Is Witcher 1 and 2 Canon?

▶

The Witcher games, based on the book series by Andrzej Sapkowski, have alternative versions or free adaptations with elements of his work, and thus, are not considered canon. The games are set after the events of the last book in the series, with the first game picking up after the events from the final book, Lady of the Lake, and the story told in the first game’s main plot continuing in The Witcher 2.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

1. Are The Witcher 1 and 2 connected?: The two games are almost mutually exclusive from each other in terms of story, with only small bits connecting the two together, and very little of what happens in Witcher 1 is even mentioned in Witcher 2.
2. Do Witcher 1 and 2 follow the books?: The games follow the books to an extent but take some creative liberties, with the first game’s plot created by CD Projekt Red with Sapkowski’s permission.
3. Are The Witcher 1 adventures canon?: None of the games are considered canon, they’re not part of the games’ main narrative, not referenced anywhere within it.

Sequels and Prequels

4. Is Witcher 1 and 2 connected to 3?: The Witcher 3 is a sequel, taking place roughly six-seven months after the events of The Witcher 2, but you don’t need to play the previous games to enjoy this one.
5. Does Witcher 2 spoil the books?: The second game gives almost no explanation to what’s happening, as its story continues from the first game and only introduces a few book characters, but spoils the ending of the books as Geralt recovers his memory.
6. Should I skip Witcher 1 and play 2?: Players that skip the first game will miss a worthwhile story, but a simple one that doesn’t hold much importance for the remainder of the trilogy, though it leads into Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings’ storyline.

Watching and Playing Order

7. Do I need to play The Witcher 1 and 2 before 3?: While The Witcher 2 is a definite improvement over the previous games, it’s still unnecessary to play to enjoy The Witcher 3, with a mechanic in place allowing players who started on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to determine Geralt’s choices throughout the second game.
8. Should I play Witcher 3 without playing 1 and 2?: You can easily play Witcher 3 without any knowledge of the series, though you might miss a lot of references later in the game.
9. Which Witcher should I watch first?: For new fans, watching The Witcher: Blood Origin is an ideal way to jump into The Witcher universe, but it’s not necessary to watch Blood Origin before watching the first two seasons of The Witcher.

Characters and Cast

10. Is the first Witcher a girl?: There are various witchers in Sapkowski’s world, but they are all male, with various sorceresses having different skills and training.
11. Who is Geralt’s canon lover?: Yennefer of Vengerberg is decisively Geralt’s true love, both in The Witcher 3 and in the series as a whole.
12. Who was the first Witcher canon?: The name of the first Witcher ever is Alzur, as Sapkowski says in his book, created by Cosimo Malaspina and his student Alzur.

Playing the Games

13. Is Witcher 1 better than 2?: Witcher 1 was longer and had a compelling story, but the gameplay mechanics were not as polished as The Witcher 2, which has better gameplay mechanics and a more focused story.
14. Why Witcher 2 is better than 3?: By being more linear, The Witcher 2 feels more focused and to the point, having quests and side quests that don’t deviate too much from the base plot.
15. Is Witcher 2 worth playing 2023?: The Witcher 2 is still worth playing in 2023, with decent graphics and a nice story, though it’s nothing like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.