Highlights

  • The Witcher 3 offers a variety of activities to break up the repetitive main quest and side quests, such as horse races and fist fights, which provide amusement and unique challenges.
  • Reading books in the game provides valuable knowledge about the world’s lore, history, and cultures, adding depth to the game and enhancing the significance of in-game events.
  • Scavenger hunts for Witcher gear not only offer the coolest-looking and highest-stat equipment, but also take players on unexpected adventures and introduce new quests and challenges. Additionally, they provide scenic views and immersive storytelling experiences.


There’s no question that The Witcher 3 is a gargantuan experience. The main quest to find Ciri and stop Wild Hunt is already an epic adventure. The rest of the time spent in The Witcher 3, players can occupy themselves with side quests, usually involving monster-slaying. These are undoubtedly entertaining, but they can get repetitive after a while. Even the most ardent fans may get bored.

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Thankfully, The Witcher 3 includes other activities to mitigate that tedium. While the game definitely doesn’t have as many ways to mess around as a Yakuza title, for instance, it still sports a plethora of pastimes. Indulging in these mini-games can help Geralt master all manner of odd trades. On top of being amusing at the moment, it means the titular witcher can actually enjoy his time on the Path.


5 Horse Races

Upgrade Roach’s Saddle, Or Simply Enjoy The Thrills Of Racing

A horse race in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Like a lot of open-world titles, The Witcher 3 mainly uses Geralt’s horse, Roach, as a means of transportation, but that’s not the only outlet for Roach. She can also compete against other equestrians. Horse races are scattered throughout the game’s regions. These involve the fastest riders from across the land and carry the thrills inherent in any good race. Granted, the contest is easy to cheat, as players can hamper opponents by getting in front of them and slowing to a canter. However, they shouldn’t let that exploit deter them.

Horse races remain a worthy pastime. Finding just the right angle to block the rival requires skill; picking the right moment to do so is equally pivotal. These factors may maximize the stamina that Roach regains. Not to mention, winning can earn the best horse-based equipment in the game, exponentially increasing Roach’s stamina, courage, and storage space. Such items prove invaluable on long adventures.

4 Fists Of Fury

Geralt Can Have Sporting Fist Fights Across The Map

A fistfight in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Who says Geralt has to do all the fighting with his swords? He can also hold his own with his fists, and the game offers plenty of chances to test that. Much like horse races, The Witcher 3 holds boxing matches across Velen, Novigrad, and Skellige. These bouts include the champions of each region. They don’t have much in the way of special rewards, but that’s fine. “Fists of Fury” quests make up for it through sheer amusement. It’s just funny to see Geralt engage in old-fashioned fisticuffs amid a jeering crowd. Plus, it leads to a few ridiculous scenarios down the line.

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The top-tier fighters are a bear and a rock troll, both of whom the witcher must take on. The fact that swords are unavailable means players must tackle the fights with more caution and strategy. The final part of the questline also calls for such novelty. The last Skellige arena is haunted by the ghost of an unlucky loser. The only way to help him pass on is to let him win. The scenario is full of the absurdist gallows humor that The Witcher excels at. These laughs are worth every punch to the face.

3 Read A Book

An Abundance Of Lore To Uncover

A bookstore in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Like many of the best RPGs, The Witcher 3 has a bunch of books lying around. They can contain valuable knowledge about monsters or alchemical recipes. Such info lends an obvious gameplay benefit to flipping through the pages, but the scholarly pursuits shouldn’t stop there.

Books offer an intriguing insight into the world, its history, and its cultures. For obvious reasons, they go into these subjects with infinitely more depth and detail than casual conversations. In fact, many draw from events in the Witcher novels. The accounts within are not only compelling in themselves, but they offer a great understanding of the characters and their motives. As such, the events in the game carry far more significance. It’s odd to recommend reading in a video game, but the written word still carries immense power.

2 Scavenger Hunts

Find Relics Of Witcher Past

Geralt and Reinald in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Players come across countless pieces of equipment in their travels. Most sets are in the style and palette of the various kingdoms. Donning them makes Geralt look like a soldier, but he’d prefer to look like a witcher. Luckily, the game contains several sets of swords and armor modeled after the different witcher schools. What’s more, is that each one has multiple upgrades. Fans need only find a map and follow the directions. Some players might wonder why it’s worth the hassle.

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However, these Scavenger Hunts have a plethora of perks. In terms of appearance, the witcher gear is easily the coolest in the game. It also boasts the highest stats, especially when upgraded. Most importantly, it takes players on unexpected adventures. The diagrams are usually in remote locations, offering scenic views that fans wouldn’t get otherwise. They can even stumble into other problems or quests. For instance, one Wolf School diagram lies within an abandoned training ground haunted by dead witchers. Better yet, the armor from the Netflix show is in the middle of an infested mine. Here, Geralt meets the ghost of a witcher from centuries prior and finishes his work. In these cases, the treasure hunt and reward are equally fulfilling.

1 Gwent

The Famed Card Game That Spawned A Spin-Off

A hand of Gwent in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The most involved side activity in The Witcher 3 is Gwent. This in-universe card game is basically a modified version of Risk, simulating battles between the world’s disparate factions. It couldn’t be more different from normal combat. That’s what makes it so addictive. The game contains countless cards with varying strength levels, status effects, and special abilities. Combining them effectively takes strategic thinking.

Fans can test their wits in numerous tournaments. Here, they face competitors who do anything to win. The quests are like a fantasy version of Casino Royale, making fans feel like high-rollers in a life-or-death situation. The enjoyment doesn’t stop at this game, though. Learning the rules of Gwent opens up the possibilities for further adventures. Several subsequent Witcher titles are based on the cards, such as Rogue Mage and Thronebreaker. These often sport engrossing narratives while evolving the tactics in creative ways. In essence, Gwent unlocks dozens more hours of entertainment and a deeper dive into this fantasy realm.

witcher 3 box art

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