For the smoothest first playthrough, finish The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s main story, then play Hearts of Stone, followed by Blood and Wine. That order follows the expansions’ release sequence and saves Blood and Wine—a separate adventure in the new region of Toussaint—for last. It is a story recommendation, not a required unlock order.
The best order for a first playthrough
- Complete the main story of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
- Play Hearts of Stone.
- Finish with Blood and Wine.
CD PROJEKT RED released Hearts of Stone before Blood and Wine, presenting both as major adventures that expand Geralt’s story. Playing the main campaign first also lets its urgent search-and-rescue plot reach its ending before you move into the expansions. That pacing is a practical recommendation, not a developer rule.
Can you start an expansion before finishing the main story?
Yes. CD PROJEKT RED’s support FAQ says the expansions can be started separately from the main menu in the FAQ’s supported game context: How to start the expansion packs. This gives you flexibility, but access does not determine the most coherent order for a first run.
You can choose an earlier start if you want to mix the expansion adventures into your campaign and are comfortable with a less linear rhythm. If your priority is a straightforward narrative flow, finish the main story first.
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Where does Hearts of Stone fit in the story?
Hearts of Stone is a distinct story, but the official material cited here does not establish its precise placement within the main campaign. It is therefore safest not to treat a specific mission, year, or point in the campaign as a confirmed canonical slot. For a first playthrough, leave it until after the main story, then play it before Blood and Wine.
Why play Blood and Wine last?
Blood and Wine takes Geralt to Toussaint for a separate adventure. CD PROJEKT RED announced it as the second expansion and described it as a “20-hour tale” introducing a new region; that is the publisher’s 2015 description of the scope, not a guaranteed playtime for every player. In a developer interview, Toussaint was described as relatively insulated from the main game’s war-torn setting. Its distinct setting and framing as a later adventure make it a natural final chapter for players who want to save the larger expansion for last.
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How Songs of the Past affects the order
The traditional order above covers the main campaign and its two classic expansions. CD PROJEKT RED has announced Songs of the Past for 2027, though the planned timing may change. In a September 30, 2026 GamesRadar report, Fool’s Theory creative vision director Karolina Kuzia-Rokosz said players would be able to start it immediately after finishing the main story without completing the earlier expansions. The report also says she described its narrative timeline as following those expansions. That means its reported access option is more flexible than the order suggested by its timeline; the detailed chronology has not been independently verified here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing an order that suits your playthrough
| Priority | Suggested order | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| First-playthrough story flow | Main story → Hearts of Stone → Blood and Wine | Completes the main plot before the separate adventures and saves Toussaint for last. |
| Early access or convenience | Start an expansion from the main menu when available | The support FAQ confirms separate starts in its supported game context; this does not make an early start the recommended story order. |
| Adding Songs of the Past | Its reported access allows starting after the main story; its reported timeline follows the earlier expansions | These details come from a September 30, 2026 GamesRadar report quoting a Fool’s Theory developer; the announced release is planned for 2027. |
For the original campaign and expansions, the simple answer is main story, Hearts of Stone, then Blood and Wine. You can choose a less linear route, but there is no need to pin Hearts of Stone to an exact campaign date to enjoy it in that order.
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