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No. You can start with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt without playing the first two games. It introduces the story and supplies background through dialogue, introductory scenes, and its in-game codex. Playing the earlier games adds continuity and context for callbacks; it is not a prerequisite for following the third game’s central premise.
What you need to know before starting The Witcher 3
The official premise is straightforward: Geralt of Rivia searches for his adopted daughter, Ciri, while the spectral Wild Hunt pursues her. The game introduces that conflict on its own, and its dialogue, opening scenes, and codex help explain relevant people and events. You may encounter returning characters or references that mean more if you know the earlier games, but the main story is not locked behind them. CD PROJEKT RED’s official game page outlines the premise and the choices that can affect allies, enemies, and the wider world.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition - PC | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PC-DVD) | $18.52 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Namco Bandai The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game Of The Year Edition | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Choose the path that suits you
| Start with The Witcher 3 | Play The Witcher 1 and 2 first |
|---|---|
| Get to the game you are interested in sooner; its own scenes, dialogue, and codex provide orientation. | Experience more of Geralt’s game-world history in sequence and recognize more callbacks. |
| A good fit if you are mainly interested in the third game or have limited time. | A good fit if you enjoy chronological progression and are open to older RPGs. |
| You can return to the earlier games later if the setting grabs you. | Still optional: they are not required to understand The Witcher 3’s central premise. |
PC Gamer’s series-entry guide likewise treats the first two games as optional. Its view that The Witcher 2 is worth visiting and The Witcher has aged less well is a subjective recommendation, not a rule about what you must play.
Are the books required too?
No. The novels are another optional way to get more background, but you do not need to read them to begin The Witcher 3. The same distinction applies: additional familiarity can deepen recognition and context, but it is not necessary to understand the game’s main setup.
#1 Best Overall
- Play as a highly trained monster slayer for hire.
- Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth and complexity.
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year edition brings together the base game and all the additional content released to date.
Which version of The Witcher 3 should you get?
CD PROJEKT RED announced on September 29, 2026 that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered was available, with the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions included. The announcement lists free upgrades for existing owners on GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, as well as for Switch 2 players who own the original Switch version. It lists Battle.net and the Microsoft Store as purchase options. Availability can vary by platform and region, so check the current store listing for your system and edition rather than assuming every option applies everywhere. Read CD PROJEKT RED’s announcement.
That edition information does not change the answer about the earlier games: if you want to play the third game, you can begin there.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- Italian edition.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
