How Many Hours Does It Really Take to Beat Witcher 3 with DLC? A Deep Dive
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So, you’re thinking of diving into the sprawling world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with all its downloadable content? Excellent choice! You’re in for an unforgettable experience. But the burning question remains: how many hours are you really looking at?
The short answer: it depends. Seriously. But to give you a comprehensive estimate, let’s break it down. A playthrough of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with both the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine DLCs, aiming for something close to 100% completion, will realistically take you at least 150 hours. Some players, meticulous explorers and completionists to the core, might even find themselves clocking in well over 200 hours.
However, if you’re more focused on the main storylines and only dipping your toes into side content, you could potentially wrap things up in around 80-100 hours. It’s all about your playstyle and how much you want to immerse yourself in the world.
Deciphering the Time Commitment: Why is it so Variable?
The Witcher 3 isn’t just a game; it’s a living, breathing world. The sheer amount of side quests, monster contracts, exploration, and Gwent (yes, Gwent!) contribute significantly to the overall playtime. Let’s consider some crucial factors that influence how long it takes to conquer Geralt’s adventure:
1. Playstyle Matters
- The Main Story Rusher: If you’re laser-focused on the main questline, skipping most side content and dialogue, you can shave off considerable time. This approach offers a quicker experience but sacrifices the rich world-building and character development that makes The Witcher 3 so beloved.
- The Balanced Adventurer: This player tackles the main story while also engaging in significant side quests and contracts. They enjoy exploring the world and learning about its lore but aren’t necessarily driven to complete every single objective. This is perhaps the most common and rewarding way to play.
- The Completionist: Prepare to lose yourself for hundreds of hours. The completionist aims for 100%, meticulously clearing every location, completing every quest, and collecting every item. This is a marathon, not a sprint, but it provides the most immersive and thorough experience.
2. Difficulty Level
The difficulty setting impacts not only combat but also the pacing of the game. Higher difficulties require more tactical preparation, resource management, and time spent crafting and upgrading equipment. Lower difficulties allow you to breeze through combat encounters, saving you time.
3. DLC Approach: Early or Late?
As the article excerpts state, the recommended approach is to complete the main game before diving into the DLCs. This preserves the narrative flow and ensures you’re properly leveled for the challenges ahead. Playing the DLCs too early can disrupt the story and potentially make you overpowered for certain sections of the main game.
- Hearts of Stone is generally recommended before Blood and Wine, both story-wise and level-wise. Hearts of Stone is for level 30+, while Blood and Wine is for level 34+.
- The Blood and Wine expansion is effectively an epilogue to Geralt’s story, making it the ideal final chapter.
4. Gwent… Oh, Gwent!
Gwent, the addictive card game within The Witcher 3, can consume countless hours. Building the ultimate deck, mastering strategies, and challenging every NPC can significantly increase your playtime, but also offer unique quests and rewards.
The Value Proposition: Is the Time Investment Worth It?
Unequivocally, yes. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is considered a masterpiece by many, offering a compelling narrative, memorable characters, a vast and beautiful world, and engaging gameplay. The DLCs, particularly Blood and Wine, add even more depth and content, making the complete experience incredibly rewarding.
The Witcher 3 isn’t just about slaying monsters, or achieving goals, it is also about the learning process. In fact, there is more and more interest in using games and learning in tandem with each other. You can find out more about this through the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Witcher 3 Playtime
Here are 15 FAQs to further illuminate your understanding of The Witcher 3 playtime:
FAQ 1: How long is the Witcher 3 main story without DLC?
The main story of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, focusing primarily on the main quests, will take around 50-60 hours on average.
FAQ 2: How long does it take to 100% Witcher 3 without DLC?
Achieving 100% completion in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt without the DLCs can take upwards of 100 hours or more, depending on your thoroughness.
FAQ 3: How long is Hearts of Stone DLC?
The Hearts of Stone DLC takes approximately 10-20 hours to complete, depending on whether you focus solely on the main quest or explore all side content.
FAQ 4: How long is Blood and Wine DLC?
The Blood and Wine DLC is significantly larger, requiring around 30-50 hours for completion, depending on your playstyle and exploration habits.
FAQ 5: What level should I be to start Hearts of Stone?
Hearts of Stone is designed for characters around level 30. While you can technically start earlier, the enemies will pose a significant challenge.
FAQ 6: What level should I be to start Blood and Wine?
Blood and Wine is intended for characters around level 34. Like Hearts of Stone, tackling it at a lower level can be very difficult.
FAQ 7: Should I play Hearts of Stone before Blood and Wine?
Yes, it is generally recommended to play Hearts of Stone before Blood and Wine, both for narrative consistency and level progression.
FAQ 8: Should I finish the main Witcher 3 story before playing the DLCs?
Yes, the recommended order is to complete the main game before diving into the DLCs, especially Blood and Wine, which serves as an epilogue to the story.
FAQ 9: Is Blood and Wine longer than the base game?
No, Blood and Wine is not longer than the base game. The base game takes around 50-60 hours.
FAQ 10: What is the maximum level in Witcher 3 with DLC?
With the Blood and Wine DLC installed, the maximum level Geralt can reach is level 100. Without the DLC, the cap is level 70.
FAQ 11: Is Blood and Wine worth playing?
Absolutely! Blood and Wine is widely considered one of the best DLCs ever made, offering a new region, compelling story, memorable characters, and plenty of content.
FAQ 12: Should I play Hearts of Stone before going to Skellige in the main game?
It’s generally recommended to reach at least level 30 and complete most of the Novigrad/Velen storyline before diving into Hearts of Stone. Skellige is part of the main story and can be done before or after Hearts of Stone. However, make sure to complete anything that may become unavailable.
FAQ 13: What quests are failed by going to Isle of Mists?
Several quests will fail if you progress to the Isle of Mists in the main story before completing them. These include some side quests like Cabaret and Redania’s Most Wanted, as well as some romance options. So make sure that you complete these quests before traveling to Isle of Mists.
FAQ 14: Can I start Hearts of Stone before finishing the main story?
Yes, you can start Hearts of Stone before finishing the main story, as long as you are at least level 30. However, completing the main game first is recommended for the best narrative experience.
FAQ 15: Is the Witcher 3 the longest game ever?
While The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a lengthy game, it is not the absolute longest game ever in terms of average playtime. However, its GOTY (Game of the Year) Edition, with all DLC, boasts an impressive average playtime of around 126 hours, placing it among the longest single-player experiences available. Games with procedurally-generated content tend to be longer than Witcher 3.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Journey
Ultimately, the “correct” playtime for The Witcher 3 with DLC is whatever brings you the most enjoyment. Whether you’re a speedrunner or a completionist, embrace the journey and immerse yourself in the rich world that CD Projekt Red has created. You won’t regret it!