The Witcher is one of the most influential and successful video game series of all time. Inspired by a series of best-selling books, The Witcher universe has become expansive, now including a hit TV show on Netflix entering its second season. The Witcher video games have sold well over 50 million copies, with more than 30 million of those sales attributed to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, a game so wildly popular that it keeps getting released on new video game systems, most notably, the Nintendo Switch, which is the version I’m currently playing. But if you’re new to this fantastical universe and you want to get caught up on all of the specifics, should you buy The World of the Witcher: Video Game Compendium? Read on for my thoughts.
The World of the Witcher: Video Game Compendium is a nearly 200-page book, available both in hardback and digital formats, that allows you to dive dep into the world of monster hunters — providing a guided tour of the world and wonder that is The Witcher. The graphical design of this book is elegant, and the imagery included is gorgeous. If you’re looking for in-depth knowledge about the locales, the deadly beasts that inhabit them, and the lethal weapons used to put them down, this is the book for you.
I’m massive fan of The Elder Scrolls. I love the lore and incredible world that surrounds me when I’m playing Skyrim, Oblivion, The Elder Scrolls Online, or any of the entries in this storied video game franchise. The Witcher provides a similarly rich experience that I’m only just starting to dig into. The World of the Witcher is an essential companion to this video games series, and it’s the perfect way to become quickly accustomed to your surroundings. I’d argue that it’s equally fascinating for those who’ve never played the games and those who have because the content contained within is so lovingly crafted and beautifully presented that it is truly a sight to behold. Dark Horse knocked it out of the park with this one. You should absolutely toss a coin to your Witcher and buy this book.