A new, unhurried playthrough of The Witcher 3’s opening hours turned out to be as absorbing as ever; the new camera seems to make everything more intimate and grounded, and Kaer Morhen’s music moved me in ways I didn’t expect.

Ten years ago, I feverishly played it first on my dad’s PC, during a long stay at his house. About a year later, I replayed it on Vic’s PS4, as I took refuge in his apartment in the days leading up to Blood and Wine. Back then I wouldn’t have dared to touch Death March, so I'm just now discovering how well it suits the experience.

As I write this, a sweet mix of anticipation lingers. It sits between the ever-closer Crimson Desert exploration… and this third run through a beloved trail that leads to Novigrad, Kaer Trolde, and Beauclair.