive buffs).
• Boats (Skiffs, Sailboats): Watercraft
  Used for navigating rivers, lakes, and the seas around the Skellige Isles. Includes small rowboats/skiffs and larger sailboats. Some boats are equipped with a fast travel point. Vulnerable to Sirens and other aquatic threats.
• Fast Travel (Signposts): Map Traversal Mechanic
  Once Geralt discovers a Signpost in the world, he can use it (or any other discovered Signpost) to instantly travel to any other known Signpost location, greatly reducing travel time across large distances.

• Cats (Domestic): Felis catus
  Ambient Domesticated/Stray Wildlife. V can adopt a cat named Nibbles.
• Dogs (Domestic / Stray): Canis familiaris
  Ambient Domesticated/Stray Wildlife. Less common than cats in interactive roles.
• Pigeons & Other Birds: Aves (Various)
  Ambient Urban Wildlife, contribute to city atmosphere.
• Rats & Cockroaches: Rodentia / Blattodea
  Ambient Urban Wildlife, found in run-down areas, adding to grim atmosphere.
• Iguana (Pet): Iguanidae
  V can acquire an Iguana egg and hatch it as a pet for their apartment.
• Fish (Aquarium): Pisces (Various Ornamental)
  Decorative, can be found in some environments or as part of V's apartment customization.

• V (Valerie/Vincent): Protagonist (Mercenary)
  The player-customizable protagonist. V's background (Lifepath: Nomad, Streetkid, Corpo) influences early story and dialogue options. After a heist gone wrong, V's consciousness is intertwined with Johnny Silverhand's due to the Relic biochip, leading to a desperate search for a cure.
• Johnny Silverhand: Deuteragonist / Digital Ghost / Rockerboy Legend
  A charismatic and rebellious iconic rockerboy and anarchist who died decades before 2077. His digital ghost is imprinted on the Relic biochip and becomes a constant presence in V's mind, offering cynical commentary, guidance, and sometimes taking control. Portrayed and voiced by Keanu Reeves.
• Jackie Welles: Ally / V's Best Friend & Merc Partner
  V's initial partner in crime and close friend. A loyal and ambitious mercenary dreaming of hitting the major leagues in Night City. His fate is a significant early plot point.
• Judy Alvarez: Ally / Braindance Technician / Potential Romantic Interest
  A skilled braindance technician and member of the Moxes gang. She becomes a key ally to V, helping with investigations and dealing with personal struggles. A potential romantic interest for female V.
• Panam Palmer: Ally / Nomad (Aldecaldos) / Potential Romantic Interest
  A fiercely independent former member of the Aldecaldos nomad clan. She enlists V's help for various operations in the Badlands and becomes a crucial ally. A potential romantic interest for male V.
• River Ward: Ally / NCPD Detective / Potential Romantic Interest
  An NCPD detective who seeks V's help in solving a personal case. He is principled but often disillusioned with the system. A potential romantic interest for female V.
• Kerry Eurodyne: Ally / Rockerboy / Potential Romantic Interest
  Johnny Silverhand's former bandmate from Samurai. Now an older, established musician struggling with his legacy and new challenges. A potential romantic interest for male V.
• Viktor Vektor: Ally / Ripperdoc
  A skilled and trustworthy Ripperdoc who serves as V's primary cyberware installer and medical contact. A fatherly figure to V.
• Misty Olszewski: Ally / Esoteric Shop Owner
  Owner of Misty's Esoterica, Jackie's girlfriend, and a friend to V. She provides spiritual guidance and tarot readings.
• Goro Takemura: Ally / Former Arasaka Bodyguard
  The loyal former bodyguard of Saburo Arasaka. After Saburo's death, he seeks V's help to uncover the truth and bring justice, becoming an unlikely ally.
• Adam Smasher: Antagonist / Arasaka Cyborg Enforcer
  A monstrous, almost fully cybernetic Arasaka enforcer. A legendary and terrifying figure in Night City, responsible for Johnny Silverhand's death. Serves as a major recurring threat.
• Yorinobu Arasaka: Antagonist / Heir to Arasaka Corporation
  Saburo Arasaka's rebellious son and the current head of the Arasaka Corporation after his father's demise. His actions are central to the main conflict.
• Fixers (Dexter DeShawn, Rogue Amendiares, Wakako Okada, Mr. Hands, etc.): Quest Givers / Information Brokers
  Influential figures in Night City's underworld who provide V with gigs (jobs), contracts, and information. Each fixer controls a specific territory or type of operation.

• Geralt of Rivia: Protagonist / Witcher (School of the Wolf)
  The main playable character. A renowned professional monster slayer, mutated and trained from a young age. He is searching for his adoptive daughter, Ciri, while navigating complex political conflicts and personal relationships. Known for his dry wit, pragmatism, and combat prowess.
• Ciri (Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon): Deuteragonist / Child of Prophecy / Witcher Trainee
  The ashen-haired princess of Cintra and possessor of the Elder Blood, granting her immense magical power, including the ability to travel through space and time. Geralt's adoptive daughter, pursued by the Wild Hunt. Playable in specific story segments, showcasing her unique teleportation-based combat style.
• Yennefer of Vengerberg: Ally / Sorceress / Geralt's True Love
  A powerful and ambitious sorceress from the Lodge of Sorceresses, Geralt's on-again, off-again lover, and a mother figure to Ciri. Known for her striking beauty (violets and gooseberries scent), sharp intellect, and complex morality.
• Triss Merigold: Ally / Sorceress / Geralt's Friend & Potential Love Interest
  A skilled Temerian sorceress, close friend to Geralt and Yennefer, and another important figure in Ciri's life. Known for her kindness, loyalty, and powerful fire magic. A potential romantic interest for Geralt.
• Vesemir: Ally / Witcher Mentor (School of the Wolf)
  The oldest and most experienced Witcher at Kaer Morhen, serving as a father figure and mentor to Geralt and other Witchers. Wise, grizzled, and highly skilled.
• Dandelion (Julian Alfred Pankratz, Viscount de Lettenhove): Ally / Bard / Geralt's Best Friend
  A flamboyant and renowned poet, minstrel, and Geralt's loyal (if sometimes troublesome) best friend. Often provides comic relief and narrates parts of the story through his ballads.
• Zoltan Chivay: Ally / Dwarf Warrior / Geralt's Friend
  A boisterous and fiercely loyal dwarven warrior and friend of Geralt and Dandelion. Always ready for a fight or a game of Gwent.
• Emperor Emhyr var Emreis (The White Flame Dancing on the Barrows of his Foes): Antagonist / Ruler of Nilfgaard / Ciri's Biological Father
  The powerful and ruthless Emperor of Nilfgaard, waging war against the Northern Kingdoms. He is Ciri's biological father and seeks to find her for political and personal reasons.
• Eredin Bréacc Glas (King of the Wild Hunt): Main Antagonist / Leader of the Wild Hunt
  The fearsome king of the Aen Elle elves from another dimension, leader of the spectral Wild Hunt. He relentlessly pursues Ciri to harness her Elder Blood power for his own purposes.
• Imlerith & Caranthir Ar-Feiniel: Antagonists / Generals of the Wild Hunt
  Two of Eredin's most powerful generals. Imlerith is a brutal warrior, while Caranthir is a skilled mage specializing in ice and teleportation.
• Phillip Strenger (The Bloody Baron): Key NPC / Warlord of Velen
  A complex and tragic figure, a former Temerian soldier who has become the self-proclaimed ruler of Velen. His questline to find his missing wife and daughter is a major, dark storyline.
• Keira Metz: Ally / Sorceress / Former Advisor to King Foltest
  A sorceress hiding in Velen after the witch hunts. She assists Geralt with information and magic, and has her own ambitions.
• Sigismund Dijkstra: Key NPC / Former Head of Redanian Intelligence / Novigrad Underworld Figure
  A cunning spymaster and influential figure in Novigrad's criminal underworld. Often an information broker for Geralt, with his own political agenda.
• Crach an Craite: Ally / Jarl of Clan an Craite (Skellige)
  A powerful and honorable Skellige Jarl, uncle to Ciri through his sister Calanthe, and a friend to Geralt and Yennefer. Father of Hjalmar and Cerys.
• Avallac'h (Crevan Espane aep Caomhan Macha): Key NPC / Aen Saevherne (Elven Sage)
  An ancient and knowledgeable elven sage with a deep connection to Ciri and the Elder Blood. His motives are often enigmatic, acting as both a guide and a manipulator.

• Main Jobs (Primary Story Campaign)
  A series of core narrative missions that drive V's central quest to find a cure for the Relic biochip and deal with Johnny Silverhand's engram. These involve high-stakes heists, corporate espionage, confrontations with major antagonists, and exploring the deepest secrets of Night City and the Arasaka Corporation.
• Side Jobs (Character Arcs & Major Side Stories)
  Extensive, multi-part optional questlines that delve deeper into the stories of key supporting characters like Panam Palmer, Judy Alvarez, River Ward, Kerry Eurodyne, and Johnny Silverhand himself. These often involve significant choices and can lead to romances or impact V's relationships and potential endings.
• Gigs (Fixer Contracts)
  Smaller, contract-based jobs provided by Night City's Fixers. These are categorized into types like Mercenary Work (e.g., neutralize target, sabotage), SOS: Merc Needed (rescue missions), Thievery (steal an item), Agent Saboteur, Gun for Hire, and Search and Recover. They offer money, street cred, and experience.
• NCPD Scanner Hustles (Assault in Progress, Reported Crime, Organized Crime Activity)
  Dynamic events marked on the map indicating ongoing criminal activity. V can intervene to neutralize criminals and often find lootable evidence or containers. Contributes to clearing out district crime.
• Cyberpsycho Sightings
  Regina Jones tasks V with locating and neutralizing (preferably non-lethally) 17 individuals who have succumbed to cyberpsychosis. Each encounter is a unique mini-boss fight requiring different tactics.
• Vehicle Contracts (Post 2.0 Update)
  Missions from El Capitan involving stealing specific vehicles within a time limit, often involving combat or evading pursuit.
• Braindance Investigations
  Specific missions where V uses a Braindance device to analyze recorded memories, scrubbing through visual, audio, and thermal layers to find clues and solve mysteries. A key investigative tool.
• Phantom Liberty Main Jobs & Gigs (Expansion)
  A new main storyline and set of gigs within the Dogtown district, involving espionage, political intrigue, and working with NUSA agent Solomon Reed and netrunner Songbird to save the NUSA President.

• Main Questline (The Wild Hunt & Ciri's Fate)
  A sprawling narrative following Geralt's search for Ciri across Velen, Novigrad, and Skellige, while evading and eventually confronting the otherworldly Wild Hunt. Involves major plot points, character reunions, political intrigue, difficult choices, and epic battles. Culminates in one of several possible endings based on player actions.
• Witcher Contracts
  Monster hunting assignments taken from notice boards or directly from NPCs. Geralt must investigate the monster sighting, track the beast using his Witcher Senses, learn its weaknesses from the Bestiary, prepare accordingly (oils, potions, bombs, Signs), and then slay or deal with the monster. Rewards include coin, XP, and sometimes unique items or diagrams.
• Secondary Quests (Major Side Storylines)
  Often lengthy and narratively rich optional questlines that delve into the stories of key supporting characters (e.g., Yennefer, Triss, Keira Metz, The Bloody Baron, Crach an Craite's children Hjalmar & Cerys, Vernon Roche, Sigismund Dijkstra) or explore significant political or social issues within a region. Many feature impactful choices.
• Treasure Hunts & Scavenger Hunts (Witcher Gear)
  Quests initiated by finding maps or notes that lead to hidden stashes of valuable loot (Treasure Hunts) or diagrams for crafting powerful Witcher School gear (Scavenger Hunts). Often involve exploring ruins, caves, or solving light environmental puzzles.
• Gwent Quests (Card Collection & Tournaments)
  A series of quests related to playing and collecting Gwent cards. Includes challenging unique NPCs to matches to win their rare cards, participating in major Gwent tournaments (like the one at the Passiflora in Novigrad), and ultimately aiming to 'Collect 'Em All'.
• Fistfighting Championships
  A series of unarmed brawling tournaments across Velen, Novigrad, and Skellige, where Geralt fights progressively tougher opponents to become champion of each region.
• Horse Races
  Participate in horse races against NPCs in various regions. Winning races rewards unique horse equipment (saddles, saddlebags, blinders) and money.
• Points of Interest Clearing (Bandit Camps, Monster Nests, Guarded Treasures, etc.)
  Numerous '?' markers on the map that represent small combat encounters or explorable locations. Clearing these provides XP, loot, and contributes to regional completion.
• Hearts of Stone DLC Main Questline
  A dark and compelling new main story involving Geralt making a pact with the enigmatic Gaunter O'Dimm (Master Mirror) to fulfill three impossible tasks for Olgierd von Everec, an immortal nobleman. Set primarily in the northeastern Velen/Novigrad region.
• Blood and Wine DLC Main Questline
  Geralt travels to the vibrant, idyllic duchy of Toussaint to investigate a series of brutal murders. This expansion features a new massive region, a complex storyline involving vampires, knights, and courtly intrigue, and introduces new game mechanics like vineyard management (Corvo Bianco) and Mutations.

Available in Standard Edition. A Collector's Edition was released with numerous physical items (V statue, artbook, SteelBook, world compendium, postcards, map, etc.). The game later received a major 2.0 update and the 'Phantom Liberty' expansion, which can be purchased separately or as part of a bundle. An 'Ultimate Edition' bundling the base game and Phantom Liberty was also released.

Available in Standard Edition. A Collector's Edition included a Geralt vs. Griffin statue, SteelBook, artbook, medallion, map. Later, a Game of the Year Edition (or Complete Edition) was released, bundling the base game with both major expansions ('Hearts of Stone' and 'Blood and Wine') and all free DLCs. The Next-Gen Update (Patch 4.0) was a free upgrade for existing owners on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The game received numerous patches and significant free updates (like the 2.0 update which overhauled perks, cyberware, AI, and police systems). One major paid story expansion, 'Phantom Liberty,' was released, adding a new district (Dogtown), storyline, characters, weapons, and abilities. CD Projekt Red has stated Phantom Liberty is the only planned major expansion.

CD Projekt Red released 16 free DLCs (cosmetic items, small quests, New Game+). Two major paid expansions were released: 'Hearts of Stone' (a lengthy, dark, and story-focused adventure with new characters and a compelling narrative) and 'Blood and Wine' (a massive expansion set in the new region of Toussaint, with a new main storyline, numerous side quests, new monsters, gear, and a player home vineyard). Both expansions are critically acclaimed.

• Q: What are Lifepaths in Cyberpunk 2077, and how do they affect the game?
  A: At the start of the game, players choose one of three Lifepaths for V: Nomad, Streetkid, or Corpo. This choice determines V's starting prologue mission, some unique dialogue options throughout the game that reflect their background, and occasionally offers unique ways to approach or resolve certain quests.
• Q: Is Cyberpunk 2077 fixed now after its troubled launch?
  A: Cyberpunk 2077 received numerous significant patches and updates (notably Patch 1.5, 1.6, and the major 2.0 Update) that addressed many of the bugs, performance issues, and missing features present at launch. The game is now considered to be in a much-improved state, especially on PC and current-gen consoles, though performance can still be demanding.
• Q: Can I customize my character's appearance after starting the game?
  A: Yes, after Patch 1.5, players can change V's appearance (hair, makeup, piercings, some cyberware visuals) at mirrors in their apartments or at Ripperdocs. Initial body type and voice cannot be changed post-character creation.
• Q: What is Braindance (BD)?
  A: Braindance is an in-universe technology that allows users to experience recorded memories and emotions of another person. V uses BDs for investigative purposes, analyzing recordings in an editing mode to find clues by scanning visual, audio, and thermal layers.
• Q: Does Cyberpunk 2077 have multiple endings?
  A: Yes, Cyberpunk 2077 features multiple significantly different endings for the main story, influenced by choices made throughout the game, particularly in the final act and V's relationships with key characters. The Phantom Liberty expansion also has its own set of branching endings that can impact the base game's conclusion.
• Q: What is Phantom Liberty?
  A: Phantom Liberty is the only major paid expansion for Cyberpunk 2077. It's a spy-thriller story that introduces a new district (Dogtown), new characters (including Solomon Reed played by Idris Elba and Songbird), new quests, weapons, cyberware, and abilities. It integrates into the main game but also offers a new potential ending path.

• Q: Is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt the end of Geralt's story?
  A: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its 'Blood and Wine' expansion are considered the definitive end of Geralt of Rivia's saga as told by CD Projekt Red. While the Witcher universe continues in other media, the developers have stated this game concludes Geralt's main storyline.
• Q: Do I need to play The Witcher 1 and 2 before The Witcher 3?
  A: While The Witcher 3 is designed to be accessible to newcomers, playing the previous games (or at least being familiar with their stories) significantly enhances the understanding of the characters, world politics, and recurring plot threads. The game does allow importing saves from The Witcher 2 on PC to reflect some past choices.
• Q: What is Gwent?
  A: Gwent is an in-universe collectible card game that Geralt can play with numerous NPCs. It involves building decks for different factions (Northern Realms, Nilfgaard, Scoia'tael, Monsters, Skellige) and strategically playing unit and spell cards across three rows to win two out of three rounds. It became so popular it spawned a standalone Gwent game.
• Q: How important are choices in The Witcher 3?
  A: Player choices are extremely important and have far-reaching consequences. Decisions made in main quests, side quests, and even dialogues can affect character relationships, the fate of individuals and communities, regional politics, and ultimately lead to one of several distinct endings for Geralt, Ciri, and the world.
• Q: What are Witcher Contracts?
  A: Witcher Contracts are side quests where Geralt undertakes his professional duty: hunting down and slaying dangerous monsters for a negotiated fee. These typically involve investigation (tracking, examining clues with Witcher Senses), preparation (learning about the monster's weaknesses, brewing appropriate potions/oils), and a challenging boss fight.
• Q: What did the Next-Gen Update (Patch 4.0) change?
  A: The Next-Gen Update, released in December 2022, brought significant visual enhancements like ray-traced global illumination and ambient occlusion, improved textures and foliage, faster loading times (on supported hardware), new camera options, integrated community-made mods, quality-of-life improvements, and new content inspired by The Witcher Netflix series. It also increased system requirements, particularly for PC.

Powered by REDengine 4, Cyberpunk 2077 showcases a visually stunning and incredibly dense Night City, renowned for its neon-drenched streets, towering skyscrapers, detailed interiors, and diverse character designs. It features advanced global illumination, reflections, and particle effects. Ray tracing (including Path Tracing in 'Overdrive Mode' on high-end PCs) significantly enhances visual fidelity with realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections, but is extremely demanding.

Powered by REDengine 3, The Witcher 3 was renowned for its stunning visuals at launch, showcasing vast, detailed landscapes, realistic weather systems, and expressive character models. The Next-Gen Update (Patch 4.0) significantly enhanced visuals on PC and current-gen consoles, adding ray-traced global illumination and ambient occlusion, improved screen space reflections, higher resolution textures, and denser environments, making it visually competitive with modern titles.

Original score composed by Marcin Przybyłowicz, P. T. Adamczyk, and Paul Leonard-Morgan, featuring a blend of electronic, industrial, synthwave, and rock elements reflecting Night City's atmosphere. Features an extensive list of licensed tracks from various artists (real and fictional in-universe bands like Samurai, fronted by Johnny Silverhand) across multiple in-game radio stations covering diverse genres. Sound design emphasizes futuristic tech, distinct weapon sounds, and the cacophony of a bustling, dangerous city.

Original score composed by Marcin Przybyłowicz and Mikołaj Stroiński, featuring a blend of orchestral arrangements, Slavic folk music influences, and haunting ambient tracks. The soundtrack, particularly tracks like 'The Wolven Storm (Priscilla's Song)' and various battle themes, is highly praised. Sound design is immersive, with distinct monster sounds, environmental ambiances reflecting different regions, and impactful combat effects.

Features a diegetic first-person HUD integrated into V's optical implants, displaying health, ammo, mini-map, objectives, and contextual hacking prompts. The inventory, character (skills, cyberware), journal, and map are accessed through a menu system. Braindances offer a unique investigative UI. Extensive use of in-world UIs on screens and advertisements.

Features a customizable HUD displaying health, stamina, toxicity, equipped Signs, and a mini-map. A radial menu allows quick selection of Signs, potions, bombs, and pocket items. Inventory, character (skills, gear), alchemy, crafting, journal, and world map are accessed through a comprehensive menu system. The Bestiary provides information on monsters and their weaknesses.

Offers a robust suite of accessibility options, including extensive subtitle customization (size, background, speaker names), control remapping (full on PC), aim assist options, options to reduce camera motion and screen effects, colorblind modes, UI scaling, options for hold vs. toggle for actions, and various gameplay difficulty modifiers.

The original release had limited accessibility options. The Next-Gen Update and subsequent patches improved this, adding features like customizable subtitles (size, background), options for font size, HUD scaling, control remapping (PC), options to reduce camera motion/head bob, and gameplay settings like auto-looting and alternative QTE inputs.

• Official system requirements from CD Projekt Red (updated post-2.0 patch and Phantom Liberty). Performance can vary significantly depending on specific hardware, settings, areas in-game (especially dense city centers), and background applications. An SSD is MANDATORY. The game is very demanding, especially with Path Tracing (Overdrive Mode).
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop models of listed desktop GPUs may work if their performance is comparable, but TGP (Total Graphics Power) and cooling are extremely critical. **Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the most graphically and CPU intensive games, particularly with advanced ray tracing. High-end, modern laptop hardware is essential for an enjoyable experience at higher settings.**
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP is crucial for performance.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Excellent cooling is essential to prevent severe thermal throttling, especially during prolonged sessions.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Laptops with sustained high CPU power limits and good single-core performance will perform better.
• Laptop Consideration: R A M Speed Dual Channel: Fast dual-channel RAM (DDR5 preferred) significantly benefits performance, especially with high CPU load.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended for optimal framerates.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Supports NVIDIA DLSS (including Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, and Frame Generation - DLSS 3/3.5), AMD FSR 2.1, and Intel XeSS 1.1.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Ray Tracing (Reflections, Sun Shadows, Local Shadows, Global Illumination, Path Tracing/Overdrive Mode), Screen Space Reflections Quality, Volumetric Fog Resolution, Crowd Density, Texture Quality, and Level of Detail (LOD) heavily impact performance. Using upscaling is highly recommended for higher settings/resolutions, especially with any form of ray tracing.
• Game Name: Cyberpunk 2077

• Official PC system requirements from CD Projekt Red. The game received a 'Next-Gen Update' (Patch 4.0) in December 2022 which significantly upgraded visuals (including ray tracing) and increased system demands. The requirements below reflect both original and updated recommendations where appropriate.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop models of listed desktop GPUs may work if their performance is comparable, but TGP (Total Graphics Power) and cooling are critical. **The Next-Gen Update makes the game very demanding at higher settings, especially with ray tracing.**
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Good TGP is important for consistent performance, especially with RT.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Robust cooling is essential for sustained performance.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A good CPU is needed for the dense world and NPC interactions.
• Laptop Consideration: R A M Speed Dual Channel: Fast dual-channel RAM benefits performance.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Next-Gen Update added support for NVIDIA DLSS (Super Resolution & Frame Generation), AMD FSR 2, and Intel XeSS.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: NVIDIA HairWorks (very demanding), Shadow Quality, Foliage Visibility Range, Grass Density, Texture Quality, Ambient Occlusion, Water Quality, and Ray Tracing (Global Illumination, Reflections, Shadows, AO - Next-Gen Update) heavily impact performance.
• Game Name: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

• Upscaling Tech: Supports NVIDIA DLSS (including Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, and Frame Generation - DLSS 3/3.5), AMD FSR 2.1, and Intel XeSS 1.1.
• Key Settings Impact: Ray Tracing (Reflections, Sun Shadows, Local Shadows, Global Illumination, Path Tracing/Overdrive Mode), Screen Space Reflections Quality, Volumetric Fog Resolution, Crowd Density, Texture Quality, and Level of Detail (LOD) heavily impact performance. Using upscaling is highly recommended for higher settings/resolutions, especially with any form of ray tracing.

• Upscaling Tech: Next-Gen Update added support for NVIDIA DLSS (Super Resolution & Frame Generation), AMD FSR 2, and Intel XeSS.
• Key Settings Impact: NVIDIA HairWorks (very demanding), Shadow Quality, Foliage Visibility Range, Grass Density, Texture Quality, Ambient Occlusion, Water Quality, and Ray Tracing (Global Illumination, Reflections, Shadows, AO - Next-Gen Update) heavily impact performance.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP is crucial for performance.
• Cooling Thermals: Excellent cooling is essential to prevent severe thermal throttling, especially during prolonged sessions.
• C P U Power Limits: Laptops with sustained high CPU power limits and good single-core performance will perform better.
• R A M Speed Dual Channel: Fast dual-channel RAM (DDR5 preferred) significantly benefits performance, especially with high CPU load.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended for optimal framerates.

• G P U T G P: Good TGP is important for consistent performance, especially with RT.
• Cooling Thermals: Robust cooling is essential for sustained performance.
• C P U Power Limits: A good CPU is needed for the dense world and NPC interactions.
• R A M Speed Dual Channel: Fast dual-channel RAM benefits performance.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended.