Witcher franchise...

[abaris]

That's the attraction to the more recent Elder Scrolls games and (it looks like) what the new Witcher title is expanding on.

But let's be honest here. Given the right level, you can be done with the main story of Skyrim in 4 hours. And the rest is just fetch and carry. I loved the concept with Morrowind, since it was something new in 2002, but ten years later I expected quite a bit more.

And that's where all the Witcher games as well as POE or Divinity Original Sin outshine any Elder Scroll title. I haven't played the Witcher for the reasons I've given, but side quests in all three games are quests that often tie in with the main story and the NPC population recognizes who you are and what you achieved and in which way. With POE there's also not what you call a linear plot. Enemies don't scale and so you can move into any region, save a few, but if you're to weak, you probably will get a beating.