The Art of Playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in the Perfect Quest Order
If you’re diving into The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for the first time or are returning for a complete playthrough, the incredible freedom of its open world can be both a blessing and a curse. While you can tackle quests in almost any sequence, there’s an optimal way to unravel the story for maximum narrative and gameplay impact. Choosing the best quest order isn’t just about pacing the plot—it’s also about unlocking key side stories, character arcs, and essential gear that can dramatically shape your journey with Geralt of Rivia.
How the Story Unfolds
The main story unfolds across four arcs: Prologue, Act I, Act II, and Act III. Each segment culminates in a pivotal main mission that transitions you seamlessly into the next chapter. For those who savor narrative depth and nuanced character evolution, finishing all available quests before moving forward ensures you won’t miss emotional moments and relevant context. Moreover, key decisions early on can lock or unlock subsequent side quests and endings, making order a matter of strategy, not just preference.
Prologue: Setting the Stage in White Orchard
The adventure begins with ‘Kaer Morhen,’ a tutorial quest that introduces core mechanics and Geralt’s unique combat style. Afterward, White Orchard opens up. Here, a smart player should tackle:
Recommended Sequence:
- ‘Kaer Morhen’
- ‘Lilac and Gooseberries’
- ‘A Frying Pan, Spick and Span’
- ‘Missing in Action’
- ‘On Death’s Bed’
- ‘Precious Cargo’
- ‘Twisted Firestarter’
- ‘The Beast of White Orchard’
- ‘Incident at White Orchard’
- ‘Imperial Audience’
White Orchard doesn’t just serve as a playground for monster slaying and investigation. Completing its compact side quests can reward you with handy items and an early understanding of the region’s lore—important for setting up story threads that pay off later. Treasure Hunts and Contracts are present but can usually be left for later, especially for a smoother pacing as you move to Act I.
Act I: Unleashing the Epic in Velen, Novigrad, and Skellige
Act I is where The Witcher 3 becomes truly expansive. Geralt follows Ciri’s trail through war-torn Velen, intricate Novigrad, and the rugged Skellige Isles. Each region teems with layered stories: political conspiracies, heartbreaking tragedies, wild folklore, and potential romances. The order in which you approach each area matters, as some narrative arcs and relationships can be missed or altered by earlier choices or by jumping ahead.
- ‘The Nilfgaardian Connection’
- ‘Bloody Baron’ → ‘Family Matters’ (don’t rush these; numerous consequences for later quests)
- ‘Ciri’s Story’ (follow these as they appear for narrative clarity)
- ‘Hunting a Witch’ → ‘Wandering in the Dark’ → ‘Magic Lamp’
- Optional but rich: ‘An Invitation from Keira Metz’ → ‘A Towerful of Mice’ → ‘For the Advancement of Learning’
- ‘Ladies of the Wood’ → ‘Whispering Hillock’ → ‘Return to Crookback Bog’
- Move to Novigrad focusing on: ‘Pyres of Novigrad’, ‘Novigrad Dreaming’, ‘Get Junior’, ‘Count Reuven’s Treasure’, then onward to Skellige’s ‘The King is Dead’ saga
Unexpectedly, some smaller side quests in Velen offer little beyond extra experience and a detour from the main drama. These can be skipped if you’re hungry for prime story content. Novigrad and Skellige, however, are dripping with character-driven stories—don’t miss major chains like ‘Now or Never,’ ‘A Deadly Plot,’ and ‘The Last Wish’ for the best content and choices that resonate throughout the saga.
Act II: Gathering Allies and Raising the Stakes
In Act II, the stakes skyrocket as Geralt returns to Kaer Morhen, facing destiny and assembling old friends for a climactic confrontation. This segment is compact, focused mostly on alliance-building and prepping for battle, but the side stories you pursue here offer significant tactical and emotional rewards.
- ‘Ugly Baby’
- ‘Disturbance’
- ‘To Bait a Forktail…’
- ‘The Final Trial’
- ‘No Place Like Home’
- ‘Va Fail, Elaine’
- ‘Berengar’s Blade’
- ‘The Isle of Mists’ (commits you to the endgame—finish all side content first)
- ‘Brothers in Arms’ (segments for Nilfgaard, Novigrad, Skellige, Velen)
- ‘The Battle of Kaer Morhen’ → ‘Blood on the Battlefield’
Key advice: before advancing to ‘The Isle of Mists,’ wrap up all essential contracts, Gwent matches, secondary quests, and crafting objectives. Some events become permanently unavailable after this point.
Act III: The Story’s Climax
Act III brings together every plot thread, choice, and relationship you’ve nurtured. Expect emotionally charged decisions, high-stakes battles, and multiple possible endings determined by your actions. The quests in this arc are more linear but still full of surprises.
At this point, you’ll want your character build complete, your equipment upgraded, and all loose ends tied up.
Don’t Miss the DLC Adventures
After the main narrative, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine await. These DLCs are best tackled post-game, offering their own deep stories, fresh gear, and entirely new regions to explore. Start Hearts of Stone first—the tone and difficulty scale more naturally in that order. Dive into official Witcher resources for more on these expansions.
Order Matters for an Epic Witcher Experience
By following this curated route, you won’t just see everything The Witcher 3 has to offer—you’ll experience its world as it was truly meant to be explored. Every quest is a thread in the tapestry of Geralt’s saga, and the order you weave them determines the final masterpiece.
