The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Hearts of Stone

About The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Hearts of Stone

Hearts of Stone launched on October 12, 2015 as the first major expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. CD Projekt RED built this story within the existing world rather than creating a new map. You play as Geralt of Rivia in an adventure role-playing setting available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. This single-player tale focuses on Geralt taking a contract from the Merchant of Mirrors to deal with Olgierd von Everec. The nobleman carries a cursed history that involves immortality and ruthless banditry. The expansion delivers a tight narrative about broken deals and supernatural threats without requiring you to restart your main campaign progress. It stands as a distinct chapter in Geralt's life filled with dark magic and complex character motivations.

Gameplay

You spend most of your time navigating the No Man's Land region while tracking down Olgierd and his allies. The core loop involves investigating clues, fighting monsters, and making dialogue choices that shift quest outcomes. This expansion adds the Runewords system to let you etch powerful effects onto existing gear for better stats. Combat remains tactical as you switch between signs, swords, and alchemy bombs to handle new enemy types. You will explore dark forests, ruined castles, and hidden tunnels to uncover secrets about the Merchant of Mirrors. The game forces you to make difficult moral decisions where every choice carries weight for the characters involved. Sessions usually involve long travel segments followed by intense battles or lengthy conversations that define the story direction.

What Players Think

Critics and players agree this is top-tier content with an IGDB score of 91.8 out of 100 based on 549 ratings. PlayPile users report high completion rates, often finishing the main questline within a single playthrough session. The average playtime sits around 10 hours for those focusing solely on this expansion. Community moods lean heavily toward "satisfying" and "intense" as players praise the narrative depth. Review snippets frequently mention the emotional weight of Olgierd's story and the challenge of the boss fights. Many users note that the price point of $1.99 on GOG represents incredible value given the content volume. The expansion maintains a serious tone that aligns perfectly with the base game while introducing fresh mechanics like the Runewords system.

PlayPile's Take

This expansion is worth every penny at its historical low of $1.99. It targets players who want more Geralt stories without the need for a full new campaign. You will earn several achievements by completing quests and mastering the Runewords system. The game does not hold your hand during difficult combat encounters or moral dilemmas. If you liked the main game, this package delivers a focused story with tight pacing. Skip this only if you have never played The Witcher 3 before since it assumes you know the world. The $1.99 price tag makes it a no-brainer for fans of the series looking for more content.

Storyline

Hired by the Merchant of Mirrors, Geralt is tasked with overcoming Olgierd von Everec, a ruthless bandit captain enchanted with the power of immortality.