The Witcher/YMMV

• Adaptation Displacement: As evidenced by the main page, the video game is considerably better known than any of the other surrounding works. The game being near release when the stories were finally translated into English has a lot to do with it.
• And the Fandom Rejoiced: Not only is the game DRM-free, but all the DLC (bar expansions and the like) will be free.
• Complete Monster: That sword is for monsters indeed. And just about everyone else in Salamandra.
  • "Both are for monsters."
  • In the swamp region there is a minor character known only as "Gramps" who is a Serial Killer and cannibal who preys on the swamp folk. He seems harmless at first and gives Geralt a fair amount of information and offers him a few useful items. It's not until you visit his house that you discover his secret, at which point you can choose to fight him or let him go.
• Continuity Porn: More often and gratuitous than the standard porn, with many references to the novels thrown in for no other reason than to please the fans.
  • On the other hand, the game is perfectly playable by those who don't know original material, and according to Word of God, the game is definitely not canonical.
    • Questionable on that last point.
    • Word of God doesn't say that the games are not canonical. They are Alternate Universe, which is a different thing. Also, Sapkowski had some input into the games, as the writers consulted with him about plot and characters.
• Game Breaker: The Igni Sign—boost it as much as you can, as soon as you can, and you'll be able to waltz through the second half of the game without bothering to even unsheathe your sword: enemies (bosses included) will drop dead like flies.
• Goddamned Bats: Drowners.
• Harsher in Hindsight: The main choice of the game becomes harder (or easier) if you've read 'The Lesser Evil' in The Last Wish.
• Moral Event Horizon: Leo Bonhard crosses his almost immediately after his first appearance in Tower of the Swallow, when after brutally killing all the Rats except Ciri, he makes her watch her lover Mistle slowly and painfully die, then forces her to watch as he saws their heads off... leaving Mistle for the last.
• Realpolitik: You either view Nilfgaard as The Empire or as this—they have done some horrifying things, but show me a country in Real Life that does not have a few skeletons in its closet.
• Too Cool to Live: Geralt in the books.
• Woolseyism: The re-released Enhanced Edition of the game. The original version of the dialogue scripts was cut down by 20% through Executive Meddling just to save money on voice acting for a rather risky project due to how niche it was deemed to be. The end result, while workable, sounded pretty awkward. The Enhanced Edition, which came later as both a retail re-release and a free-to-download patch, features a mostly re-recorded script with no cuts applied to the source material to make it sound more natural and make the English version of the game just as complete dialogue-wise as the Polish original was. Here's example of the changes made:
  • Original:

Geralt: Why do locals persecute nonhumans?
Dwarf: Humans have always hated dwarves and elves.
Geralt: I don't understand.
Dwarf: Then go see that bastard Brogg. I won't discuss it with strangers.
Geralt: Understandable.

• • Enhanced:

Geralt: Why do the locals persecute nonhumans?
Dwarf: Why do pricks go in cunts? It's the natural order of things. Humans have always hated dwarves and elves. Not for me to know why.
Geralt: I'm not sure I understand.
Dwarf: Then ponder it on your own. Or discuss it with that maggot Brogg. I don't talk to strangers about these things.
Geralt: Fine.