Let me be honest: I’m just a regular player who has sunk more hours into The Witcher 3 than into sleep, probably. With the new Witcher trilogy built in Unreal Engine 5 and the remake of the first game finally on the horizon in 2026, I’m hyped beyond reason. But hype doesn’t fight drowners, so until those games drop, I need a backup plan. I went hunting for grim worlds, brutal combat, folklore, and the occasional emotional gut punch. Here’s my personal list of games that scratch that Witcher itch, countdown style.

10 Darkest Dungeon

This one is basically what happens when you send a bunch of stressed-out mercenaries into a swamp and tell them not to die. It’s turn-based, relentlessly dark, and packed with creatures that look like they wandered straight out of Velen. The first time I ran into a proper Hag, I had war flashbacks. Truthfully, Darkest Dungeon is tough as nails and available on almost every platform, but available does not mean easy. This game will wreck your Sunday and then ask for more.

9 Middle-earth: Shadow of War

Talion isn’t a witcher, but the guy could definitely pass a swordsman audition. He carves through hordes like Geralt on a good day and has magical tricks that would make Yennefer raise an eyebrow. The Nemesis system is pure drama; you will personally beef with orcs who remember when you ran away. Fair warning: the action gets a bit repetitive, and the RPG side is mostly skill trees. Still, if you want stylish swordplay and a hero who doesn’t skip leg day, this one delivers.

8 Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Eivor and Geralt would probably share a grunt of mutual respect. Valhalla isn’t just about raiding; it goes deep into Norse mythology, while The Witcher chomps on Slavic folklore. If you love wandering through a world where every second side quest sounds like it fell out of an old saga, this is a great pick. I spent 80 hours in the open world and accidentally ignored the main story for 60 of them. That’s the mark of an RPG doing something right.

7 Monster Hunter: World

If Geralt ever wondered why he doesn’t just open a smithy and retire, Monster Hunter: World is the answer. Hunting is your full-time job with benefits. You study behavioral patterns like you’re cramming for a final exam, then spend twenty-five minutes dodging a tail swipe. Teamwork is huge, builds matter, and every fight feels like a boss rush. Plus, Geralt literally visited that world once, which is canon enough for me.

6 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim is the old reliable. It leans high fantasy rather than The Witcher’s muddy low fantasy, but the sense of scale still hits like a giant’s club. In 2026, the modding community keeps this game alive in beautiful ways. Honestly, after all these years, I still get chills walking up to High Hrothgar. It’s not as morally murky, but it did teach millions of us to hoard cheese wheels just in case.

5 Red Dead Redemption 2

Okay, Arthur Morgan can’t cast Igni and he definitely can’t romance a witch. But if you want a tormented hero, a jaw-dropping open world, and an ending that leaves you staring at the ceiling, RDR2 is in the same emotional weight class as The Witcher 3. It’s not an action RPG, and it swaps monsters for manifest destiny, but the feeling of being powerful and profoundly sad never goes away. I’m still not over chapter six, thanks for asking.

4 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is what happens when you remove the monsters but keep all the mud, hunger, and back pain. Daniel Vavra has said the grim, realistic medieval atmosphere was partly inspired by The Witcher books, and it shows in the best way. It had a buggy launch, but free updates turned it around. This game will make you learn to read, eat, sleep, and realize that fighting five dudes at once is a terrible idea. Very humbling, very immersive.

3 Gothic 2

Gothic 2 is a legendary rough diamond. The world and story are absorbing, but the controls sometimes feel like steering a wardrobe. There are bugs that have aged like milk left in a Novigrad basement. Still, this is a milestone of the western fantasy RPG, and it has that the-world-doesn’t-care-about-you energy that The Witcher fans know well. If you can push past the jank, there’s real magic here. Just save often. Then save again.

2 Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

Dragon’s Dogma is pure combat joy. Climbing a chimera while your Pawns yell tactical nonsense is an experience no other RPG gives you. The story is whatever, but the fights are absolutely chef’s kiss material. It’s the kind of game where you forgive the rough edges because the highs are so high. If you love The Witcher’s big monsters but wish you could physically scale them like a very aggressive mountain goat, this is your jam.

1 Dragon Age: Origins

Number one goes to Dragon Age: Origins. It’s dark, political, and full of demons that would absolutely moonlight on the Continent. The dialogue is sharp enough to cut glass, the lore is deep, and your choices sometimes make you feel like a proper villain. It’s tactical rather than action-heavy, but if you love a grim fantasy world with memorable companions and genuinely evil threats, Origins is still my gold standard in 2026.

Game	Why it scratches the Witcher itch	Vibe
Darkest Dungeon	Grim turn-based roguelike	You will die, a lot
Shadow of War	Swordplay and magic	Nemesis drama
AC Valhalla	Folklore-rich open world	Norse saga
Monster Hunter: World	Deep monster hunting	Boss fight simulator
Skyrim	Endless exploration	Modded comfort food
Red Dead Redemption 2	Story and open world	Emotional damage
Kingdom Come: Deliverance	Realistic medieval life	Humble peasant sim
Gothic 2	Classic grim fantasy	Janky but beautiful
Dragon's Dogma	Combat and big monsters	Climb and punish
Dragon Age: Origins	Dark lore and choice	Tactical drama

Until the new Witcher saga arrives, these games are my emotional support RPGs. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have 200 side quests to ignore.