This article originally appeared on VICE UK.It's not enough for a video game just to be big anymore. Scale isn't as impressive as it used to be: Now it's detail and variety that define the best virtual worlds. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, a sweeping fantasy RPG by CD Projekt RED, is a great example of this. Its world is vast, but also rich with fine, handcrafted detail. From bustling, metropolitan cities like Novigrad to the rocky, wind-battered coastlines of Skellige, it's one of the prettiest, most transporting imaginary places in games.
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Based on the books of Polish fantasy author Andrzej Sapkowski, the fictional history, politics, and culture of his stories, as well as Slavic folklore, permeate every corner of the game world, which gives it a rich, believable texture. Load up your in-game map and you'll find it dotted with question marks that represent unexplored locations—an enticing invitation to get on your horse, ignore the quest at hand, and explore. Here are just a few of the places you'll discover.
Tor Gvalch'ca
Hanged Man's Tree
Kaer Morhen
Novigrad
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Crow's Perch
Downwarren
Freya's Garden
Eldberg Lighthouse
White Orchard
Kaer Trolde Harbour
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Yngvar's Fang
Crookback Bog
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