The Witcher’s latest spin-off sets the mood for the way far a once mighty franchise can drift when its grip begins to slide. The Rats: A Witcher Tale arrived quietly on Netflix in late October 2025, almost sneaking in while nobody looked. It carried a sort of low-key energy, and that tone alone said plenty about where The Witcher sits today. While fans still treasure Geralt of Rivia, the on-screen world built around him feels drained and bruised.
The Rats: A Witcher Tale Audience Rating Revealed
The deeper story becomes clear once the numbers appear. The Rats: A Witcher Tale walked straight into the franchise’s downward trend with a Rotten Tomatoes audience rating of 19%, a position that places it only barely above Blood Origin’s infamous 13%.
Rotten Tomatoes Scores Show the Franchise Struggle
The critics didn’t show much warmth either, because the pattern mirrors the major series. Season 4’s 58% from critics and 20% from fans left a mark that also stings. Season 3 floated at 79% from viewers but had its own audience rating of 21%. Season 2 had a brighter moment with 95% from critics and 55% from fans. And the true peak got here way back in season 1 with an 88% viewer rating and 68% from critics.
The Rats: A Witcher Tale Wasn’t Purported to be a Film
Netflix kept its promotion light, almost as if hoping nobody would look too closely. Once viewers did, the struggles became obvious. The Rats: A Witcher Tale grew from a messy production that originally aimed to be a full spinoff series.
In accordance with Vulture, it was trimmed down mid-process right into a movie, a move that hinted at shrinking confidence. The story follows a bunch of ambitious thieves plotting a heist inside Dominik Houvenghel’s arena, catching the attention of the ruthless Leo Bonhart, and organising a prequel that lands before season 3.
Nonetheless, the difficulty lies within the stakes. The characters are minor figures introduced later within the major show, making their fates feel predictable. Their purpose appears more like a showcase for Bonhart’s brutality than a story that stands by itself. Sharlto Copley already delivered a striking first scene as Bonhart within the major series, so a whole movie built around proving his menace feels unnecessary.
The Franchise’s Decline Continues
Through the franchise’s peak, a side project this odd might need survived through fan excitement alone. But in the present climate, with audience scores dipping and confidence waning, The Rats: A Witcher Tale lands like a quiet reminder of how far the series has slipped.
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