Players should complete The Witcher 3's main story and side quests in a specific order that is best for enjoying the full narrative.

While it does boast an open world, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has an optimal order in which players should consider completing all main story and side quests. CD Projekt RED's The Witcher 3 has been regarded as one of the biggest and most popular games of the last two generations. It has won countless game awards and has been a critical and financial success. The Witcher 3's many side quests, challenges, and DLC content can be overwhelming to players. Thankfully, there is a proper order in which to experience the game.

In the Witcher 3, there are dozens of different mainline and side quests to complete. Each one will offer more lore about the world and its residents. Completing these activities will reward players with extra gear and items. The story for the Witcher 3 is broken into four different sections: Prologue, Act 1, Act 2, and Act 3. While there is a definitive mission to close out each act, completing quests in a specific order is the best way to experience the story.

The narrative is a major part of the Witcher 3 experience. Completing missions in order will make it easier to keep track of all the Witcher 3's story content. Players also don't risk learning information ahead of when they need to when they complete quests in this order. The story is given the best pace and rewards when completed in this order.

Best Order To Play The Witcher 3 Quests

The best order in which to complete the four sections of The Witcher 3 appears below. Act One, in particular, includes a combination of side quests and the main story.

Prologue Order

• Kaer Morhen
• Lilac and Gooseberries
• The Beast of White Orchard
• Incident at White Orchard
• Imperial Audience

Act 1 Order

• The Nilfgaardian Connection
• Bloody Baron
• Ciri's Story: The King of the Wolves
• Ciri's Room
• Family Matters
• A Princess in Distress
• Ciri's Story: The Race
• Ciri's Story: Out of the Shadows
• Hunting a Witch
• Wandering in the Dark
• An Invitation from Keira Metz
• A Towerful of Mice
• A Favor for a Friend
• For the Advancement of Learning
• Ladies of the Wood
• The Whispering Hillock
• Ciri's Story: Fleeing the Bog
• Return to Crookback Bog
• Pyres of Novigrad
• Novigrad Dreaming
• Broken Flowers
• Get Junior 12
• An Eye for an Eye
• Ciri's Story: Visiting Junior
• Count Reuven's Treasure
• A Favor for Radovid
• Redania's Most Wanted
• A Matter of Life and Death
• Now or Never
• A Deadly Plot
• The Play's the Thing
• A Poet Under Pressure
• Ciri's Story: Breakneck Speed
• A Dangerous Game
• Cabaret
• Carnal Sins
• Destination
• The King is Dead
• The Lord of Undvik
• Possession
• King's Gambit
• Coronation
• Echoes of the Past
• Missing Persons
• Nameless
• Ciri's Story: The Calm Before the Storm
• The Last Wish

Act 2 Order

• Ugly Baby
• Disturbance
• To Bait a Forktail...
• The Final Trial
• No Place Like Home
• Va Fail, Elaine
• The Isle of Mists
• The Battle of Kaer Morhen
• Blood on the Battlefield

Act 3 Order

• Bald Mountain
• Final Preparations
• Blindingly Obvious
• Reason of State
• The Great Escape
• Payback
• Through Time and Space
• Battle Preparations
• The Sunstone
• Veni Vidi Vigo
• Child of the Elder Blood
• Skjall's Grave
• On Thin Ice
• Tedd Deireadh, The Final Age
• Something Ends, Something Begins

After completing the main story, players can also begin the Witcher 3 Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine DLCs.

Related: Witcher 3: How to Destroy Monster Nests

Witcher 3 is available now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.