Every Witcher Crossover and Adaptation So Far | MojoPlays
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VOICE OVER: Riccardo Tucci
WRITTEN BY: Jarett Burke
Welcome to MojoPlays! Today we're looking at all the spinoffs that spawned from Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher novels and short stories -- like “The Last Wish” and “Time of Contempt”. Note that those won't be included in the list, because they are the source materials for all the crossovers! Note: There's enough monster-hunting entertainment on this list for even the most die-hard Witcher fan!
Every Witcher Crossover So Far
Welcome to MojoPlays! Today we’re looking at all the spinoffs that spawned from Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher novels and short stories -- like “The Last Wish” and “Time of Contempt”. Note that those won’t be included in the list, because they are the source materials for all the crossovers! Note: There’s enough monster-hunting entertainment on this list for even the most die-hard Witcher fan!
Polish Adaptations
If you’re shocked to learn that there is a cinematic adaptation of Sapkowski’s books in the form of the Polish produced “The Hexer” that came out in 2001… well… you wouldn’t be the only one! It’s not well known in the West; it’s in Polish (duh); and it was poorly received at release due to its low budget and basic special effects. So, it has all the markings of a failed project that wouldn’t be repeated… And yet… The writer and director of the film would go on to make a TV series – also called “The Hexer” – that came out the following year in Poland and was only slightly better received. In fact, one of the biggest critics of the movie and TV series is none other than Sapkowski himself, and this fact probably didn’t bode too well for how either are remembered today.
Comic Books
Finished the novels and looking for more Witcher material to read? Well, luckily there are three comic book series that highlight the adventures of Geralt and Company. The first comic series released between 1993-1995 includes six issues that are largely based off Sapkowski’s Witcher short stories; but, they are also written in Polish, so you’ll need Google Translate or a fan translation to make any sense of them. The second and third series, however, are based on the games developed by CD Projekt Red, so they’re more accessible. There’s the 2-part Egmont series released in 2011 that told an original tale, and then there’s the Dark Horse Comics four-part series that ran between 2015-2019, which included original storylines and others based on Sapkowski’s work. Also, there’s the CD Projekt Red-made digital comic that was released alongside the “Hearts of Stone” expansion in 2015.
Board Game
If you’re not into video games but loved reading The Witcher novels and want a more interactive form of entertainment featuring Geralt and The Gang, than perhaps a board game would be more your thing? In that case, “The Witcher Adventure Game” by Fight Fantasy Games delivers the goods, as it allows you to play as Geralt, Triss, Dandelion or Yarpen and employ different methods of play, like combat, diplomacy or charm. And if you love this more communal approach to gaming and want to get a few buddies together for a more D&D-like experience, there are also two table-top games in 2001’s “The Witcher: Game of Imagination” and 2018’s “The Witcher” role playing game. Board games and tabletop games are like the old school version of couch co-op!
Geralt in Other Games
“The Witcher” franchise is probably best known for its video game trilogy (even though the books came first), but did you know that Geralt has made a few appearances in other huge games? That’s right… This dude is so popular a single franchise can’t contain him! He’s made his way into Namco’s celebrated Soul Calibur fighting series, turning up as a guest character in 2018’s “Soul Calibur 6.” And, in a crossover event extraordinaire, he got his own quest in Capcom’s blockbuster “Monster Hunter World” in Early 2019, where Geralt was tasked with literally doing what he does best: killing monsters! Also, on the Switch, The White Wolf was joined by Ciri in a DLC pack for the mech shooter “Daemon X Machina” in 2019. So, if you’ve beat “The Witcher 3” a million times and you’re craving more Geralt Gaming experiences, you can give these games a try.
Gwent-Based Games
We frigging love Gwent… A good chunk of the hours we poured into “The Witcher 3” were actually spent thrashing opponents in this awesome game, as well as hunting down the rarest cards we could find. Our 2015 selves wished with all our might that we’d get a standalone Gwent game to satisfy our card shark desires. So, when CD Projekt Red released that exact game in 2018, we were all over it. “Gwent: The Witcher Card Game” is all Gwent, all the time; and, better yet, it’s free to play! And, if this isn’t enough to satisfy all you Gwent-Loving Gamers, than the single player, Gwent-based RPG “Thornebreaker: The Witcher Tales” is the icing on the cake. It’s an original story set in The Witcher’s universe and the battles are decided through Gwent games. Sounds like heaven to us!
Netflix Series
As the most recently released adaptation stemming from The Witcher franchise, the Netflix series aptly entitled “The Witcher” divided critics and fans, with the former dumping on it and the latter loving it. So, whose judgment should we trust? Well… call us old fashioned but… when the man who created the entire Witcher universe speaks up to sing the show’s praises – as Sapkowski did when the series released in Late 2019 – we know who we’re siding with: than fans and Sapkowski himself! Seeing Geralt brought to life by A-list actor Henry Cavill (who is also a big fan of the games) was an absolute treat to witness for longtime fans, and the show’s mix of action-adventure with lighthearted, comedic moments really lent it a sense of charm that was missing from more serious fantasy shows like “Game of Thrones.” We can’t wait for season 2!
Video Game Trilogy
With “The Witcher 3” selling 28 million copies over multiple platforms, it’s easy to see why the game (and the video game trilogy as a whole) is the most important adaptation of Sapkowski’s novels. Sure, the novels had a loyal readership, but the games – especially the third one – turned this franchise into a global juggernaut. The original Witcher game, released in 2007 on PC, brought the tale of Geralt of Rivia to a wider audience and garnered much praise for its deep gameplay; while 2011’s “The Witcher 2: Assassination of Kings” saw Geralt land on a home console for the first time (the Xbox 360), would go on to sell over eight million copies, and make people hungry for the third game – a game that we all know and love today! It’s simple: Without the games, there wouldn’t be the current explosion of Witcher crossovers we see today.
Welcome to MojoPlays! Today we’re looking at all the spinoffs that spawned from Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher novels and short stories -- like “The Last Wish” and “Time of Contempt”. Note that those won’t be included in the list, because they are the source materials for all the crossovers! Note: There’s enough monster-hunting entertainment on this list for even the most die-hard Witcher fan!
Polish Adaptations
If you’re shocked to learn that there is a cinematic adaptation of Sapkowski’s books in the form of the Polish produced “The Hexer” that came out in 2001… well… you wouldn’t be the only one! It’s not well known in the West; it’s in Polish (duh); and it was poorly received at release due to its low budget and basic special effects. So, it has all the markings of a failed project that wouldn’t be repeated… And yet… The writer and director of the film would go on to make a TV series – also called “The Hexer” – that came out the following year in Poland and was only slightly better received. In fact, one of the biggest critics of the movie and TV series is none other than Sapkowski himself, and this fact probably didn’t bode too well for how either are remembered today.
Comic Books
Finished the novels and looking for more Witcher material to read? Well, luckily there are three comic book series that highlight the adventures of Geralt and Company. The first comic series released between 1993-1995 includes six issues that are largely based off Sapkowski’s Witcher short stories; but, they are also written in Polish, so you’ll need Google Translate or a fan translation to make any sense of them. The second and third series, however, are based on the games developed by CD Projekt Red, so they’re more accessible. There’s the 2-part Egmont series released in 2011 that told an original tale, and then there’s the Dark Horse Comics four-part series that ran between 2015-2019, which included original storylines and others based on Sapkowski’s work. Also, there’s the CD Projekt Red-made digital comic that was released alongside the “Hearts of Stone” expansion in 2015.
Board Game
If you’re not into video games but loved reading The Witcher novels and want a more interactive form of entertainment featuring Geralt and The Gang, than perhaps a board game would be more your thing? In that case, “The Witcher Adventure Game” by Fight Fantasy Games delivers the goods, as it allows you to play as Geralt, Triss, Dandelion or Yarpen and employ different methods of play, like combat, diplomacy or charm. And if you love this more communal approach to gaming and want to get a few buddies together for a more D&D-like experience, there are also two table-top games in 2001’s “The Witcher: Game of Imagination” and 2018’s “The Witcher” role playing game. Board games and tabletop games are like the old school version of couch co-op!
Geralt in Other Games
“The Witcher” franchise is probably best known for its video game trilogy (even though the books came first), but did you know that Geralt has made a few appearances in other huge games? That’s right… This dude is so popular a single franchise can’t contain him! He’s made his way into Namco’s celebrated Soul Calibur fighting series, turning up as a guest character in 2018’s “Soul Calibur 6.” And, in a crossover event extraordinaire, he got his own quest in Capcom’s blockbuster “Monster Hunter World” in Early 2019, where Geralt was tasked with literally doing what he does best: killing monsters! Also, on the Switch, The White Wolf was joined by Ciri in a DLC pack for the mech shooter “Daemon X Machina” in 2019. So, if you’ve beat “The Witcher 3” a million times and you’re craving more Geralt Gaming experiences, you can give these games a try.
Gwent-Based Games
We frigging love Gwent… A good chunk of the hours we poured into “The Witcher 3” were actually spent thrashing opponents in this awesome game, as well as hunting down the rarest cards we could find. Our 2015 selves wished with all our might that we’d get a standalone Gwent game to satisfy our card shark desires. So, when CD Projekt Red released that exact game in 2018, we were all over it. “Gwent: The Witcher Card Game” is all Gwent, all the time; and, better yet, it’s free to play! And, if this isn’t enough to satisfy all you Gwent-Loving Gamers, than the single player, Gwent-based RPG “Thornebreaker: The Witcher Tales” is the icing on the cake. It’s an original story set in The Witcher’s universe and the battles are decided through Gwent games. Sounds like heaven to us!
Netflix Series
As the most recently released adaptation stemming from The Witcher franchise, the Netflix series aptly entitled “The Witcher” divided critics and fans, with the former dumping on it and the latter loving it. So, whose judgment should we trust? Well… call us old fashioned but… when the man who created the entire Witcher universe speaks up to sing the show’s praises – as Sapkowski did when the series released in Late 2019 – we know who we’re siding with: than fans and Sapkowski himself! Seeing Geralt brought to life by A-list actor Henry Cavill (who is also a big fan of the games) was an absolute treat to witness for longtime fans, and the show’s mix of action-adventure with lighthearted, comedic moments really lent it a sense of charm that was missing from more serious fantasy shows like “Game of Thrones.” We can’t wait for season 2!
Video Game Trilogy
With “The Witcher 3” selling 28 million copies over multiple platforms, it’s easy to see why the game (and the video game trilogy as a whole) is the most important adaptation of Sapkowski’s novels. Sure, the novels had a loyal readership, but the games – especially the third one – turned this franchise into a global juggernaut. The original Witcher game, released in 2007 on PC, brought the tale of Geralt of Rivia to a wider audience and garnered much praise for its deep gameplay; while 2011’s “The Witcher 2: Assassination of Kings” saw Geralt land on a home console for the first time (the Xbox 360), would go on to sell over eight million copies, and make people hungry for the third game – a game that we all know and love today! It’s simple: Without the games, there wouldn’t be the current explosion of Witcher crossovers we see today.
