The Witcher began as books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. Later came the CD PROJEKT RED games and the Netflix series. They share characters, but they are separate works. Here are only the facts, plus a simple suggestion.
Key takeaways
- The games use Sapkowski's characters but tell new stories; he was not involved beyond the in-game map.
- The Netflix series adapts the books, season by season.
- Witcher 3 is playable on its own, and you can start with it.
- Witcher 4 is a new story that is different from the book-based trilogy.
The books
The saga has five novels, starting with Blood of Elves. Two short story collections, The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny, come first in reading order. Season of Storms and Crossroads of Ravens are prequels.
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The Netflix series
| Season | Premiere | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 20, 2019 | The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny |
| 2 | Dec 17, 2021 | Blood of Elves, start of Time of Contempt |
| 3 | June and July 2023 | Time of Contempt and more |
| 4 | Oct 30, 2025 | Baptism of Fire, Tower of the Swallow |
Season 5 was renewed as the final season. Henry Cavill played Geralt in seasons 1 to 3, and Liam Hemsworth took over in season 4. A report says season 5 may slip to 2027, but Netflix has not confirmed that.
The games
The three main games came out in 2007, 2011 and 2015. They continue after the books. Witcher 3 added a quest inspired by the show in its 2022 update. See our order to play.
Do the stories match?
Not exactly. The show changes and reorders some book events, and the games continue the world with their own plot. So spoilers from one are not always spoilers for another. Each source is a fresh telling of the same world.
A simple way to start
- Want the shortest path? Start with Witcher 3 Remastered.
- Want the original tales? Read The Last Wish.
- Want a TV watch? Begin with season 1.
Ready to play? Try the beginner guide or the Witcher hub.
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