How Long is The Witcher 3 with DLC? A Completionist’s Guide
So, you’re diving into the world of Geralt of Rivia, eh? Excellent choice! But before you saddle up Roach and embark on this epic journey, you’re probably wondering: How long is The Witcher 3 with DLC? Here’s the breakdown:
- Main Story Only: Approximately 50-60 hours.
- Main Story + Side Quests: Expect around 100-120 hours.
- Main Story + Side Quests + Hearts of Stone DLC: Add another 10-20 hours.
- Main Story + Side Quests + Blood and Wine DLC: Tack on an additional 30-40 hours.
- Completionist Run (Everything!): Prepare for a staggering 150-200+ hours.
Ultimately, the playtime depends heavily on your playstyle. Are you a main-quest-only type of player, or do you meticulously explore every nook and cranny, complete every contract, and master every Gwent card? Knowing yourself will help you estimate your journey.
Diving Deeper: The Witcher 3’s Expansive Content
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is renowned for its rich open world, compelling narrative, and incredibly detailed side quests. Unlike many games where side quests feel like filler, The Witcher 3‘s side content often rivals the main story in terms of quality and emotional impact. This encourages players to explore, engage with the world, and get lost in the lore.
The two major DLC expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, are not just afterthoughts. They offer substantial new storylines, characters, locations, and gameplay mechanics. They could easily be standalone games in their own right.
Understanding the Time Investment
To provide a more granular breakdown, consider these factors:
- Difficulty Level: Higher difficulty levels necessitate more strategic combat, resource management, and potentially more grinding for experience, increasing playtime.
- Playstyle: Completionists who meticulously explore every location, read every book, and craft every potion will naturally spend far more time than those who focus solely on the critical path.
- Gwent: The addictive card game Gwent can consume hours of your time if you aim to collect every card and master every deck.
- Exploration: The Witcher 3 rewards exploration with hidden treasures, challenging monsters, and intriguing stories. The more you explore, the longer you’ll play.
- Cutscenes and Dialogue: Immersing yourself in the story means watching cutscenes and listening to dialogue. This significantly impacts playtime, especially if you’re invested in the characters and lore.
Hearts of Stone: A Compact but Compelling Tale
Hearts of Stone offers a focused narrative centered around Geralt’s encounter with the enigmatic Gaunter O’Dimm and the cursed nobleman Olgierd von Everec. While shorter than Blood and Wine, Hearts of Stone delivers a memorable story with challenging boss fights and morally ambiguous choices.
Blood and Wine: A Grand Finale in Toussaint
Blood and Wine takes Geralt to Toussaint, a sun-drenched duchy inspired by southern France. This expansion is significantly larger than Hearts of Stone, offering a brand-new region to explore, a captivating storyline involving vampires and ancient secrets, and a wealth of new quests and activities. It’s the perfect send-off to Geralt’s adventures.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about the length of The Witcher 3 with DLC:
1. Should I finish The Witcher 3 before playing the DLC?
Yes, absolutely. It’s recommended to complete the main story before diving into either Hearts of Stone or Blood and Wine. This ensures you have the necessary skills, equipment, and contextual understanding to fully appreciate the DLC’s narratives.
2. In what order should I play the DLC?
The recommended order is Hearts of Stone followed by Blood and Wine. This is the order in which they were released and the order that makes the most sense from a narrative perspective.
3. How long is Hearts of Stone?
Hearts of Stone typically takes 10-20 hours to complete, depending on your playstyle and completionist tendencies.
4. How long is Blood and Wine?
Blood and Wine is more substantial, requiring approximately 30-40 hours for a complete playthrough.
5. What level should I be to start Hearts of Stone?
It’s recommended to be at least level 30 before starting Hearts of Stone.
6. What level should I be to start Blood and Wine?
For Blood and Wine, aim to be around level 34-35. The enemies in Toussaint are significantly tougher than those in the base game.
7. Does Blood and Wine increase the level cap?
Yes, Blood and Wine increases the level cap from 70 to 100.
8. Can I play the DLC after beating The Witcher 3‘s main story?
Yes, the DLC is designed to be played after completing the main story. It’s the ideal way to continue Geralt’s adventures.
9. Is Blood and Wine bigger than Hearts of Stone?
Yes, Blood and Wine is significantly larger in terms of map size, quest content, and overall playtime.
10. What are the 16 free DLCs for The Witcher 3?
The 16 free DLCs include cosmetic items, new quests, armor sets, and Gwent card sets. They add extra flavor to the game without significantly impacting the overall playtime.
11. Should I play Hearts of Stone before going to the Isle of Mists?
Story-wise, it’s possible to do Hearts of Stone before the Isle of Mists. However, be mindful of the recommended level. You might become overpowered for the main story’s endgame.
12. What is the “unreasonable but correct” way to play The Witcher 3?
This refers to immersing yourself fully in the world, reading every book, completing every side quest, and truly living as Geralt of Rivia. This approach significantly increases playtime but provides the most rewarding experience.
13. Are there multiple endings in Hearts of Stone?
Yes, Hearts of Stone features two distinct endings depending on your choices during the questline.
14. Can mods affect playtime?
Absolutely. Mods can alter gameplay mechanics, add new content, and adjust difficulty, all of which can impact the time required to complete the game.
15. What makes The Witcher 3 so replayable?
The Witcher 3 offers incredible replay value due to its branching storylines, morally ambiguous choices, diverse character builds, and sheer volume of content. You can easily spend hundreds of hours exploring different paths and experiencing new outcomes. Plus, organizations such as the Games Learning Society, or GamesLearningSociety.org, are doing research on how games can influence learning, making each replay an opportunity to learn more about yourself and the world.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Journey
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, along with its DLC expansions, is a sprawling and immersive experience that can consume hundreds of hours. Whether you’re a completionist striving for 100% or a casual player focused on the main story, there’s something for everyone in this epic adventure. So, fire up your console or PC, grab your silver sword, and prepare to lose yourself in the captivating world of Geralt of Rivia. The White Wolf awaits!