The success of the new Netflix series The Witcher has sent interest streaming back to the games developed by CD Projekt Red. Specifically, sales of The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt have spiked again. So many newcomers climbing on board this late in the game begs the question: Do the games need to be played in order?
Typically a story should be enjoyed from start to finish. But try telling that to the likes of Quentin Tarantino. The point being if it's done well, the story doesn't necessarily have to fall chronologically, and The Witcher 3 is a very well-crafted game.
The Witcher universe is an expansive one, and anyone who has been drawn in by it would do well to fully immerse themselves in all of the lore, books included. Here lies the main argument for starting the experience from the beginning. Having all of the background knowledge will profoundly enrich the player's experience in The Witcher 3 and make gameplay all the more enjoyable.
That being said, the game's third installment is very well laid out and does an exceptional job of bringing players up to speed with what's been happening in the universe. The Witcher 3's apt synopsis of events enables players to skip to the third game without feeling entirely out of the loop.
While not necessarily ill-crafted, the first two games did not age well as far as mechanics are concerned and might be a bit cringe-worthy for some to play through. The gameplay doesn't dampen the enjoyability of the storylines, which culminate in Geralt recovering his memories. It's interesting to experience Geralt's amnesia, but the games don't go into detail of what Geralt has remembered. Those wanting more background on this will need to delve into the books eventually anyways.
So, is it imperative that players experience The Witcher 1 & 2 before breaking into The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt? No, the third installment does a commendable job of bringing newcomers up to date with no prior knowledge of the world's lore. However, any true fan of the fantasy genre will find it hard to resist delving into the complexities of a universe with such a vast and intriguing history.
It comes down to the player's personality. Someone just looking for solid gameplay and an enticing story will be more than satisfied jumping right into The Witcher 3. When it comes to experiencing the entire universe and discovering all of its lore, everybody is going to have a different opinion. Some say enjoy The Witcher 3 on its own, then go back and experience the entire story, starting with the books. Others are chronological traditionalists, and others still go full Tarantino, throwing timelines out the window and merely enjoying the lore.
Source: Reddit