Witcher 3: 10 Best Characters, Ranked

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt features a diverse panoply of characters. Whether they are passing figures in brief quests or central figures in the trilogy, each character leaves a lasting impression on the player and Geralt himself. However, some characters are bound to rise to the top; these characters are in the closest contact with Geralt, each providing their own compelling and entertaining dynamic with him.

RELATED: Best Video Games About Monsters

Between witchers, sorceresses, fellow non-humans, and everything in between, Geralt has plenty of acquaintances vying for his attention (and competing for the spot of the best character, of course). Here are some of the very best characters whom Geralt has the pleasure (and the occasional displeasure) of seeing in The Witcher 3.

10 Lambert

Lambert is a fellow witcher of the Wolf School; this is the sole similarity between Lambert and Geralt. Lambert is a great foil character to the stoic and witty protagonist: he is crass, bitter, and begrudging. Even so, Lambert’s outlook honestly reflects the brutal past that made him a witcher, redeeming him in some sense.

Mostly, he’s good at being the subjects in limericks—that is where he truly shines.

9 Dijkstra

There is one of few characters who can match both Geralt’s dry wit and level of expertise in his respective field: Sigismund Dijkstra, former spymaster for Redania. Dijkstra is truly the worst in the best way. He is utterly self-interested and intelligent enough to achieve his self-interest at the expense of anyone and everyone—Geralt included.

That being said, matching his wits against Geralt’s produces some of the best dialogue in the Witcher 3, even if it is mostly Geralt messing around with the embittered spymaster.

8 Regis

Regis is the only “monster” on this list, even though it is incredibly easy to forget the fact that he’s a vampire (until he inevitably brings it up, of course). Featured as Geralt’s main point of contact during the Blood and Wine DLC, Regis is a highly dignified and genuine person who protects and cares for Geralt (among others).

Geralt’s friendship with Regis is similar to his companionship with other witchers: they are both old and experienced and do not want to engage in the blind killing that is partially expected of them.

7 Zoltan

Another old friend of Geralt’s, Zoltan, is a conventional dwarf who aids Geralt in his quest to find Ciri. As a happy-go-lucky card player with a penchant for drinking, is it fitting that the Witcher 3 places Zoltan in co-ownership of a tavern in Novigrad, the Rosemary and Thyme? Ultimately, he is pleasant, optimistic, and helpful—a true, steadfast friend and ally for Geralt to rely on.

6 Dandelion

Whereas Zoltan is fairly one-dimensional, the other co-owner of the Rosemary and Thyme, Dandelion, has a fairly complex characterization. Initially, he appears to be a haphazard playboy who seduces an excessive number of women—a tendency that always results in the women both hating him and wanting him back.

RELATED: The Witcher 3 Still Has The Best Side-Quests

As Geralt continues his search for Ciri, he also finds out about Dandelion’s selfless assistance to Ciri as she fled Novigrad—a clear demonstration of his noble, poetic nature. Of course, Dandelion would never admit that himself, as he’s too busy aggrandizing himself in more ridiculous, entertaining ways.

5 Yennefer

Yennefer is yet another one of Geralt’s long-time companions—and one who is featured heavily in The Witcher 3. She is cold, serious, and oriented around getting things done; to be fair, her coldness to Geralt is warranted (given her suspicion that they are only bound by the magic of a Djinn), and her seriousness about getting Ciri back is even more warranted. It is not despite but because of her complex and contradictory feelings towards Geralt that makes her a compelling character with whom the player engages.

4 Triss

There is another powerful sorceress in Geralt’s life that contrasts with Yennefer in every way possible: Triss Merigold. As the de facto love interest in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, Triss and Geralt have a complicated past once the events of The Witcher 3 roll around. Even so, she remains incredibly amicable and charming with Geralt, presenting a notable contrast to Yennefer.

3 Vesemir

Vesemir is a central character in the Witcher series. As the witcher that trained Geralt, he comes across as a genuine father figure (and even as a grandfather figure to Ciri). Alongside Geralt, Vesemir teaches Ciri sword fighting and survival techniques without sacrificing the relative innocence and fun of her childhood.

RELATED: Most Immersive RPGs

Vesemir is responsible for the lives of many witchers, therefore making him responsible for hundreds and thousands of lives saved; by caring for Ciri, Vesemir is also indirectly responsible for saving the world.

2 Ciri

Finding Ciri is the central objective of The Witcher 3. Her father, the Emperor of Nilfgaard, demands it, but that is not the motivating factor. Geralt’s genuine love for Ciri is the driving force behind the game, alongside the genuine love of his close friends—that is, Yennefer, Triss, Vesemir, and many more.

Indeed, they have plenty of reasons to care for her (and not just because she can control time and space). By the time of the third game, she is no longer a princess nor a child; she is a powerful, determined force that wishes to defeat The Wild Hunt and save her loved ones, just as her loved ones wish to save her.

1 Geralt

Geralt’s name has been mentioned throughout this list. Not only is he the protagonist and the titular witcher, but he is also rightfully one of the most iconic player characters in video games.

His dry wit never runs dry, even across all the dialogue in the game; his determination to find Ciri is both deeply personal and bound by fate; most of all, he is a non-human who consistently risks his life to save humankind that actively shuns him. Through and alongside the player, Geralt comes to life as a deeply complex, compelling, and entertaining character.

NEXT: Best RPG Boss Fights, Ranked