Hearts of Stone
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a game that is easily a game of the year contender. An amazing story, beautiful visuals, great characters, an open adventure, and engaging combat aren’t easy to pull off. Yet CD Projekt Red managed to do so with what looked like relative ease.
The developers announced their plans for expansions well before the game was released, and after playing the base game, many wondered how they could possibly build on it in a worthwhile fashion. Hearts of Stone came along to show everyone exactly how. This expansion fit right into CDPR’s way of doing things, and that means providing loads of content to players while also making it feel brand new.
Instead of just continuing where Wild Hunt left off, Hearts of Stone tells a separate side story that takes place in the same world. There are some new areas to explore, but the game never removes you from the main experience so you can enjoy everything in tandem if you so choose. The story presents a new theme and lesson to players as they endeavor to complete a few tasks for a devilish stranger. New and returning characters join you for the tale as you make your way through some interesting scenarios, tougher enemies, nightmarish encounters, and more difficult decisions are available for those willing to dive back into the harsh world of the Northern Realms.
Hearts of Stone brought more of what players already fell in love with, but it came in a more refined package. One that left out the padding and steered clear of monotony as it threw you into yet another intense chain of events.
Hearts of Stone also left everyone wondering what CDPR could possibly have in store for the next Witcher 3 expansion, Blood and Wine. The studio has gone above and beyond yet again, and that leaves no doubt that their first major Witcher 3 expansion is one of the year’s best.
