Surprisingly I get a lot of parents and generally people who don’t play games asking me about if they should get The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. For most games I usually direct them to the ESRB site, but I’m willing to make a special exception.
For most games, I say it is at the digression of the parent and the maturity of the kid in question. For example, a parent I know allows their kid to watch a Game of Thrones, to them I would say yes, if you can let your kid watch a gory fantasy show then Witcher 3 is right up their alley. Parents who are much more strict, can’t have their kid see blood, nudity, or general violence, then I recommend that they walk away from the title.
The reason why I’m including this little rant in this article is to say “Thank You” to the parents that are doing this. Asking questions and getting involved with what your family is playing/watching is a general sign of being a good parent, whether you think your child is mature enough to handle the content is not my place to judge because everyone is different.
The ESRB has come out with some information about the game which has earned a M rating. Listing off offensive language, blood and gore which includes dismembering and beheadings, and sexual conduct which includes some spicy sex scenes with exposed breasts and buttocks. To fans who have played the series, this is nothing new.
Witcher 3 is set for a May 19th release on PS4, Xbox One and PC. You can see the full listing in details below.
Rated M for Mature: blood and gore, intense violence, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content, and use of alcohol.
“This is an open-world role-playing game in which players assume the role of Geralt, a monster hunter in search of a missing woman. Players explore a war-ravaged world while completing quests and killing enemy soldiers and fantastical creatures (e.g., wraiths, harpies, rock beasts).”
“Characters engage in melee-style combat using swords and other bladed weapons, as well as magical attacks (e.g., blasts of fire, stun spells); combat is highlighted by screams of pain and impact sounds. Large blood-splatter effects occur when enemies are slashed, with some attacks resulting in decapitation or dismemberment.”
“Some cutscenes depict slow-motion decapitations and other gore: an autopsy of a torture victim, rooms with several corpses (e.g., hanging from the ceiling, covered in blood on a bed, naked in a tub). During the course of the game, the central character can engage in sexual activity with prostitutes and female companions. These brief sequences depict females’ breasts and buttocks–sexual moaning sounds can be heard, though the camera cuts away from explicit sexual acts.”
“The game includes a side quest in which Geralt engages in a drinking game; characters are depicted drunk and/or passed out. The words “f**k,” “sh*t,” and “c*nt” can be heard in the dialogue.”