The Witcher's combat system was designed with one-handed play in mind.

The first installment in The Witcher series, released in 2007, was noticeably different from subsequent Witcher games. At the time, it was a niche RPG with an unusual combat system that evoked mixed feelings among players. As it turns out, this mechanic wasn't a coincidence—it was originally conceived as a way to play one-handed.

Artur Ganszyniec, the original project's screenwriter and game designer, explained this. He explains that the concept was conceived by creative director Mike Kicinski, who wanted to make combat as simple and rhythmic as possible. The main goal was for the player to control Geralt with one hand, leaving the other free—for example, drinking a beer.

The developers sought to combine RPG elements and casual mechanics, making combat intuitive and not requiring constant attention. However, the idea wasn't universally appreciated: some players found the system confusing and awkward. Over time, many fans and modders have attempted to reimagine the combat in the first game, adding new animations and improving controls to bring the combat closer to the genre's familiar standards.