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If you want a game that looks as if its world was illustrated by hand, start with Pentiment for its period-inspired paintings and woodcuts, Kena: Bridge of Spirits for fantasy exploration and action, or Ori and the Will of the Wisps for a visually led fantasy adventure. None is a full substitute for The Witcher 3’s open-world action role-playing structure; the best fit depends on whether you value art, exploration, or consequential story decisions most.
What makes a game a good match for The Witcher 3?
The Witcher 3 combines a plot-driven role-playing game, player choice, quests, and open-world freedom, according to its official listing. A useful comparison therefore has more than one axis: a game can share its sense of visual atmosphere without matching its scale, combat, or quest structure. A recent GamesRadar+ guide published September 29, 2026 likewise distinguishes among elements such as world-building, exploration, monster hunting, and branching stories.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
NAMCO - CD Projekt Red - The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt - Complete Edition, Playstation 5 [English Edition] | $39.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
DEATHLOOP - PS5 | $10.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition (PS5) [video game] | $33.88 | Buy on Amazon |
These recommendations are for players who want a richly directed visual world, not a claim that every game here is an open-world action RPG. Choose by the part of the experience you most want to carry forward.
| Game | Best fit | What differs from The Witcher 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Pentiment | Illustrated historical art and decisions with consequences | Historical investigation and page-like presentation rather than open-world action role-playing |
| Kena: Bridge of Spirits | Fantasy exploration and fast-paced combat | A fantasy adventure; the cited listing does not establish Witcher-like open-world RPG scope |
| Ori and the Will of the Wisps | Distinctive visual direction and a fantasy journey | A visually led genre departure, not a direct match for Witcher-style questing or combat |
Pentiment: choose it for illustrated art and consequential decisions
Pentiment is the clearest choice if “painterly” means art rooted in historical illustration. Obsidian says one of the game’s core goals was preserving the unique art style of the sixteenth century, with characters and environments resembling paintings and woodblock prints brought to life on the page. Its story follows an investigation in which decisions have lasting consequences. See the official Pentiment site.
#1 Best Overall
- 1205504
- High-quality material
- Durable
- robustness
That combination makes it a strong pick for someone who wants narrative decisions and a world with a distinctive visual identity. Its investigative focus and page-like presentation are substantial departures from The Witcher 3’s open-world action-RPG structure, so choose it for the illustration and storytelling rather than for roaming a large fantasy map.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits: choose it for fantasy exploration and action
Kena: Bridge of Spirits follows a young Spirit Guide exploring a forgotten village and confronting a strange curse. PlayStation’s game listing highlights exploration and fast-paced combat, making it the most direct option here if you want a fantasy adventure that pairs discovery with action.
Rank #2
- Value for money
- Good product with exc\
- Perfect puzzling: Puzzles slowly increase in complexity enabling seamless progression and rewarding exploration.
Its visual art has also received recognition: Steam’s listing gives the release date as September 26, 2022, and records a Best Visual Art award. That is evidence of recognition, not proof that its style is identical to The Witcher 3’s. The available descriptions support calling it a fantasy adventure with exploration and combat, not an equivalent open-world RPG.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps: choose it for visual direction first
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is the pick if striking visual direction matters more than matching the structure of The Witcher 3. Moon Studios frames its story around a journey to bring a family together, heal a broken land, and discover Ori’s destiny. The official Ori site lists Best Art Direction among its awards.
Rank #3
Treat it as a visually distinctive fantasy experience, not a direct substitute for Witcher-style questing, open-world role-playing, or combat. Confirm platform and edition details with the current store listing for your region before buying; the cited official description does not establish current availability across platforms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which one should you play first?
- Choose Pentiment if your priority is an illustrated world and a story shaped by decisions.
- Choose Kena: Bridge of Spirits if you want fantasy exploration paired with fast-paced combat.
- Choose Ori and the Will of the Wisps if you want a visually led fantasy journey and are comfortable with a larger departure from Witcher-style role-playing.
If what you want most is the full combination of open-world freedom, plot-driven quests, and role-playing choices, these three recommendations do not establish a like-for-like replacement. They offer different parts of the appeal instead: illustrated storytelling, fantasy action, or visual atmosphere.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

