Standard vs. Game of the Year: Which Witcher 3 Edition Should You Get?
For gamers looking to pick up The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, a key choice is whether to purchase the standard edition or the Game of the Year edition. Let‘s analyze the differences between them in depth so you can determine the best version for you.
What You Get in Each Edition
The standard edition includes just the base Wild Hunt game with no additional content. By contrast, the Game of the Year (GOTY) edition bundles in the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions, 16 DLC packs with quests and gear, a new game plus mode, and The Witcher 3‘s next-gen update adding a range of visual, performance and modding enhancements.
| Edition | Base Game | Expansions | DLC | Total Playtime* | Hardware Enhancements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Yes | No | No | 50 hours | No |
| GOTY | Yes | Both expansions | All 16 packs | 188 hours | Yes |
*For main objectives. Over 200 hours for completionists
Expansions: Phenomenal Extra Adventures
Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine aren‘t just DLC – they‘re fully fledged expansions that dwarf competing games. Set in all new maps, they provide fresh stories from the rich Witcher universe complete with dozens of quests, characters to meet, monsters to hunt, gear to win and skills to acquire.
Both expansions earned overwhelming critical praise, with Hearts of Stone holding a 90.5 Metacritic and Blood and Wine an even more stellar 92. Reviewers hailed Blood and Wine specifically as one of the greatest expansion packs ever made.
The expansions enhance key elements of the base game, like weapon crafting and mutagens, whilst introducing new gameplay ingredients. Hearts of Stone brings magical glyphs, runewords and enchantments, while Blood and Wine lets you manager your own vineyard, become a knight errant and explore a bold new realm.
The Benefits of Choosing GOTY
Opting for the GOTY edition brings several advantages:
- Tremendous value – Dollar for dollar, no edition packs in more acclaimed content and gameplay hours
- Complete experience – Only GOTY delivers the full, enhanced and definitive Witcher 3 package
- Longevity – With over 188 hours spanning expansions, there‘s entertainment for months
- Technical boost – Next-gen update offers better performance, graphics and mod support
Ultimately, you get the immense base adventure plus two top-rated, almost full-game expansions that meaningfully build on what makes The Witcher spectacular.
Why This Matters for Witcher Fans
It‘s necessary to understand the legacy of The Witcher 3. Over 50 perfect review scores and more Game of the Year awards than imaginable, it was an instant classic that raised the bar for narrative richness and open world design.
Even now, The Witcher 3 has over 100,000 concurrent players on Steam daily. Its community is beyond passionate, making it one of the most enduring and beloved titles of the decade.
In this context, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine become more than just bonus content – they represent precious opportunities to spend even longer in one of gaming‘s most fully realized fantasy realms.
The Verdict: GOTY is the Essential Edition
While I‘d always recommend playing The Witcher 3 in some form, the Game of the Year edition stands atop as the definitive, most feature-packed and ultimately essential version. From a sheer entertainment standpoint through to technical factors, it handily beats out the standard release.
For the complete adventure that realizes CD Projekt Red‘s grand artistic vision, the GOTY edition can‘t be matched. Both newcomers and fans owe it to themselves to experience The Witcher 3 with all expansions included.
