Fantasy vs. Dark Fantasy vs. Horror

[HammeredWharf]

The Witcher is almost assuredly dark fantasy. It has a very distinct dark tone, Geralt is usually in it for himself. Even if he does end up saving people its for profit, or his own ends. There's a reason Geralt is known as the Butcher of Blaviken.

Geralt is a huge softie. He's constantly driven to help others even when he knows it's not worth it. The Butcher of Blaviken nickname is just a misunderstanding. In the end, he

Spoiler: Major book spoilers, but you know this if you played the games.

Show

dies trying to protect nonhumans from oppression.

That's why The Witcher never felt like real dark fantasy to me. It's full of sympathetic characters and humor, and usually aims to be bittersweet rather than depressing. However, since the definition of dark fantasy is loose, one could call TW that and it would be pretty hard to refute.