You've slain the White Frost, watched the credits roll, and made peace with every consequence of Geralt's long journey. Now the question hits: what comes next? For players who want to experience CD Projekt Red's masterpiece all over again without starting from scratch, Witcher 3 New Game Plus is the answer. This mode reshapes the entire adventure around a character who is already powerful — and it's one of the most rewarding replay experiences in modern RPG gaming.
What Is New Game Plus and How to Unlock It
New Game Plus (NG+) was added to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt as a free DLC update in August 2015. To access it, you must first complete the main story campaign on any difficulty. Once finished, a new save option appears on the main menu labeled "New Game Plus." Selecting it allows you to import your completed save file and carry your progression into a fresh playthrough of the entire game, including both expansion packs if you own them.
The mode is available on all platforms — PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch — and is fully compatible with the 2022 Next-Gen Edition. There is no additional cost; it unlocks automatically upon completing the base game.
What Carries Over Into NG+
Understanding what transfers is critical before you start. Here is exactly what you keep when beginning Witcher 3 New Game Plus:
- Character level — Your level carries over directly. If you were level 45, you begin at level 45.
- Ability points and builds — All unlocked skills and your current ability slot configuration remain intact.
- Inventory items — Weapons, armor, potions, food, crafting materials, and most consumables transfer over.
- Crowns (gold) — Your entire coin balance carries over, giving you immediate purchasing power.
- Gwent cards — Your full Gwent deck transfers, letting you dominate opponents from the very first game.
- Crafting diagrams and alchemy formulas — All unlocked recipes remain in your knowledge base.
Notably, quest progress, discovered locations, and story decisions do not carry over. You will replay every quest from the beginning, which is the entire point — experiencing the narrative fresh while retaining your power.
Difficulty Scaling and Enemy Levels in NG+
CD Projekt Red scales enemy levels upward to ensure the game remains challenging. All enemies receive a minimum level boost of roughly 30 levels above their original values. A level 1 drowner in White Orchard might now appear as level 32. This scaling ensures that even a high-level Geralt cannot trivially obliterate early-game content.
The recommended starting level for NG+ is between 30 and 40. Players who begin below level 30 may find the early game extremely punishing, even on normal difficulty. If you are below this threshold, consider grinding a few extra levels before importing your save.
Choosing your difficulty in Witcher 3 New Game Plus matters significantly. Death March remains the ultimate test — enemies hit harder, Geralt regenerates no health outside of meditation, and consumables are more limited. For players who want challenge without frustration, Blood and Broken Bones strikes the best balance in NG+.
Best Strategies to Maximize Your NG+ Run
Because you begin with your full build intact, the early hours of NG+ give you enormous flexibility. Here are the most effective strategies for the witcher series' most demanding replay mode:
- Prioritize Grandmaster Witcher Gear immediately. The Grandmaster diagrams from the Blood and Wine expansion are unlocked by level 40 and represent the best armor and weapons in the game. Farming the materials early gives you a massive advantage throughout the entire run.
- Reset your ability tree with a Place of Power. NG+ is an ideal opportunity to experiment with a completely different build. Respec using a Potion of Clearance (purchasable from herbalists) and try a Sign-focused build if you previously played as a pure combat warrior.
- Complete Gwent quests first. Since your deck is already built, you can rapidly complete Gwent-related quests and collect the rare cards you may have missed in your first playthrough.
- Stock up on Swallow and Thunderbolt before leaving White Orchard. Alchemy ingredients reset with the world, so re-crafting your essential combat potions early is a priority.
What Changes Narratively in NG+
The story of The Witcher 3 plays out identically in NG+. Every dialogue option, every moral choice, and every branching consequence remains exactly as CD Projekt Red designed them. This is both a strength and a limitation. Players returning specifically to see different story outcomes — such as alternate endings or different romance paths — will find NG+ fully supports this, since all major decisions are made fresh.
Many veteran players use NG+ specifically to make different choices: siding with different factions during the Bloody Baron questline, pursuing a different romantic relationship for Geralt, or taking alternate paths through the main story that they avoided the first time. The witcher series has always rewarded players who engage with its moral complexity more than once.
Exclusive NG+ Items and Rewards
New Game Plus introduces a small set of exclusive equipment that cannot be obtained in a standard playthrough. These items are found in specific locations throughout the world and are scaled appropriately for high-level characters. The most notable is the Aerondight silver sword — the best silver sword in the entire game — which is obtained through the "There Can Be Only One" quest in Blood and Wine. In NG+, this sword scales with your level indefinitely, making it permanently relevant regardless of how high you climb.
Additionally, several merchants and craftsmen offer upgraded versions of standard equipment that only appear in NG+ saves, giving dedicated players further incentive to explore every corner of the map again.
Final Verdict: Is NG+ Worth It?
Absolutely. Witcher 3 New Game Plus is one of the finest implementations of the mode in RPG gaming history. It respects your investment while giving the world genuine stakes again. Whether you're chasing the platinum trophy, exploring a different build, or simply not ready to say goodbye to Geralt's world, NG+ delivers dozens of additional hours of compelling content. CD Projekt Red built a game rich enough to be experienced more than once — and NG+ is the perfect vehicle to do exactly that.