Is The Witcher 3 the Greatest RPG of the 21st Century?
 # Is The Witcher 3 the Greatest RPG of the 21st Century? As of 2026, eleven years after its debut, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has sold over 50 million copies worldwide and won more than 260 Game of the Year awards ([CD Projekt investor reports via Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witcher_3:_Wild_Hunt), 2026). Few games stay commercially relevant for a decade; fewer still set the benchmark an entire genre is measured against. So does the numbers back up the "greatest RPG" claim, or is it nostalgia talking? This article weighs the data, the design, and the legacy — and offers a verdict. "Greatest" is a loaded word. So this review scores The Witcher 3 across five concrete dimensions: commercial success, critical acclaim, quest and narrative design, world and replayability, and lasting cultural influence. We also compare it honestly against the strongest rivals of the past decade — Baldur's Gate 3, Elden Ring, Skyrim, and Cyberpunk 2077. > **Key Takeaways** > - In 2026, The Witcher 3 has sold more than 50 million copies — one of the best-selling RPGs ever — and holds more than 260 Game of the Year awards, making it one of the most decorated games in history ([CD Projekt investor reports via Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witcher_3:_Wild_Hunt), 2026). > - It scores 93 on Metacritic (PC), 94 on current-gen consoles, and 95% on OpenCritic — elite marks — while its Blood and Wine expansion alone scores 92, higher than most full games ([Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt/), 2026). > - Its side quests are widely considered the genre's gold standard: choice-driven, morally grey, and written to the same quality as many games' main stories. Personal playthrough confirms it rewards slow, attentive play.