Released on May 18, 2015, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2025. Over the past decade, it has solidified its status as an RPG icon, bringing CD Projekt RED immense popularity and significant financial success (selling over 50 million copies!). It holds a firm place in the hearts of gamers, being a game they love to revisit, create extensive mods for (including questlines rivaling official DLC), and consistently discuss within the gaming community.
Over ten years, fans have meticulously explored every corner of the game world. They`ve found Velen peasants whistling `Yellow Submarine,` witch hunters quoting classic Soviet comedies, character names in the `Fall of the House of Reardon` quest `accidentally` matching Nabokov`s `Lolita,` and a halfling threatening you with `Just try calling me Baggins!` confident you`ll catch the LotR reference. Yet, one question persists, seemingly without a definitive answer: Triss or Yennefer? Or perhaps Shani, or even Keira?
Yennefer is the fiery sorceress. A woman who drew a lucky magical ticket, transforming her appearance and forging an unyielding character, she`s often considered the canonical choice for the witcher. Life with her is anything but dull, whether adventuring or in the bedroom – unicorn ride antics are legendary! However, choosing Yen means sacrificing peace and emotional stability, as she thrives on intensity. You`ll never be certain if she`ll offer a kiss or teleport you miles away (`I hate portals!`) to some remote lake. If you crave eternal youth and constant emotional swings, give Yen a resounding `yes,` and hope you get to spend the next Belleteyn with her. No guarantees there…
Triss Merigold represents the choice of a loving woman ready to be compliant if you return her affection. She`s far from spineless, though: cheerful, younger, and more naive than her friend Yen, she fights for happiness using less-than-pure methods – this fiery redhead has claws. She`ll deceive when necessary, and manipulate when needed. Triss would likely offer Geralt stability, confidence, care, and comfort, although it`s questionable whether this relationship (like the one with Yennefer) could truly be called healthy. Triss is persistent, she lies to be with her beloved. However, she`s also not spoiled and is willing to endure hardships for Geralt`s sake, happy to live his life and be `one of the guys` for his friends. This type of relationship exists in reality, and for many, it`s an ideal format. We listen and don`t judge!
Keira Metz is a sorceress from the Lodge temporarily residing in Velen. A nymphomaniac and hedonist forced into rural life due to persecution, she`s unlikely to be a lifelong companion. The game doesn`t present this as a permanent option, but that`s the beauty of RPGs – you`re free to fantasize and decide that for your Geralt, Keira might be the best fit. This option is for those who want no responsibility, no long-term commitment, and are only interested in sex and pleasure. Metz isn`t seeking a partner to grow old with; she wants to live in the moment and will go to great lengths for her own gain. Sex without strings attached? Look no further. In The Witcher 3, a fling with Keira Metz won`t impact your final choice between Triss and Yennefer, as both of Geralt`s main interests are themselves not monogamous.
Shani is an `ordinary` girl, which makes her appealing. Though her appearance in The Witcher 3 is perhaps less detailed than Triss`, her inner world is the dream of any mature individual. However, the standard Geralt, despite his masculinity and thoughtfulness (bordering on stuffiness), tends to act and judge more instinctively than rationally. He`s sometimes as infantile as a teenager, sometimes as grumpy as an old man. In this pairing, the sweet, morally sound, gentle, and self-sacrificing Shani would likely be emotionally burnt out quickly. If your Geralt has matured, and the fiery, assertive, and reckless sorceresses no longer seem appealing, Shani is an excellent choice. It`s close to the classically `right` choice in reality, suitable for building a family, but perhaps too mundane for a video game.
Why should Geralt settle for just one woman when he can potentially have them all? Not just Yen, Triss, Keira, and Shani, but also the iron-willed Yutta An Dimun on Skellige, Madame Sasha if you`re a skilled card player, the vengeful Syanna, and the ladies of pleasure in the brothels.
CD Projekt Red`s developers showed a touch of irony by adding an option for players undecided between Triss and Yennefer to try romancing both simultaneously. Ten years post-release, this isn`t much of a spoiler: attempting to propose a `threesome tango` to his ladies will lead Geralt to ruin his relationships with both beauties. And, honestly, that might grant him the freedom he arguably deserves.
Regarding the actual gameplay of The Witcher 3 and making `correct` choices in dialogue with women, none of the romantic encounters fundamentally derail the main character`s plot. There are many sex scenes, and over time, you`ll figure out what to say to different women to end up in bed with them. It`s all fairly standard: flowers, compliments, a shoulder to lean on. Not even sorceresses demand much more than that.
Finley Holt