Witcher 3 – Is Novigrad the Greatest Video Game City Ever Created?

The City That Ruined Other Fantasy Games

There’s a reason gamers still wander Novigrad’s cobblestone streets nine years after The Witcher 3’s release. A viral Reddit thread titled “Is Novigrad the best city in video games?” has sparked passionate arguments about what makes CD Projekt Red’s masterpiece feel more alive than any fantasy metropolis since.

Why Novigrad Feels Realer Than Reality

Unlike the sterile corridors of Skyrim’s cities or the pretty-but-empty plazas of Assassin’s Creed, Novigrad thrives through:

• The Weight of History: Every alley whispers of past pogroms against non-humans
• Layered Politics: Temple guards, crime lords, and witch hunters vie for control
• Organic Crowds: Drunkards brawl outside taverns as merchants hawk “elf-made” trinkets
• Time of Day Magic: Dawn reveals fishmongers prepping catches; midnight brings backroom deals

As one architect-turned-gamer noted: “The irregular street layout follows actual medieval city planning. Most devs just copy grid patterns.”

The Gold Standard Few Games Match

Recent contenders still fall short:

• Baldur’s Gate 3’s Lower City (Too condensed)
• Elden Ring’s Leyndell (Beautiful but lifeless)
• Cyberpunk’s Night City (All style, little substance)

Novigrad’s secret? Every NPC has a story – not through quests, but environmental cues. A bloodstain near Hierarch Square hints at last night’s execution. A fresh “No Elves” sign signals rising tensions.

Is Novigrad the best city in videogames?
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