Last updated: 1 October 2026
Wondering how long The Witcher 3 takes to beat? The answer depends on how you play. You can finish the main story in around 50 hours, but exploring the world, completing side quests, Witcher Contracts, and Treasure Hunts can push a full playthrough well beyond 100 hours. CD Projekt Red describes the base game as an over 100-hour open-world adventure when its wider content is included. The two major expansions add even more time. Hearts of Stone offers a 10-hour-plus story, while Blood and Wine offers a 20-hour-plus story. The developer says the two expansions together add around 50 hours of gameplay.
The Witcher 3 How Long to Beat: Quick Overview
- Main Story: Around 50 hours
- Main Story + Some Side Content: Around 70 to 100 hours
- Full Base Game: 100+ hours
- Hearts of Stone: 10+ hours for the main adventure
- Blood and Wine: 20+ hours for the main adventure
- Both Expansions: Around 50 hours of additional content
- 100% Completion: Around 130 to 160+ hours
- Game Type: Open-world RPG
- Main Character: Geralt of Rivia
Your final playtime can vary a lot because The Witcher 3 has a large number of optional quests, contracts, treasure hunts, exploration activities, and other side content.
How Long Is The Witcher 3 Main Story?
The Witcher 3 main story takes around 50 hours if you mainly follow the critical path and do not spend too much time exploring. This route focuses on Geralt’s search for Ciri and the main conflict involving the Wild Hunt. The official game description centers the adventure around finding Ciri while travelling through the Northern Kingdoms. A normal playthrough usually takes longer because some story-related quests naturally lead you into side content, exploration, and optional activities.
How Long Is The Witcher 3 With Side Missions?
A playthrough that includes a good number of side missions can easily reach 70 to 100 hours. The game has much more than its main quests. You can take on side quests, Witcher Contracts, Treasure Hunts, and Gwent-related activities while exploring areas such as Velen, Novigrad, and Skellige. A quest database for the game separates its content into Main Quests, Side Quests, Witcher Contracts, and Treasure Hunt Quests.
Some side quests are also connected to major characters and storylines, so they can feel like a natural part of the main adventure rather than simple optional tasks.
How Long Does It Take to 100% The Witcher 3?
For a completionist run, expect roughly 130 to 160+ hours for the base game and both major expansions. This type of playthrough means spending much more time exploring the map, completing optional quests, doing contracts and treasure hunts, collecting equipment, and working through additional activities.
There is no fixed 100% time because different players approach exploration and optional content differently. Older completionist estimates put a full base-game run around 90 to 100 hours, with both expansions pushing the total well beyond 130 hours.
How Long Is The Witcher 3 Without DLC?
The base game alone can take around 50 hours for the main story and 100+ hours for a broader playthrough. That makes The Witcher 3 one of the longer single-player RPGs, especially for players who like to explore rather than rush through the story. CD Projekt Red officially describes the base game as an over 100-hour adventure when its wider content is considered.
How Long Is The Witcher 3 DLC Hearts of Stone?
The Witcher 3 Hearts of Stone DLC adds a new story adventure for Geralt. Its main adventure was officially described by CD Projekt Red as a 10-hour-plus experience. The expansion also adds new quests, characters, areas, and equipment.
How Long Is The Witcher 3 DLC Blood and Wine?
The Witcher 3 Blood and Wine DLC is the larger of the two major expansions. Its main story was officially described as a 20-hour-plus adventure and introduces the new region of Toussaint. It also includes additional quests, characters, enemies, and locations. A completionist run can take much longer because Toussaint has plenty of additional content to explore.
How Long Is The Witcher 3 Complete Edition?
The Complete Edition includes the base game, Hearts of Stone, and Blood and Wine. CD Projekt Red says the base game offers over 100 hours of gameplay, while the two expansions add another 50 hours.
For a simple estimate:
| Playstyle | Approximate Time |
| Main Story | ~50 hours |
| Main Story + Side Content | ~70 to 100 hours |
| Full Base Game | 100+ hours |
| Hearts of Stone Story | 10+ hours |
| Blood and Wine Story | 20+ hours |
| Complete Edition | 130+ hours |
| 100% Completion | 130 to 160+ hours |
These are estimates rather than fixed playtimes. Your total will depend on difficulty, exploration, quest choices, and how much optional content you complete.
Is The Witcher 3 Remastered the Same Length as the Original?
Yes. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered keeps the same core story, quests, and expansions as the original game. The Remastered version mainly adds visual, performance, gameplay, and technical improvements rather than a new campaign.
The Remastered version also includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, so the total amount of content remains around the same as the Complete Edition. CD PROJEKT RED describes the base game as offering over 100 hours, with both expansions adding around another 50 hours.
For that reason, players can expect roughly the same 50-hour main story and 130+ hours for the base game plus both expansions, depending on how much optional content they complete.
Does The Witcher 3 Have Enough Content for 100 Hours?
Yes. The ARPG game has a large open world with main quests, side quests, contracts, treasure hunts, and other activities. CD Projekt Red officially describes the base game as an over 100-hour adventure. Adding Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine gives you another substantial amount of story and exploration.
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