When The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt launched in 2015, CD Projekt Red did something almost unheard of for a major release: it gave away 16 pieces of DLC, completely free, to everyone who owned the game. No pre-order requirement, no special edition, no catch. More than a decade later those packs are still bundled into every copy of the game, and a lot of players never realize what they actually unlock. This guide breaks down all 16 free DLCs, what each one adds, the ones worth going out of your way for, and how to make sure you have them installed.
Key Takeaways
- All 16 are free forever: CD Projekt Red released them in 2015 at no cost, and they are now baked into every modern copy of The Witcher 3.
- The mix: three armor sets, one crossbow set, three alternative character looks, two cosmetic packs, a Gwent card set, five new quests and contracts, and New Game Plus.
- The standouts: New Game Plus and the quest “Where the Cat and Wolf Play” are the ones most worth your time.
- Nothing to buy: if you own the game on any platform today, you already have all 16. You just need them enabled.
- Separate from the expansions: these free packs are not the same as the paid expansions Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, or the newly announced Songs of the Past.
How to Get the Free DLC Today
Back in 2015, CD Projekt Red rolled out the 16 packs two at a time over eight weeks. Today you do not have to chase them down individually. Every current version of The Witcher 3, including the Complete Edition and the next-gen update on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, already includes all 16. On most platforms they install automatically. If you are on PC through GOG or Steam, double-check that the DLC is enabled in your library, and on console make sure the game is fully updated. Once installed, the new quests appear in your journal, and the armor and looks show up in merchant stocks or your inventory as you play.
All 16 Free DLCs at a Glance
| # | DLC Pack | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Temerian Armor Set | Armor |
| 2 | Beard and Hairstyle Set | Cosmetic |
| 3 | Contract: Missing Miners | New quest |
| 4 | Alternative Look for Yennefer | Character look |
| 5 | Nilfgaardian Armor Set | Armor |
| 6 | Elite Crossbow Set | Weapons |
| 7 | Fool’s Gold | New quest |
| 8 | Ballad Heroes’ Neutral Gwent Card Set | Gwent cards |
| 9 | Scavenger Hunt: Wolf School Gear | New quest |
| 10 | Alternative Look for Triss | Character look |
| 11 | Contract: Skellige’s Most Wanted | New quest |
| 12 | Skellige Armor Set | Armor |
| 13 | Alternative Look for Ciri | Character look |
| 14 | Where the Cat and Wolf Play | New quest |
| 15 | New Finisher Animations | Cosmetic |
| 16 | New Game Plus | Game mode |
The Five New Quests and Contracts
The most substantial free additions are the five quests. These are not throwaway fetch tasks; several are full contracts with their own stories, monsters, and rewards.
Where the Cat and Wolf Play
The best of the bunch. This quest sends Geralt to a ravaged village in Velen to unravel what happened after a witcher and a band of mercenaries passed through. It is moody, morally grey, and ends with the kind of bittersweet choice the game is famous for. If you only play one free quest, make it this one.
Contract: Skellige’s Most Wanted
A proper monster contract set in the Skellige isles. It tasks Geralt with tracking down what is killing people on the islands and pays out solid coin and crafting materials, making it a natural fit while you are exploring that region.
Scavenger Hunt: Wolf School Gear
This one is practical. It adds a full witcher gear set, the Wolf School (or Wolven) equipment, scattered across the world as a treasure hunt. The gear is craftable, upgradeable, and genuinely strong, which makes this arguably the most useful free quest for your actual build.
Contract: Missing Miners and Fool’s Gold
Two shorter, lighter quests. Missing Miners is a contract investigating disappearances near a mine, while Fool’s Gold is a quirky tale involving a village, some enchanted livestock, and a memorably strange twist. Neither is essential, but both add flavor and a few hours of extra content.
Armor and Weapon Sets
Four of the packs are equipment. They are mostly cosmetic in power terms, but they give early-game Geralt some welcome variety and a few stat boosts.
- Temerian Armor Set: a blue-and-silver set themed after Geralt’s homeland of Temeria, available early from a merchant in White Orchard.
- Nilfgaardian Armor Set: sleek black armor styled after the Nilfgaardian empire, good for an imperial look.
- Skellige Armor Set: rugged northern armor that fits the islands’ aesthetic.
- Elite Crossbow Set: a handful of upgraded crossbows, handy for shooting down harpies and other flying enemies.
Alternative Looks and Cosmetics
The remaining packs are purely cosmetic, but they are the ones most players actually notice day to day.
- Alternative Look for Yennefer, Triss, and Ciri: three separate packs that restyle each character’s hair and outfit, giving them a fresh appearance closer to the books and concept art.
- Beard and Hairstyle Set: extra grooming options for Geralt, including new beard lengths and hairstyles at any barber.
- New Finisher Animations: additional cinematic killing-blow animations that add variety to combat.
- Ballad Heroes’ Neutral Gwent Card Set: a set of neutral Gwent cards featuring heroes from the series’ music and lore, a nice boost for anyone deep into the card game.
New Game Plus: The Big One
If there is a single free DLC that changed how people replay The Witcher 3, it is New Game Plus. Added as the sixteenth and final pack, it lets you start a fresh playthrough while carrying over your gear, abilities, and most of your inventory. Enemies scale up to match, the level cap rises, and you can experience the story again without grinding back to power. For a game this long and this beloved, free New Game Plus was a huge deal, and it remains the main reason many players have multiple runs under their belt.
How the Free DLC Fits With the Expansions
It is easy to mix these up, so here is the clear version. The 16 free DLCs are small extras released right after launch. They are separate from the two paid expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, which are far larger story campaigns. And they are separate again from the newly announced third expansion. If you want the full picture of what is still coming to the game, including the 2027 release, our guide to The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past breaks down everything confirmed so far.
Gear for a Witcher Replay
All this free content is the perfect excuse to start a new run. A comfortable controller and a way to keep it charged make a 100-hour RPG far easier on the hands, with live prices as of June 2026. If you need storage room for the install and its mods, our roundup of the best PS5 SSDs with heatsinks covers the drives worth buying.
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller
Premium feel and remappable paddles for marathon RPG sessions.
PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller
A reliable, affordable spare so a dead battery never ends a quest.
Razer Universal Charging Stand
Drop the controller on it between sessions and never hunt for batteries.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are the 16 Witcher 3 DLCs still free?
Yes. All 16 free DLC packs remain free and are included with every modern copy of The Witcher 3, including the Complete Edition and the next-gen update on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S.
What are the 16 free DLCs for The Witcher 3?
They are three armor sets (Temerian, Nilfgaardian, Skellige), the Elite Crossbow Set, alternative looks for Yennefer, Triss, and Ciri, a Beard and Hairstyle Set, New Finisher Animations, the Ballad Heroes’ Gwent set, five quests (Contract: Missing Miners, Fool’s Gold, Scavenger Hunt: Wolf School Gear, Contract: Skellige’s Most Wanted, and Where the Cat and Wolf Play), and New Game Plus.
Which free Witcher 3 DLC is the best?
New Game Plus is the most impactful for replays, while “Where the Cat and Wolf Play” is the best new quest. The Scavenger Hunt: Wolf School Gear quest is the most useful for your build since it grants a full upgradeable witcher gear set.
Are the free DLCs the same as Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine?
No. Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine are large paid story expansions. The 16 free DLCs are smaller cosmetic packs, gear sets, and short quests released for free shortly after launch.
How do I install the free Witcher 3 DLC?
On most platforms it installs automatically with the game. On PC through GOG or Steam, confirm the DLC is enabled in your library, and on console make sure the game is fully updated. The new quests then appear in your journal.
Summary
The Witcher 3’s 16 free DLC packs are a rare example of a studio treating players well. Between three armor sets, a crossbow set, three character looks, two cosmetic packs, a Gwent set, five quests, and free New Game Plus, there is a surprising amount of content here, all included with every copy at no extra cost. The quests “Where the Cat and Wolf Play” and “Scavenger Hunt: Wolf School Gear” plus New Game Plus are the highlights worth prioritizing.
With a third expansion, Songs of the Past, on the way in 2027, now is a great time to load up the game, make sure all 16 packs are enabled, and start a fresh run. You already own every one of them.