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The Witcher 3 Expansions: When to Play Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine

By Freedom251 Team · · 3 min read

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For a first playthrough, finish The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s main story, then play Hearts of Stone, followed by Blood and Wine. That is a spoiler-conscious recommendation, not a mandatory order: the expansions are separate adventures, and CD PROJEKT RED says either can also be started from the main menu.

What each expansion adds

Hearts of Stone

Geralt travels through No Man’s Land and Oxenfurt to take on a contract from the mysterious Man of Glass. What begins as a job becomes a story of deceit. CD PROJEKT RED described it at launch in 2015 as a “10-hour-plus adventure”; that is a launch-era estimate, not a guaranteed playtime. Source: CD PROJEKT RED

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Blood and Wine

This expansion introduces Toussaint, a new in-game region whose knightly rituals and carefree appearance conceal an ancient secret. CD PROJEKT RED called it a “20-hour-plus tale” in its 2015 announcement, also a launch-era estimate rather than a promise about how long your playthrough will take. Source: CD PROJEKT RED

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Both are major story expansions with new characters and places. In broad terms, Hearts of Stone is the more focused contract story; Blood and Wine is the larger regional adventure and a satisfying final chapter for the pair. That distinction supports the suggested order, but it is an editorial recommendation rather than an official rule. The official game page describes both as major expansions.

When to play them, and why this order works

  1. Finish the base game’s main story. This gives you the clearest first-run separation between the main narrative and the two additional adventures.
  2. Play Hearts of Stone. Its focused contract story is a natural first expansion stop.
  3. Play Blood and Wine last. Its new region and broader adventure make it a strong closing chapter after the other content.

CD PROJEKT RED does not prescribe this sequence as a requirement. Its support FAQ says both expansions can be started separately through the main menu, so starting one independently is an option; that does not make an alternate sequence the clearest spoiler-conscious choice for a first playthrough. Official support FAQ

Use the quest log’s level guidance

A third-party guide reports recommended quest-log levels of 32 for Hearts of Stone and 34 for Blood and Wine. Those figures are not confirmed by the official sources cited here. Treat them as reported guidance, and check the levels shown in your own quest log, which may be the most useful cue for your game and character. IGN’s Hearts of Stone guide

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KARMA: The Dark World - Limited Edition - PS5
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Do you need to buy the expansions separately?

CD PROJEKT RED’s current support FAQ says the Complete Edition replaces the base-game storefront offering and includes both expansions. Existing owners can update the game to install them, but exact steps can differ for previous-generation consoles. Check your platform’s game or add-on library and the official platform-specific instructions before purchasing; do not assume every edition or store handles the update identically. Official support FAQ

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  • Already own the game? Check whether the included expansion update is available for your edition before paying for anything else.
  • Do not own it yet? A Complete Edition listing is the relevant option if you want the base game and both expansions. Confirm the platform, format, region, and current listing before buying.
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Why the expansions are often described as a pair

When CD PROJEKT RED announced the expansions in 2015, co-founder Marcin Iwiński said: “With the development of Wild Hunt coming to an end, the team has embarked upon the creation of two new really big adventures set in The Witcher universe,” the announcement said. This article covers those two named expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
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KARMA: The Dark World - Limited Edition - PS5
KARMA: The Dark World - Limited Edition - PS5
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SaleBestseller No. 3

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