The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a massive game with lots to do. Players can spend hundreds of hours exploring this large continent and still not discover all of the quests and side stories this game has to offer. Hidden treasure, powerful weapons, tragic tales, and Geralt’s modeling career are some of the hidden quests that the average player has yet to discover in this great game.
Odds are, there are still quests to be found, but hopefully, this list will give players the motivation to go out and search for them. Here are some of the many secret side questions that everyone missed in The Witcher 3.
Updated January 3, 2023, by Aldous Foster: The Witcher 3 is a widely beloved video game, staying popular even years after its release. With the Next Gen update that was released in late 2022, this popularity skyrocketed with players eager to find everything new that the update has to offer. Although the update did not add any secret quests, there are still plenty to uncover in the base version of the game. Players won't want to miss any gear or items these quests will reward them with either, so, for completionists and collectors alike, here are the best missable quests in the Witcher 3.
18 An Eye for an Eye
- Accessible: Novigrad & Velen
- Quest Giver: Vernon Roche
- Suggested Level: 12
- Rewards: 50 XP
- Notable Items: Wild Hunt warrior axe, Condottier's boots, and zerrikanian powder from Nilfgardian enemies.
This side quest is part of the encompassing assassination quests that bring back Witcher 2 favorites Ves and Roche. Players should try and unlock this prior to The Isle of Mists, as it won’t be accessible after completing that mainline quest.
An Eye For An Eye has Geralt help Roche and Ves during an encounter with Nilfgardian soldiers. Players should be aware, however, that Ves can die if Geralt is not fast enough, failing the quest. Later on, the player is given a choice to either kill or spare the lone surviving soldier. The decision doesn’t have any effect on the mission’s outcome or the reward gained, so players should just go with their gut. Keeping Ves alive is important, however, as Roche will only help players in Kaer Morhen if she is.
17 Precious Cargo
- Accessible: White Orchard
- Quest Giver: Forlorn Merchant
- Suggested Level: 1
- Rewards: 10 XP / 25 XP and 20 Crowns / 30 Crowns / 50 Crowns
- Notable Items: 5 Celandine and 4 White Myrtle if the player chooses to keep the box
During the prologue to the game, the player can find a merchant in the bog South of the Nilfgardian Garrison. The merchant claims to have been attacked by monsters and asks Geralt to find a small box. The player must then travel around the bog, killing drowners and learning that all is not as it seems.
After finding the box, the player can simply return it to the merchant and be on their way or accuse the merchant of lying. After a short chase, they will then learn the truth and must decide the merchant's fate.
16 The Lord of Undvik
- Accessible: Skellige
- Quest Giver: Crach an Craite
- Suggested Level: 17
- Rewards: 600 XP
- Notable Items: Diagram: Mastercrafted Wolven boots in the area
Players get a crash course in Skellige’s history, traditions and politics as soon as they arrive on the island. Geralt can get directly involved in helping choose a new king for the isle, potentially siding with Cerys or Hjalmar.
The Lord of Undvik follows Geralt as he aids Hjalmar and his companions in slaying an Ice Giant. The monstrous foe can put up quite a fight and should provide players with a fun challenge. This is one of the longer side quests on this list, so players should be ready and willing to invest as much time as they need to.
15 Ciri's Room
- Accessible: Velen
- Quest Giver: Automatic
- Suggested Level: 5
- Rewards: 100 XP
Players spend the majority of The Witcher 3 chasing after Ciri. While she isn’t reunited with Geralt until much later on in the game, players can gather some information about her early on.
While at Crow’s Perch, Geralt can explore the room Ciri stayed in and search for clues. After a few minor discoveries, Geralt can talk to the little girl Ciri saved before her arrival at Crow’s Perch and complete the mission.
14 A Dog's Life
- Accessible: Velen
- Quest Giver: Lone Dog
- Suggested Level: 5
- Rewards: 25 XP
- Notable Items: Bremervoord Blade on one of the bandits
Near a village called Drudge in the south of Velen, the player comes across a dog being attacked by some wolves. This quest can be easily missed as the dog will die if the player leaves and does not immediately come to its aid. Even after killing the wolves, the quest can still be failed if Geralt leaves so players should stick close to the dog if they want to get their rewards.
The dog leads the player into the wonderfully-named village of Drudge, where they will be attacked by bandits. After defeating them, players can search the area to find a letter about what happened to the dog's owner, and the quest will be marked as complete.
13 The Gangs of Novigrad
- Accessible: Novigrad
- Quest Giver: Cleaver
- Suggested Level: 9
- Rewards: 300 Crowns / 50 XP
This sidequest revolves around the search for Whoreson Junior, so won’t be accessible past a certain point in the story. In the mission, Geralt helps a gang boss named Cleaver with finding Junior.
Following through on the quest will bring Geralt to a Casino and arena, where players have to fight off some thugs. It’s a fun and easy way of making 300 Crowns and introduces some interesting characters in the process.
12 Carnal Sins
- Accessible: Novigrad
- Quest Giver: Dandelion
- Suggested Level: 16
- Rewards: 100 XP / 500 XP
- Notable Items: Deargdeith and Katakan mutagen
Carnal Sins is one of the most interesting quests in The Witcher 3 and is not one that any player should miss out on. Players need to stumble upon this sidequest before completing The Isle of Mists.
The quest sees Geralt search for a serial killer following an attack on Priscilla. Players must travel to several locations within Novigrad, making some tough decisions along the way. Towards the end of the quest, choosing to talk to Nathaniel first will ensure that players get the most experience, as well as the mutagen, rubedo, and a unique silver sword.
11 On Death’s Bed
- Accessible: White Orchard
- Quest Giver: Tomira
- Suggested Level: 2
- Rewards: 50 Crowns / 350 XP
This one is discovered in the White Orchard and presents Geralt with a moral dilemma. A woman has been injured by a Griffin and needs a valuable potion called “Swallow” to potentially heal her. Not only is the potion incredibly valuable to the player in combat there’s another catch many won't find out about until they tackle this quest at least twice.
If the woman takes the potion her body is healed but the brew destroys her mind leaving her a hollow shell. If the player refuses to give her the potion for whatever reason she dies a horrible, agonizing death. The player can take solace knowing they tried to help her, but it's still a horrible ending either way.
10 There Can Be Only One
- Accessible: Lac Célavy
- Quest Giver: Notice Board in the Gran'place
- Suggested Level: 43
- Rewards: 300-350 XP
- Notable Items: Aerondight
After overhearing a conversation between two men at the Tourney Grounds, players can take on a series of trials to prove their worth at the shores of Lac Célavy. The player must then perform, or have performed, five quests in a certain way to prove their valor, honor, compassion, generosity, and wisdom.
After proving their worth the player must then defeat the mysterious hermit who is not as they seem. Upon winning the duel the reward is the powerful sword Aerondight, which Witcher fans will be familiar with.
9 Cabaret
- Accessible: Novigrad
- Quest Giver: Dandelion
- Suggested Level: 14
- Rewards: 220 XP & 80 Crowns / 245 XP
- Notable Items: Blunt sword
Not all quests are about monsters and bounties. After saving Dandelion, a hidden quest can be obtained by revisiting him. It turns out he wants to transform a run-down brothel into a cabaret. Geralt assists and has the important decision of making the cabaret an upstanding theater or a scandalous boudoir.
Successfully completing this quest creates a new business called The Chameleon. It’s a great hidden quest that sees a seedy business turning into a place of repute or a less seedy establishment through the player's choices.
8 A Portrait Of The Witcher As An Old Man
- Accessible: Beauclair
- Quest Giver: Painter
- Suggested Level: 43
- Rewards: 500-600 XP
- Notable Items: Portrait of Geralt and Toussaint Ducal Guardsman's steel sword
This amusing quest can be discovered at the market square in The Gran'place. Conversing with an artist will reveal that the man thinks Geralt would make a fine model for his painting of an old man. The player has the choice of doing a tasteful nude with Geralt either lying down, standing with a shield, or riding a horse.
Before the painting is finished a griffin will attack and upon killing it the painter will offer to also add the corpse of the griffin into the painting. It can then be bought for 1,000 Crowns It’s a funny quest and will end up hanging in The Belles Of Beauclair.
7 X Marks The Spot
- Accessible: Skellige
- Suggested Level: 12
- Rewards: None
- Notable Items: Random Loot
This is one of the harder quests to find unless players happen to stumble upon it or know where to look. There’s an abandoned hut just outside of Blandare near the lake. Inside the hut is a skeleton holding a key and a map.
It turns out it’s a treasure map that leads to a hidden chest under a waterfall. While it’s not the most exciting reward it is a genuine treasure chest that’s worth the exploration.
6 Lord Of The Wood
- Accessible: Novigrad
- Suggested Level: 25
- Rewards: 195 Crowns / 250 XP
- Notable Items: Black Unicorn and a Leshen Trophy
Another unmarked location on the map yields a hidden quest that can prove a bit challenging for those unprepared. South of Novigrad is an abandoned logger’s camp that’s the sight of a massacre. Geralt can explore the area and find a hut with a letter telling of the tragedy that befell the camp.
Investigating this tragedy will take the player deep into the woods where they will confront an ancient evil inhabiting the forest. Successfully completing this quest yields the useful Black Unicorn sword that drains enemies' vitality.
5 Taken As A Lass
- Accessible: Skellige
- Quest Giver: A warrior in the east of Ard Skellig or Kurisu in Freya's temple
- Suggested Level: 25
- Rewards: 75 XP / 125 XP
On the coast east of Ard Skelling, players can find a young man fighting off a pair of pirates. Saving his life will begin the quest to save his sister who was taken by the pirates in the area. The player will need to hunt down the pirate ship to discover her fate.
The quest doesn’t go as expected as the player will find out the pirates were slaughtered by a pack of ruthless beasts. It’s an interesting quest with an unexpected development and some fun, but difficult combat.
4 The Taxman Cometh
- Accessible: Gustfields
- Quest Giver: Walthemor Mitty
- Suggested Level: 32
- Rewards: 50-150 XP
- Notable Items: Diploma
Even in a video game, players aren’t immune to the looming shadow of taxes. Witchers aren’t typically wealthy individuals as most of their earnings get reinvested in better gear, alchemy ingredients, and bribing informants.
But if players prove to be shrewd and frugal mercenaries and accumulate a wealth of 35,000 crowns, they'll be approached by a taxman called Walthemor Mitty who is suspicious of their earnings. Depending on how they answer players can be given a diploma commending their business savvy or sentenced to deliver unpaid taxes to the Vivaldi Bank.
3 Without A Trace
- Accessible: Gustfields
- Quest Giver: Brunwich Notice Board
- Suggested Level: 32
- Rewards: 200 Crowns and 50 XP / 200 Crowns and 100 XP
- Notable Items: Strange Meat
If players find their way to the hut of a herbalist outside of Oxenfurt, they’ll find the herbalist’s apprentice has gone missing in Deadwight Wood. Tracking down the evidence will lead to a kindly older couple living alone in the forest.
Not everything is as it seems though and exploring further will reveal something vile has happened in these woods. The player is then presented with the moral dilemma of what to do to the desperate elderly couple and what to say to the distressed herbalist. For the best rewards, players carry out a full investigation.
2 A Mysterious Passenger
- Accessible: Skellige
Getting this quest requires a massive amount of setup as it only becomes available if the player goes to Skellige before doing the Bloody Baron's quest. This makes the game considerably harder as they will be severely under-leveled. If, however, they manage to complete The Calm Before the Storm quest, then this quest will automatically be available.
It sends Geralt to find out more about the strange creature that Skjall saw. If the player had progressed normally, then Geralt would have already met Uma in Crow's Perch, meaning this would not be necessary. The quest sees Geralt seek out Jarl Donar, who supposedly owned the creature. After learning that Donar sold it to a merchant in Novigrad, the quest is completed.
1 Paperchase
- Accessible: Cianfanelli Bank
- Quest Giver: Vineyard Owner
- Suggested Level: 36
- Rewards: 200 Crowns / 500 Crowns
- Notable Items: The Reckoner
Perhaps the most interesting hidden quest in The Witcher: Wild Hunt is one that rewards players for being patient. Near Trentin’s workshop is a vineyard owner who has a history with Geralt. It turns out that he meant to pay Geralt for services rendered to him in a previous game, but he couldn’t before Geralt hit the open road.
Instead, he opened a bank account under Geralt’s name and deposited the funds there until he encountered Geralt again. This results in a quest involving tedious bureaucracy paperwork, line cutting, fistfights, bribery, and a bit of gambling. If players are impatient with the bank’s plight, they can forcefully take the money. If they do have a little patience, they can learn the magical power of interest, earning more money and a unique sword too.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is now available for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.