The Witcher series is one of the most celebrated RPG franchises in gaming history. What started as a janky but ambitious first attempt by a small Polish studio evolved into The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — a game that redefined open-world storytelling and won over 800 Game of the Year awards. Based on Andrzej Sapkowski's beloved fantasy novels, the games follow Geralt of Rivia, a genetically mutated monster slayer navigating a morally gray world where the line between human and monster is often blurry. This guide covers every game in the series, every expansion, and every spin-off — plus the best places to buy them cheap.
CD Projekt Red: From Polish Upstart to Industry Legend
CD Projekt Red was founded in 2002 in Warsaw, Poland, by Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kiciński. The company started as a game distributor and localizer — they were the first to bring titles like Baldur's Gate to the Polish market with full Polish localization. Using their distribution profits, they decided to make their own game: a faithful adaptation of Sapkowski's Witcher books, which were already a cultural phenomenon in Poland but largely unknown internationally. Working with BioWare's Aurora Engine, a team of just over 100 people shipped The Witcher in 2007. The rest is history — each subsequent game grew in ambition, budget, and critical acclaim. Today, CD Projekt Red is valued at over $4 billion and runs GOG.com, the DRM-free gaming platform. Not bad for a company that started in a friend's apartment.
The Story So Far: The Witcher Universe
The Witcher saga follows Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter mutated and trained from childhood at the School of the Wolf. In Sapkowski's world, magic, politics, and racial tensions collide — elves and dwarves face persecution, kingdoms scheme against each other, and monsters are often the least of humanity's problems. The games take place after the events of the novels (though CD Projekt Red treats them as a non-canon continuation), following Geralt as he regains his memories and becomes entangled in wars, prophecies, and his deep bonds with sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg, his adopted daughter Ciri, and fellow witchers like Vesemir, Eskel, and Lambert. The series' signature strength is its moral ambiguity — quests rarely have a "right" answer, decisions have consequences that unfold hours later, and even side quests contain fully realized narrative arcs.
Every Major Witcher Game — Reviewed & Ranked
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — The Masterpiece (2015)
Not just the best Witcher game — one of the greatest games ever made. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt9.01 €
2. The Witcher 3 Expansions: Hearts of Stone & Blood and Wine — DLC Done Right
CD Projekt Red set the benchmark for what expansions should be. Hearts of Stone3.09 €
3. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings — The Breakthrough (2011)
The game that put CD Projekt Red on the global map. The Witcher 2 Enhanced Edition is a tight, politically charged RPG with branching narrative so significant that the entire second act is completely different depending on a choice you make at the end of Act I. The story follows Geralt as he's framed for the murder of a king and must navigate the brutal politics of the Northern Kingdoms while tracking down the real killer — another witcher. Combat is challenging and deliberate (use Quen!), the visuals still hold up thanks to CDPR's proprietary REDengine, and the 30-hour campaign has zero filler. Available on GOG1.48 €
4. The Witcher: Enhanced Edition — The Humble Beginning (2007)
Where it all started — rough around the edges but overflowing with atmosphere. The Witcher: Enhanced Edition uses a modified Aurora Engine and shows its age: clunky animations, dated graphics, and a peculiar rhythm-based combat system (click when the cursor flashes!). But the writing, atmosphere, and moral ambiguity that define the series are already fully formed here. The story is set in and around Vizima, capital of Temeria, and adapts Sapkowski's short stories while weaving an original plot about a mysterious organization stealing witcher secrets. The Enhanced Edition fixes bugs, adds better English voice acting, and includes additional quests. It's the longest game in the trilogy (40-60 hours) and, while dated, rewards patient players with some of the best quest writing in the genre. Essential for lore fans — especially the revelations about Alvin and the Grandmaster.
5. Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales — The Hidden Gem (2018)
A criminally overlooked spin-off that deserves far more attention. Thronebreaker6.60 €
6. The Witcher Adventure Game — The Tabletop Experience (2014)
A digital adaptation of the physical board game set in the Witcher world. The Witcher Adventure Game2.16 €
7. GWENT: The Witcher Card Game — Free-to-Play Excellence
What started as a minigame inside The Witcher 3 became a full standalone CCG. GWENT is a round-based card game where bluffing and resource management matter more than pure card strength. GWENT Ultimate Starter Pack29.99 €
The Best Way to Buy: Bundles vs. Individual
If you're new to the series and want everything:
- The Witcher Trilogy: The Witcher Trilogy on GOG23.11 €bundles all three main games at the best price. This is the definitive way to start the series — three masterpieces, one purchase.7 images ›
- Wild Hunt GOTY/Complete: If you only want to play the best one, the GOTY Edition10.25 € or Complete Edition10.78 € includes the base game plus both expansions at a heavy discount.
- Expansions only: Already own the base game? The Expansion Pass6.85 € gets you Hearts of Stone + Blood and Wine.
Which Witcher Game Should You Play First?
There's no wrong answer, but here are three recommended paths:
The Completionist Path
- The Witcher: Enhanced Edition — Start from the beginning. The dated combat may frustrate, but the story sets up everything.
- The Witcher 2: Enhanced Edition — A huge leap in quality. Import your W1 save for continuity.
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt + Expansions — The grand finale. Import your W2 save or simulate choices.
- Thronebreaker — A lovely epilogue exploring a different part of the world.
The Modern Gamer Path
- The Witcher 2: Enhanced Edition — Still looks and plays great. A tight 30-hour RPG.
- The Witcher 3: Complete/GOTY Edition — 150+ hours of the best RPG ever made.
- Thronebreaker — If you still want more Witcher after all that.
The "Just One Game" Path
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt GOTY Edition — The best game in the series, standalone enough to enjoy without prior knowledge. Watch a story recap on YouTube for W1/W2 context, then dive in. You'll get 150+ hours of content in one package.
Understanding The Witcher's RPG Systems
The Witcher series isn't your typical RPG. Here's what makes it tick:
- Preparation beats reflexes: Before fighting a tough monster, read the bestiary entry. Apply the right oil to your blade, drink the appropriate potions, equip the right bombs. A prepared witcher is five times more effective than a reckless one. This is baked into the lore — witchers are monster experts, not just warriors.
- Choices have teeth: The Witcher's signature is morally complex choices where there's often no "good" outcome — just different shades of gray. In W3's Bloody Baron questline, what seems like the merciful choice can lead to tragic consequences hours later. Save often, but also learn to live with your decisions — the game is better when you don't savescum every outcome.
- Signs and swords: Combat blends swordplay with five magical Signs: Aard (telekinetic blast), Igni (fire), Yrden (magic trap), Quen (shield), and Axii (mind control). W3's combat is more fluid, while W2 and W1 require more tactical approach. On higher difficulties, using the right Sign for each enemy type is mandatory.
- Gwent is not optional: The in-game card game in W3 is so good it spawned its own standalone game. Collect cards by beating NPCs, buy them from innkeepers, and build your deck. Northern Realms siege-heavy or Nilfgaard spy-spam are common strategies. It's genuinely one of the best minigames in RPG history.
- Alchemy matters: Unlike Skyrim where you can hoard potions forever, Witcher potions and bombs replenish when you meditate (using strong alcohol). This encourages actually using your alchemy instead of saving everything "for later." W1 and W2 require you to gather ingredients; W3 simplifies this significantly.
Platform Guide: Steam vs. GOG vs. Console
- GOG.com (Recommended): CD Projekt owns GOG, so Witcher games there are DRM-free, often cheaper, and 100% of the purchase supports the developer directly. GOG versions also include extras like soundtracks, wallpapers, and artbooks.
- Steam: Works great, achievements, Steam Deck compatibility (W3 is Verified). Often slightly more expensive than GOG for Witcher titles.
- Xbox: W2 and W3 are available on Xbox with backward compatibility. W3 runs at 60 FPS on Series X|S via a free next-gen update.
- PlayStation: W3 only. The Complete Edition on PS5 includes the next-gen update with ray tracing.
Why The Witcher Series Still Matters in 2026
Over a decade after the first game launched, The Witcher remains the gold standard for narrative-driven RPGs. CD Projekt Red didn't just make great games — they changed player expectations about what side quests could be, what downloadable content should cost and contain, and how to treat your audience with respect (the 16 free DLCs for W3, the massive free next-gen update). Yes, Cyberpunk 2077's launch was famously rough, but CDPR spent years fixing it and is now working on The Witcher 4 (codenamed Polaris) — built in Unreal Engine 5, marking a new saga. There has never been a better time to experience the original trilogy. With games regularly on sale for 80-90% off, you can get the entire saga — three masterpieces, two legendary expansions, and a superb spin-off — for less than the price of a single new release.
Browse our full catalog for The Witcher deals, bundles, and other must-play RPGs at CDKeysIsland. Whether you're a first-time witcher or returning for another playthrough, we've got every adventure at the best prices.
