in witcher you play the role of witcher geralt. In baldurs gate you are bhaalspawn. ın tyranny fatebinder, poe the watcher.
that ROLE is the weakest argument you could make. whats next ? rpgs with classless systems will be excluded?
No, my argument is not "just role". Role is not something meaningful when you don't have other roles.
So my argument is about game allowing you to play different roles in different playthroughs and how good said game is reacting to it.
Roles can differ by many tools in game: story, combat, quest solving, items. Good RPG gives you good tools to play different roles. Creating feeling that your character is subjective actor in the game's world, and not just some plot object.
For example Witcher 2 gives you two different branches for you decisions in the ending of first chapter. Witcher 3 choices and consequnecs are far inferior in it's story.
You can't even change combat roles much: you are still the witcher with a sword. You only choose how much you want to use magic signs and alchemy.
It's not a binary category either. Wither 3 do have RPG elements. But they are shallow and bad. Autolevelling loot, gated mobs, very limited character advancement, very minor story C&C.
Your playthrough of W3 probably don't really differ from mine or anyone else. That's what I meant about different roles.
It's a cool game with beautiful graphics and nice writing, but it's just not doing it's RPG elements well.