On the other hand, it's not without its flaws. There are many minuscule cracks and rough spots that the developers most likely forgot to buff out or fix. By far, no other in-game fantasy city has been able to contest Novigrad's density and attention to detail. From the muddy gates and the town square which reeked of burnt sorceresses to the brothels and gangster hideouts, Novigrad is alive and brimming with activity, though not all of those activities are enjoyable for you as a Witcher.
As a result, you'll spend most of your time familiarizing yourself with every nook, cranny, and stinking sewer in Novigrad. The odd thing is, most players will likely never tire of walking around Novigrad despite spending half the game there.
That's how you build a city in video games. One of the reasons why many players consider Novigrad as a haven despite the air of destitution and corruption is Velen.
It's a vivid hellscape in the game full of hanged corpses, decapitated corpses, and corpses getting eaten by Necrophages. Just when you think you've seen the worst Velen has to offer, venture a bit down south and you'll happen upon the swamp area.
It's a fetid gloomy pool governed by three ugly witches who like to eat young people and every step you take in the water is an invitation to a drowner's lair or a water hag's hiding spot. Of course, that's to be expected since nobody likes swamp unless your an ogre with a Scottish accent.
