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Slay monsters to these six roaring tracks from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
D
David Silbert
As fun as it is to slay monsters and school people in Gwent, The Witcher 3 owes a lot of its longevity to its music. Composed by Marcin Przybyłowicz, Mikołaj Stroiński, and Piotr Musiał—and featuring songs from Polish folk band Percival Schuttenbach—the game’s soundtrack is equal parts haunting and soul-stirring.
Want to truly immerse yourself as the White Wolf? Listen to these six tracks from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and you’ll be casting signs and hunting necrophages like the best of Kaer Morhen.
“Geralt Of Rivia”
The Witcher 3 is a game of adventure, peril, and discovery. Geralt’s quest to find his adoptive daughter Ciri takes him through bogs, battlefields, caves, and cities. Along the way, he battles creatures, befriend allies, and attempt to restore balance to the Continent. The journey ahead is always treacherous, and no song captures that feeling more than Marcin Przybyłowicz’s “Geralt Of Rivia.”
Serving as Wild Hunt’s menu theme, “Geralt Of Rivia” is an anthem for aspiring adventurers. The track opens with the dulcet sounds of strings and a lone harp. Woodwinds add texture, while the strings take a dark, brooding turn. Then, around the halfway mark, the strings build, a drum bellows, and bagpipes play. The track culminates with a glorious fanfare of horns.
If Geralt is a legendary witcher, then “Geralt Of Rivia” feels like his call to action. The opening seconds represent a long-lost peace, while the darker timbre of the strings symbolizes the impending doom of the Wild Hunt. Just when hope is lost, the bagpipes announce the arrival of our courageous hero. As for what comes next—well, that’s what the rest of the game is for.
“Silver For Monsters...”
As Geralt navigates the countryside and engages with town folk, you’ll often be taken by the sheer beauty of Wild Hunt. Wild grass blows in the wind as time flows, and water glimmers in hues of orange and yellow as the sun sets. The vistas are breathtaking, supported by equally serene music. Stumble upon a monster den, however, and the beauty fades. Geralt has a soft spot for friends like Triss and Dandelion, but he’s merciless when it’s time to fight.
“Silver For Monsters...” captures the primal nature of the hunt. The folk band Percival opens the track with the strums of a long-necked lute, followed by the trancelike drone of a lyre. A heavy drum beat soon joins the fray. Then come the chants: Gruff female vocals that ramp up the intensity and give the piece added shape.
As the title suggests, this track plays when Geralt must fight Wild Hunt’s fiercer creatures. From melees with Nekkers to dances with Griffins, these encounters will test your reflexes and wits, not to mention your knowledge of both signs and oils. Put simply, “Silver For Monsters...” will pump you up and have you battling for your very life.
“...Steel For Humans”
Humans may be smaller than the average Leshen or Scurver, but don’t be deceived. Many of the cruelest enemies Geralt faces are of flesh and blood. Thankfully, he carries a steel sword for occasions when the wrong countrymen cross him.
“...Steel For Humans” is another Percival jam. Whereas “Silver For Monsters...” has a slow build to its vocals, this track gets right to business. “...Steel For Humans” also ups the beat considerably, giving the song a festive, dance-like quality. (Those familiar with the song will understand why, as it stems from an old Bulgarian folk tune.)
It’s not a particularly long track, but “...Steel For Humans” leaves a lasting impact. Whether you’re fighting highway bandits or brawling with thugs in Novigrad, this song gets you in the mood for throwing out haymakers.
“The Hunt Is Coming”
Geralt’s a skilled swordsman, but he’s far from invincible. Perhaps his most vulnerable moment comes during The Battle of Kaer Morhen, when he, Vesemir, Yennefer, and Trish fight to defend the witcher stronghold and protect Ciri from the Wild Hunt.
For most of The Witcher 3, players have total agency. You choose where to go, who to talk to, and what favors to fulfill. Slay a monster, and you bring peace back to a nearby town. Assemble a powerful Gwent deck, and you can challenge practically anyone to a friendly match. Witness a squabble between two townsfolks, and you ultimately decide who’s right and who’s wrong.
During The Battle of Kaer Morhen, however, you’re faced with a deadly enemy—and unthinkable loss. Marcin Przybyłowicz’s “The Hunt Is Coming” captures this feeling of dread and helplessness. The composer blends horns, strings, and drums together to create a sense of tension, then sprinkles in some late-track vocals as a haunting garnish. It’s a gorgeous piece, and a grim reminder of The Witcher 3’s very real stakes.
“For Honor! For Toussaint!”
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt doesn’t end once the main story wraps. There’s an entire other adventure to explore in the form of the Blood and Wine expansion. With scores of new quests, characters, and foes comes a suite of fresh music—including some incredible combat tracks.
“For Honor! For Toussaint!” is one such number. The land of Toussaint is rich with color, from its azure sky and lush vineyards to its copper-tinted buildings and extravagant citygoers. Composer Piotr Musiał captures this whimsical take on The Witcher with an upbeat track that combines lutes, drums, strings, and vocals to great effect.
Unlike the battle tunes found in the base game, “For Honor! For Toussaint!” has a decidedly mystical feel. You’ve traveled far from Novigrad to come to Toussaint, and the song only helps to emphasize that narrative. Whether you’ve finished the main story or you’re treating Blood and Wine as a stepping stone in Geralt’s journey, “For Honor! For Toussaint!” makes you feel like a proper wayfarer.
“On The Champs-Désolés”
Toussaint’s Champs-Désolés region is located to the east, past the Sansretour Marsh. It’s an area known for its farmland and forests, as well as its long-forgotten castles and ruins. One of the combat tracks you’ll hear in the area is the aptly named “On The Champs-Désolés.” True to its name, the song—which is attributed to Marcin Przybyłowicz—builds on the style of the other Witcher 3 combat tracks by incorporating an unusual instrument: a French accordion.
The song opens with the rhythmic pulse of the accordion, backed by the dramatic flurry of the lute. A lyre, percussion, and additional strings join in, only adding to the tension. Then, around the 45-second mark, most of the instrumentation fades, ceding the space to the accordion and drone. The track grows in intensity, culminating with a hair-raising melody.
Geralt’s journey is far from easy—the man has scars for a reason. “On The Champs-Désolés” reminds players that every fight is hard-won, and that death looms around every bend in the road. The song creates adrenaline, flirts with dread, and plays to your fears, all while providing a wonderful mashup of Eastern and Western European sounds. It’s a track that rivals the best The Witcher 3 has to offer.
These tracks are just a hint of what you’ll find in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. From soothing ballads to vibrant tavern tunes, Geralt’s soundtrack accompanies him with the loyalty of his most trusted friends. Saddle up Roach, get lost within the Continent, and let the music carry you.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available on the Epic Games Store. You can purchase it here.