As we ran off to make a fresh start in the next town (yeah, we killed him), we were quick to notice that there was nothing to give us pause, literally. There were no loading screen⛎s and everything was inside one big, seamless world. We also noticed that day fell into night and weather changed according to the climate that we traveled through.

For those who are less easily impressed by graphic power alone, Gothic 3 promises a gripping experience full of smart dialogue, ethical crossroads and visceral combat. Look for a deeper hands-on preview later this summer; Gothic 3 ships in the fall.