Witcher 3 Is It Really One Of The Longest Games Ever Main Story And Beyond
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is frequently cited as a monumental achievement in open-world gaming, yet its true scale is often misunderstood. While the main story offers a substantial journey, the game’s legendary length is defined by its sprawling side quests and exhaustive content. This examination looks at the concrete hours required to experience the game fully and how it compares to other entertainment mediums.
The Myth Of The Main Story Finish
A common misconception among gamers is that completing the primary narrative of The Witcher 3 equates to finishing the game. In reality, this milestone represents only the beginning of the experience. Players who follow the main questline strictly, ignoring the vast world surrounding Ciri and the search for Geralt’s destiny, will still find significant mileage in the core story.
Professional speedrunner and community member David Higdon provided context regarding the bare minimum playtime. "Completing the main story without any side content is still a commitment of roughly 50 to 60 hours," Higdon noted. "But that’s just the skeleton of the game; you haven’t seen the majority of what CD Projekt Red created."
This initial phase involves traversing multiple kingdoms, engaging in major political conflicts, and experiencing the game’s meticulously crafted plot twists. However, the game’s design philosophy ensures that the most memorable moments often lie just beyond the main quest markers.
The True Measure Of The Open World
The heart of The Witcher 3’s length lies in its secondary content. The game features nearly 200 main quests and hundreds of smaller "minor quests" that are often indistinguishable on the task list. These side adventures range from intricate murder mysteries to ironic tales of monster hunting and deeply personal stories about NPCs living in the world.
- The Blood and Wine Expansion: Adds approximately 20 hours of content, featuring a new region, a vampire mystery, and a significant character arc for Triss Merigold.
- The Hearts of Stone Expansion: Provides roughly 15 hours of focused narrative, introducing the casino world of Novigrad and the morally ambiguous Gaunter O'Dimm.
- Monster Hunts: Over 70 individual contracts that often involve elaborate setup and puzzle-solving, adding another 10 to 15 hours.
- Exploration and Collectibles: Searching for hidden treasures, Witcher gear, and listening to every campfire story significantly extends the journey.
Comparative Analysis In The Gaming Landscape
To understand if The Witcher 3 holds the title of one of the longest games, it is necessary to compare it to its contemporaries and predecessors. Historically, open-world games were criticized for padding playtime with repetitive activities. The Witcher 3 avoids this pitfall by ensuring that nearly every side quest feels like a authored story, not a grind.
When compared to modern blockbuster titles, the difference is stark.
- The Last of Us Part II: Offers a tightly scripted, emotional narrative that typically takes 25–30 hours to complete.
- Red Dead Redemption 2: Boasts a similar scale of open-world storytelling, with a main story of 60+ hours and a total playtime exceeding 100 hours for completionists.
- Elden Ring: Provides immense freedom, but its structure encourages efficient combat, often resulting in a total playtime of 80–120 hours for 100% completion.
The Witcher 3 sits comfortably at the top of this list regarding total volume. While Elden Ring may require more skillful execution, Witcher 3 wins in terms of sheer narrative volume and environmental storytelling.
The Completionist’s Challenge
The highest barrier to entry for judging the game’s length is the "true ending" chase. To achieve the best ending, players must juggle multiple save files. This requires completing specific quests in a specific order across both expansions and the base game, often referred to as "New Game Plus" content.
This process is a marathon. It involves replayting significant portions of the game with different choices and dialogue options. For the average player aiming for 100% completion—including all quests, alternate outfits, and trophies—the time investment stretches well past the 100-hour mark.
Conclusion Context
While The Witcher 3 is not technically the longest video game ever created—titles like "The Longing" or niche strategy games can claim that crown with playtimes exceeding 1000 hours—it remains one of the longest *narrative-driven* games ever produced.
Its length is not a burden but a feature. The game respects the player's time by offering endless avenues for engagement, ensuring that the fantasy world feels alive long after the main credits roll.
