Witcher 3 Complete vs Standard Edition: What’s Included?

The Witcher 3 Complete Edition includes the base game, both massive expansion packs (Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine), and all 16 free DLCs, while the Standard Edition contains only the base game. If you buy the Complete Edition, you get everything ever released for the game in one package; if you buy Standard, you’ll need to purchase the expansions and DLC separately.

What Exactly Is in the Complete Edition?

The Complete Edition (also called the Game of the Year Edition on some platforms) bundles:

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – the full base game with all patches and updates.
Hearts of Stone – a ~10-hour expansion adding a new story arc, new characters, and a new region (the Oxenfurt area).
Blood and Wine – a ~20-hour expansion set in the new region of Toussaint, with a new Gwent deck, new mutations, and a proper ending to Geralt’s story.
16 free DLCs – these include alternate outfits, new quests (like “Fool’s Gold”), the New Game+ mode, and the Wolf School gear set.

On PC, the Complete Edition is simply the base game plus the two expansions; the 16 DLCs are free downloads for everyone. On consoles, the Complete Edition disc or download includes everything on one package.

What Does the Standard Edition Include?

The Standard Edition is just the base game – the main story, the base map (Velen, Novigrad, Skellige), and the core side quests. It does not include:

The two expansions (Hearts of Stone, Blood and Wine).
New Game+ mode (added as a free DLC).
Alternate outfits for Yennefer, Triss, and Ciri.
The Wolf School gear quest.
Any of the other 12 free DLCs.

However, the Standard Edition does receive all major game updates and patches, so the core gameplay experience is identical. You just miss out on the extra content.

How to Choose Between Them

Your choice depends on your budget and how much you think you’ll play:

Buy the Complete Edition if – you’re new to the game, want the full experience, or plan to play more than 50 hours. The expansions are widely considered some of the best content in the game, especially Blood and Wine.
Buy the Standard Edition if – you’re on a tight budget, you’re not sure you’ll like the game, or you already own the base game and only want the expansions (then just buy the expansion pass).
Check the price difference – on sale, the Complete Edition often costs only $10–15 more than the Standard Edition. If the difference is less than the price of the expansion pass, the Complete Edition is the better value.

One common misconception: the Complete Edition is not a remaster or a graphical upgrade. It’s the same game with the same graphics and performance. The only difference is the included content.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

“Can I upgrade my Standard Edition to Complete?” – Yes, on most platforms you can buy the expansion pass or the two expansions individually. On GOG and Steam, buying the expansions gives you the same content as the Complete Edition. On consoles, you might need to buy the Expansion Pass (which includes both) or each separately. There is no separate “upgrade” SKU; you just buy the missing pieces.

“Do I lose my save if I switch editions?” – No. Saves are compatible across editions. If you buy the Complete Edition after playing Standard, your save files will work fine. The only caveat is that if you load a save that already has expansion content, you need the expansions installed.

“Are the 16 DLCs really free?” – Yes, they were released as free DLCs for everyone. They are not exclusive to the Complete Edition. However, the Complete Edition includes them automatically, so you don’t need to download them separately.

“Is there any content exclusive to the Complete Edition?” – No. Every piece of content in the Complete Edition is also available as a separate purchase or free download. The Complete Edition is just a bundle.

Cost Comparison and Value

As of recent pricing, the Standard Edition typically retails for $39.99, the Expansion Pass for $24.99, and the Complete Edition for $49.99–$59.99 (often on sale for $14.99–$19.99). If you buy the Standard Edition and the Expansion Pass separately, you’d spend $64.98 – which is more than the Complete Edition’s regular price. That’s why the Complete Edition is almost always the better deal, especially during sales.

On console, the Complete Edition is sometimes called the “Game of the Year Edition” – the content is identical. On Switch, the Complete Edition includes all the same content but with slightly lower resolution and frame rate.

Alternatives to Buying the Complete Edition

If you already own the Standard Edition, you have two main options:

Buy the Expansion Pass – this gives you both expansions at a discount compared to buying them individually. It does not include the free DLCs, but those are free anyway.
Buy each expansion separately – Hearts of Stone is usually $9.99, Blood and Wine is $19.99. If you only want one, this is cheaper.

If you don’t own the game at all, the Complete Edition is the simplest and most cost-effective route. There is no reason to buy the Standard Edition and then the expansions separately unless there’s a steep discount on the base game alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Complete Edition include all DLCs? – Yes, it includes the two expansions and all 16 free DLCs. There are no other paid DLCs for the game.

Is the Complete Edition the same as Game of the Year Edition? – Yes, on most platforms they are identical in content. The name varies by region and storefront, but the package is the same.

Can I play the expansions without finishing the main story? – Yes, you can start Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine from the main menu once they are installed. However, they are balanced for higher-level characters, so you’ll likely want to play the main story first.

Will my Standard Edition save work with the Complete Edition? – Yes, saves are fully compatible. You can load your existing save after buying the Complete Edition.

Is there a next-gen upgrade included? – The next-gen update (for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC) is free for all owners of the game, regardless of edition. You do not need the Complete Edition to get it.

Which edition should I buy in 2025? – The Complete Edition, almost always. It’s the same price as the Standard Edition on sale, and you get 30+ extra hours of content.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.

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