Where to Start · The Witcher
Where to Start with The Witcher
The Witcher is CD Projekt Red's dark fantasy RPG trilogy based on Andrzej Sapkowski's Polish novel series, following Geralt of Rivia — a witcher, a mutant monster hunter for hire — through a morally ambiguous world where the right choice rarely exists. The games are among the most acclaimed RPGs ever made, culminating in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt which won over 800 Game of the Year awards. The series has three mainline entries and a direct narrative through-line — Geralt's story builds across all three games, characters recur, and decisions made in earlier games affect later ones. There is a right order to play them.
If you only play one Witcher game
Play The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It is one of the greatest RPGs ever made — an open world with genuine narrative consequence, side quests that rival main storylines in other games for writing quality, and two DLC expansions (Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine) that are each better than most standalone games. You do not need to play Witcher 1 or 2 first to enjoy Witcher 3. The game provides enough context for newcomers. If you want the richest experience, play in order. If you want the best game immediately, start with 3.
Standalone vs saga — The Witcher 3 onboarding catches newcomers up; playing 1 → 2 → 3 is for continuity and emotional payoff, not because the third entry gates you with homework.
The Witcher 1 — the foundation
The Witcher (2007) is a PC exclusive that has aged significantly in terms of controls and combat but holds up in writing, world-building, and atmosphere. It establishes Geralt's relationships with Triss, Dandelion, and the political factions of the Northern Kingdoms. The choices you make — particularly regarding the political conflict between the Scoia'tael and the Order — carry forward in tone and world state to Witcher 2. If you can tolerate the dated mechanics, playing Witcher 1 first enriches everything that follows. The Enhanced Edition is the version to play, available on PC via GOG.
The Witcher 2 — the turning point
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (2011) is where the series found its mechanical footing. The combat is dramatically improved over the first game, the branching narrative is the most ambitious in the trilogy — Act 2 plays out entirely differently depending on a single decision — and the political intrigue deepens the world significantly. Witcher 2 is available on PC and was an Xbox 360 exclusive console release. If you played Witcher 1 and imported a save or chose starting conditions, familiar characters and consequences appear. Witcher 2 is a short game by RPG standards — 20-25 hours — and worth playing before Witcher 3 for the character relationships it builds.
The Witcher 3 and its expansions
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) is the conclusion to Geralt's story. The main game — finding Ciri, confronting the Wild Hunt — is approximately 50 hours. Hearts of Stone adds 10 hours with Gaunter O'Dimm as one of gaming's most memorable antagonists. Blood and Wine adds another 20 hours in the sun-drenched region of Toussaint and serves as Geralt's epilogue. Play the DLC after the main game. The Complete Edition on PS4/PS5/Xbox/Switch/PC includes everything. The next-gen update (2022) adds ray tracing, improved textures, and new content — the current-gen version is the one to play.
The books
The Witcher game series is based on Sapkowski's short story collections and novels. The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny are the short story collections that establish Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri before the novels. You do not need to read them to enjoy the games, but The Last Wish in particular enriches Witcher 3 significantly — several characters and storylines in the game directly reference or adapt stories from the collection.
What platforms you need
The Witcher 1 — PC only (GOG). The Witcher 2 — PC, Xbox 360 (backward compatible on Xbox One/Series). The Witcher 3 Complete Edition — PS4/PS5/Xbox/Switch/PC. The Switch version is technically compromised but playable for handheld convenience. PS5 and PC versions are the best technically.
Recommended order
Witcher 1 → Witcher 2 → Witcher 3 → Hearts of Stone → Blood and Wine. If you only have time for one entry, Witcher 3 standalone is the right call. The emotional payoff of playing all three in order is significant — Geralt's search for Ciri hits harder when you've spent 60+ hours with these characters across two previous games.