Do I Need To Play Witcher 1 And 2 Before 3?

The Witcher is one of the most successful game series of all time with more than 75 million copies sold in total. Out of these, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has sold more than 50 million copies which is how most gamers are possibly introduced to the franchise. So, if you are someone who wishes to get started with Witcher 3 and want to know, “Do I need to play Witcher 1 and 2 before 3?”- here’s your answer.

Do I need to play the first two Witcher games before 3?

Source: CD PROJEKT RED

No, you don’t necessarily need to play The Witcher 1 and 2 before playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Wild Hunt is designed to be a standalone entry point to the series, even if you’re unfamiliar with the previous games.

However, there are some cons if you go ahead with Witcher 3 without playing 1 and 2:

You will miss out on the deeper understanding and connection with the lore, the backstories of characters and their relationships.

There are many references and callbacks that will resonate with you if you’ve played the previous Witcher games. This will lead to a better emotional impact of Geralt’s story which adds more value to how he lives his life in Wild Hunt.

Overall, playing the previous games may make your experience of Witcher 3 more satisfying and complete.

But if you don’t have time or don’t want to invest in the slightly older gameplay/controls of The Witcher 1 and 2, you can skip playing and watch a story recap or summary on YouTube. Wild Hunt also provides a brief backstory for Geralt at the beginning of the game.

Source: CD PROJEKT RED

Are all The Witcher games connected to each other?

The games themselves are connected but the stories are standalone, so you will still understand everything that goes on in Wild Hunt and won’t miss out on the core plot.

Here’s how Witcher 1, 2 and 3 are connected:

Through Setting and Lore: All games take place in the same fantasy world created featuring familiar locations, factions, and creatures. Lore elements established in earlier games carry over and affect the world and character motivations in later entries.

The Witcher 1 and 2 are more connected to each other: These two games directly tell the story of Geralt of Rivia’s adventures, with recurring characters and consequences of past choices impacting later events.

As mentioned before, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, while standalone for newcomers, features callbacks and appearances by characters from the previous games, rewarding those familiar with the earlier stories.

Geralt and other returning characters develop and change across the games, reflecting their past experiences and choices.

So, do you need to play Witcher 1 and 2 before Witcher 3? It depends on your personal preference and how you want to experience this saga. You can also play Witcher 3 first and if you really fall in love with the lore, you can give the previous two games a try. But be warned that they are not as polished as Wild Hunt.

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