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No. CD PROJEKT RED has not said that you must play or finish The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt before The Witcher IV. The developer describes the new game as the start of a saga led by Ciri and recommends The Witcher 3 for players who want to discover the story beforehand. Treat it as optional background, not a required entry.
What CD PROJEKT RED has said about The Witcher IV
When CD PROJEKT RED revealed The Witcher IV on December 13, 2024, it called the game the first entry in a new Witcher saga and identified Ciri as its protagonist. The company also describes it as a successor to The Witcher 3. Those points establish a connection to the earlier game, but they do not amount to a requirement to play it first. CD PROJEKT RED’s announcement and official Witcher IV page do not state that players must complete any previous game.
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The official announcement promotes The Witcher 3 with the wording “DISCOVER THE STORY BEFORE THE WITCHER IV.” That is an invitation for players who want more context, not confirmation that the new game is inaccessible or incomprehensible without it. The sources do not spell out every continuity detail or explain how earlier events will be handled in the full game, so it would be premature to promise that skipping The Witcher 3 has no effect on references or emotional context.
What you gain by playing The Witcher 3 first
Playing The Witcher 3 gives you background on the world and Ciri’s relationship with Geralt, her adopted father. That context may make their history and the wider setting more meaningful when you begin a new story centered on her. CD PROJEKT RED’s recommendation to discover the earlier story beforehand makes this a sensible route if you enjoy following characters and their relationships across games.
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#1 Best Overall
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- 1205504
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The reveal’s cinematic trailer follows a village monster contract, which CD PROJEKT RED describes as a “short, self-contained Witcher story.” That description applies to the trailer’s story; it should not be taken as evidence that the entire game is disconnected from earlier events.
Choose the route that suits you
| Route | What it offers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Start with The Witcher IV | No need to finish an earlier game first, based on the developer’s published statements. The sources do not detail every continuity reference in the full game. | Players who want to begin with Ciri’s new saga or would rather not take on another game beforehand. |
| Play The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt first | Background on Ciri, Geralt, and the Witcher world; CD PROJEKT RED recommends discovering its story before The Witcher IV. | Players who want more character and setting context before moving to the new saga. |
The cited announcements do not give a playtime estimate for preparing with The Witcher 3, nor do they say whether choices or save data from earlier games carry forward. You do not need to wait for those details to decide whether to play it: choose based on whether the extra story context is worth your time.
Rank #2
- Value for money
- Good product with exc\
- Perfect puzzling: Puzzles slowly increase in complexity enabling seamless progression and rewarding exploration.
If you decide to play The Witcher 3
The game is sold as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition. Bandai Namco’s official page lists physical and digital editions, including PS5 and Xbox Series X versions: check the official listing for the edition and platform relevant to you. Availability and stock can vary by region and retailer.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- From The Witcher, Ciri, as a stylized POP vinyl from Funko
- Stylized collectable stands 3 ¾ inches tall, perfect for any The Witcher fan
- Collect and display all The Witcher POP Vinyls
Rank #3
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