CD Projekt Red has built a legacy of crafting extraordinary gaming experiences. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, The Witcher 3 remains widely regarded as one of the greatest RPGs of all time, if not the greatest. Similarly, Cyberpunk 2077—after substantial improvements—has evolved into a richly detailed and immersive open-world adventure. These two titles alone have cemented CD Projekt Red as one of the most revered game developers globally, alongside their other captivating releases. So, what sets their games apart?

While multiple factors contribute to CDPR’s hallmark quality, it’s the interplay of smaller elements that creates a believable, cohesive world. The studio excels in making players feel their choices truly shape the narrative, affecting characters, factions, and the environment. Though many RPGs attempt this, few achieve the same level of depth and authenticity.

“When playing other AAA RPGs, I often sense the constraints of their development tools,” says Patrick Mills, CDPR’s franchise content strategy lead. “You recognize the designer’s ambition, but also where it falls short—not due to laziness or poor design, but because the tools simply couldn’t execute the vision.”

CDPR has invested as much time refining its tools as developing its games. Their proprietary REDengine, evolved through four iterations, enables intricate connections between systems—ensuring player actions feel meaningful. The flexibility of these tools also allows for wildly creative quest designs. The Witcher games balanced exploration, dialogue, and combat, while Cyberpunk expanded into stealth, hacking, and varied playstyles—culminating in Phantom Liberty’s genre-blending narrative approaches.

“With expansive RPGs, variety isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential,” explains Miles Tost, level design lead. “Players need fresh mechanics and evolving challenges, or they’ll disengage regardless of storytelling quality.”

Choices in CDPR’s games don’t follow a simple morality system. Instead, they reflect morally gray dilemmas where decisions ripple outward—delayed consequences prevent easy reversals, deepening immersion. Whether in The Witcher 2’s faction-altering mid-game shift or Cyberpunk’s morally ambiguous alliances, outcomes feel weighty, shaping the world in ways both subtle and dramatic.

“Players should feel rewarded by their choices, even if the result is sorrow,” says Sebastian Kalemba, game director for The Witcher 4. Emotional authenticity hinges on context—players understand the stakes through well-developed characters and organic narrative buildup.

Cyberpunk’s initial launch revealed a blind spot: subtlety. Player feedback showed choices weren’t clearly telegraphed in Night City’s dense environment, and consequences often went unnoticed. Phantom Liberty course-corrected with more overt branching paths, reaffirming CDPR’s mastery of player-driven storytelling.

Yet crafting impactful choices requires more than mechanics—it demands compelling writing. As quest designer Paweł Gąska notes, “Dilemmas must resonate emotionally. It’s the writers and animators who transform theoretical conflicts into heart-wrenching decisions.”

For The Witcher 4, CDPR faces new challenges—transitioning to Unreal Engine 5 while pushing player agency further. If they succeed, the game could redefine narrative depth in RPGs. As Kalemba states, “Players should shape their experience through richer mechanics and meaningful decisions.”

Matching The Witcher 3’s legacy would be ambitious. Surpassing it? A monumental task—but if Phantom Liberty’s redemption arc proves anything, CDPR thrives on learning from missteps. The Witcher 4 must uphold their reputation: choices matter, and players’ decisions echo long after the credits roll.