Play the main series in this order: The Witcher (2007), The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (2011), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015), Hearts of Stone (2015), then Blood and Wine (2016). That sequence follows release order, preserves Geralt’s continuing storyline, and puts The Witcher 3’s expansions in their recommended order. Thronebreaker is an optional story game after the trilogy; GWENT is an optional card game, not a required story chapter.
The complete recommended order
The safest first playthrough is the release sequence below. The first two games establish the post-book continuity of Geralt’s game adventures, The Witcher 3 brings that trilogy to its large open-world conclusion, and the expansions extend its world after you have reached the third game.
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| Order | Game | Release year | How it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Witcher | 2007 | Beginning of the game continuity |
| 2 | The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings | 2011 | Direct continuation of the main RPG line |
| 3 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 2015 | Open-world conclusion of the trilogy |
| 4 | Hearts of Stone | 2015 | First The Witcher 3 expansion |
| 5 | Blood and Wine | 2016 | Second The Witcher 3 expansion and final stop in this sequence |
“Release order” and “story order” are effectively the same for the main games. There is no advantage to starting with the third game and then going backward if your goal is to understand the full character and political arc. Starting at the beginning also lets you see how the series’ role-playing systems and presentation develop from one entry to the next.
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Why The Witcher 1 should come before The Witcher 3
The Witcher 3 is designed to be approachable, but it is not an isolated story. It assumes that Geralt’s earlier game history exists and gives more weight to returning relationships, past decisions and political developments when you know the first two games.
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The first game establishes the game-specific version of Geralt after the events associated with the books. The second builds directly on that continuity and places Geralt in a larger conflict. By the time you reach The Witcher 3, the personal and political context has accumulated across both earlier RPGs.
- Play The Witcher first if you want the fullest character progression and do not mind starting with an older role-playing game.
- Play The Witcher 2 next because it is the bridge between the first game and Wild Hunt.
- Do not treat The Witcher 3 as a prequel. It is the third main chapter, not an alternate starting timeline.
You can begin with Wild Hunt if modern graphics and an open-world format are your priorities, but that is a convenience choice rather than the complete story order. You will encounter references and returning characters without the earlier context.
What to expect from each main game
1. The Witcher (2007)
The 2007 game is the starting point for the game continuity. It introduces the version of Geralt and the world that the later games continue. Its age is important when setting expectations: the interface, combat feel and pacing reflect its release period rather than the more streamlined design of Wild Hunt.
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Play it first if continuity matters more to you than immediate accessibility. Give yourself time to learn its systems instead of judging the entire series by the first few hours. Completing it also makes the second game’s returning conflicts easier to follow.
2. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (2011)
The second game continues Geralt’s post-first-game story and is the necessary middle chapter of the main trilogy. It is shorter and more directed than Wild Hunt, which makes it a useful transition from the first game’s older design to the third game’s expansive structure.
Do not skip it solely because Wild Hunt is more famous. The second game supplies the immediate continuity that Wild Hunt inherits. If you must abbreviate your playthrough, use a reliable story summary for the first game rather than pretending that the second is unrelated; the two games together establish the background that Wild Hunt develops.
3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)
Wild Hunt is the large open-world conclusion of the trilogy. It is the point at which the earlier personal and political threads come together at the broadest scale. Its size means that the main plot and optional content can occupy you for considerably longer than the earlier games.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFinish the base game’s major storyline before judging where to place the expansions. Both expansions are associated with Wild Hunt, but they are separate narrative packages rather than replacements for the main campaign.
4. Hearts of Stone (2015)
Hearts of Stone is the first Wild Hunt expansion in release order. Play it before Blood and Wine. Keeping that order avoids reversing the expansion line and preserves the intended progression of the additional stories.
You can start Hearts of Stone after reaching the third game, but waiting until you are comfortable with Wild Hunt’s systems makes the transition smoother. Treat it as an extension of the Wild Hunt experience, not as a separate prequel to the trilogy.
5. Blood and Wine (2016)
Blood and Wine is the second expansion and the final stop in the recommended first-play sequence. Its placement after Hearts of Stone follows the release timeline and gives you the complete set of currently released Wild Hunt story content before moving to optional spin-offs.
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- 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.
If you want one clear ending point for the Geralt games, finish Blood and Wine last. That does not make every side story in the setting chronologically later; it simply makes it the correct final entry in this main-game-and-expansion route.
Where Thronebreaker fits
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales (2018)
Thronebreaker is an optional, self-contained single-player campaign set in the Witcher setting. It is not required to understand Geralt’s three-game arc, and it does not need to be inserted between The Witcher 1, 2 and 3.
The cleanest placement is after you finish the main trilogy and its expansions. At that point you have the complete Geralt-focused route and can approach Thronebreaker as another narrative game in the same universe. Playing it earlier will not repair a gap in Geralt’s story because it is a separate campaign.
- Choose Thronebreaker after the trilogy when you want another single-player narrative.
- Skip it for now if your only goal is Geralt’s three-game storyline.
- Do not list it as Witcher 4. It is a distinct campaign, not the next numbered Geralt RPG.
Is GWENT part of the story?
GWENT: The Witcher Card Game (2018)
CD PROJEKT RED describes GWENT as a free-to-play strategic collectible card game in the Witcher universe. It is an optional competitive game, not a required chapter in the narrative progression.
GWENT matches should not be counted as canonical plot steps in a play order. You can play it before, during or after the RPGs without changing the recommended story sequence. If you are building a chronological checklist, place it in an “optional side content” category rather than between Wild Hunt and its expansions.
| Game | Format | Required for Geralt’s arc? | Recommended placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales | Self-contained single-player campaign | No | After the main trilogy and expansions |
| GWENT: The Witcher Card Game | Competitive/collectible card game | No | Any time; outside the story order |
Release order versus story order
Readers sometimes expect a separate chronological order that rearranges the games. For the released games covered here, that creates more confusion than clarity. CD PROJEKT RED’s dated releases give a dependable sequence for the main continuity:
- The Witcher — 2007
- The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings — 2011
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — 2015
- Hearts of Stone — 2015
- Blood and Wine — 2016
The available official descriptions provide release dates and product descriptions, not a scene-by-scene chronology for every spin-off. For that reason, keep the numbered trilogy and its expansions together, then treat Thronebreaker and GWENT as optional side content. That approach avoids claiming a precise chronology that has not been established for every separate product.
Which route should you choose?
| Your priority | Best route | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Complete narrative continuity | The Witcher → The Witcher 2 → The Witcher 3 → Hearts of Stone → Blood and Wine | Requires adapting to the oldest game first |
| Modern entry point | The Witcher 3 → Hearts of Stone → Blood and Wine | Earlier game context and returning relationships will be less familiar |
| Another single-player Witcher story | Finish the main route, then Thronebreaker | It is a separate campaign, not a continuation of Geralt’s numbered arc |
| Card-game play | GWENT at any time | Matches are not story progression |
If you are new to the series
Use the five-step route if you have the time and want the story in the order it was built. This gives each game’s returning characters and consequences the strongest context. Expect the largest jump in scale when moving from The Witcher 2 to Wild Hunt.
If you only want one game
Choose The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It is the modern entry point and the trilogy’s open-world conclusion, but it is still a later chapter. Read a concise account of the first two games if you want to recognize the background rather than entering without preparation.
If you want the modern entry point in one purchase
Look for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition. Before buying, verify the platform, region and listing details, including whether that specific edition includes both Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. Editions and availability can differ by storefront, so the product name alone is not a substitute for checking the included content.
How to handle the expansions
- Complete enough of Wild Hunt to understand its systems. Learn the core combat, exploration and quest structure before adding expansion content.
- Start Hearts of Stone first. It is the earlier expansion in the release sequence.
- Move to Blood and Wine after Hearts of Stone. This preserves the expansion order and gives you a clear final destination for the Geralt route.
- Check your edition’s contents. A listing may sell the base game, an expansion pass or the Complete Edition; confirm what is actually included for your platform and region.
The order above is about narrative placement, not a requirement that every player finish every optional quest before moving on. If you prefer to keep the main campaign and expansion stories distinct, complete the base game’s central route, then play Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine as separate follow-on chapters.
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- Gruesomely destroy foes as a professional monster hunter armed with a range of upgradeable weapons, mutating potions, and combat magic.
- Hunt down a wide variety of exotic monsters, from savage beasts prowling mountain passes to cunning supernatural predators lurking in the shadowy back alleys of densely populated cities. Invest your rewards to upgrade your weaponry and buy custom armor, or spend them on horse races, card games, fist fighting, and other pleasures life brings.
- EXPLORE A MORALLY AMBIGUOUS FANTASY OPEN WORLD: Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth, and complexity. Traverse a fantastical open world: explore forgotten ruins, caves, and shipwrecks, trade with merchants and dwarven smiths in cities, and hunt across the open plains, mountains, and seas. Deal with treasonous generals, devious witches, and corrupt royalty to provide dark and dangerous services. Make choices that go beyond good & evil, and face their far-reaching consequences.
- TRACK DOWN THE CHILD OF PROPHECY: Take on the most important contract of your life: to track down the child of prophecy, the key to saving or destroying this world. In times of war, chase down the child of prophecy, a living weapon foretold by ancient elven legends. Struggle against ferocious rulers, spirits of the wilds, and even a threat from beyond the veil – all hell-bent on controlling this world. Define your destiny in a world that may not be worth saving.
Current status as of October 2026
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered launched on September 29, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and Battle.net. CD PROJEKT RED describes it as a free upgrade for qualifying existing owners.
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Songs of the Past
CD PROJEKT RED has announced Songs of the Past, a paid third expansion for The Witcher 3 planned for 2027 on current-generation platforms. It introduces the new region of Letten.
Because it is announced rather than released, do not add it to a “play now” order. When it becomes available, confirm its final release date, supported platforms and placement from the publisher’s current information. For the released sequence today, Blood and Wine remains the last expansion listed above.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Starting with GWENT because it is free
GWENT’s free-to-play format does not make it the first story chapter. It is a competitive collectible card game, so begin with The Witcher if you want the narrative.
Putting Thronebreaker between The Witcher 2 and The Witcher 3
Thronebreaker is self-contained and is not required for the Geralt continuity. Keep it after the main route unless you specifically want to play it as an independent Witcher-setting campaign.
Playing Blood and Wine before Hearts of Stone
Both are Wild Hunt expansions, but Hearts of Stone was released first. Follow Hearts of Stone with Blood and Wine to preserve the intended expansion sequence.
Assuming a newer edition changes the story order
The 2026 Remastered release changes the available version and supported platforms, not the position of Wild Hunt in the trilogy. Use the same sequence regardless of whether you play the original release or a qualifying remastered version.
Expecting every spin-off to have a confirmed chronological slot
Official product descriptions establish that Thronebreaker and GWENT are different types of Witcher games, but they do not provide a complete scene-by-scene chronology for every spin-off. The reliable advice is to preserve the main trilogy and expansion order and label the other games optional.
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| Title | Year | Main character focus | Story status | Play before or after the core route? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Witcher | 2007 | Geralt | Core opening chapter | Before The Witcher 2 |
| The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings | 2011 | Geralt | Core middle chapter | Before The Witcher 3 |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 2015 | Geralt | Core conclusion | Before both expansions |
| Hearts of Stone | 2015 | Geralt | Wild Hunt expansion | Before Blood and Wine |
| Blood and Wine | 2016 | Geralt | Wild Hunt expansion | Last in the recommended Geralt route |
| Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales | 2018 | Separate campaign | Optional side story | After the core route |
| GWENT: The Witcher Card Game | 2018 | Card-game play | Optional competitive game | Any time; not a story chapter |
Bottom line
For a complete first playthrough, use The Witcher → The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings → The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt → Hearts of Stone → Blood and Wine. Add Thronebreaker afterward if you want a separate single-player campaign, and play GWENT whenever you like without treating its matches as part of the plot. Do not include the announced 2027 Songs of the Past in a current play order until it has actually released.
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