The Witcher...uncertain about his thoughts...
The Witcher...uncertain about his thoughts...
Ok this is coming from a big time RPG fan....it is main what I play...from Diablo to Dragon Age. And because that I started to look at the Witcher franchise after hearing about the great world, wonderful story and incredible character progression. I have played parts of 1 and 3....and honestly don't know what to think. Both games say hello...your name is Geralt of Rivia, the world is that way. Witcher 1 has one sentence about "we should find those that attacked us" Witcher 3 has one sentence about "omg....we almost found her" And then both shove you off a cliff into the world. I am all for open worlds.... and figure there is tons to explore but to be honest to get me hook on character progression and exploring the world and side questing forever and on and on...I usually need a tad more story to start a game off then "Dude...they shot at us!". I know there has to be a story in there somewhere but time I start 1 I lose interest after the 4th or 5th go and talk to another farmer side mission without a hint of story. So I guess my question to the Witcher fan out there....I am obviously giving up too quick (I know...I know) so how long does it take get into the story?
Focus on the central narrative while enjoying the broader experiences. The side activities aren't always tied to the main plot, and delivering straightforward explanations can feel unnatural for storytelling. You're likely losing momentum too soon—this game truly delivers strong writing and fresh content with each quest.
You might have a better grasp of the situation if you've read the books. However, the narrative begins gently to ease newcomers into the history, and it really picks up only when you reach Velen. Depending on how much you enjoy a sandbox experience, this can range from about an hour to ten hours of gameplay.
I recently completed Witcher 2 a few months back, which made it easy to jump into Witcher 3. I haven’t played the original game yet, nor have I read the books, but I got in quickly. I’d recommend taking your time with Witcher 3—there’s a lot for RPG enthusiasts.
I’m certain the books will assist, yet personally a RPG shouldn’t depend on a reading list.
This game strikes a perfect balance between readers and players. It offers depth for those who’ve studied it and immersion for those who enjoy playing. I believe starting with 1 gives you a solid understanding of the mechanics, while 2 sets the stage for the political intrigue that makes later stages more engaging. Flotsam adds richness but can feel repetitive without context. If you’re eager to dive into 3, skip it and tackle 2 first. Certain side quests in 3 matter, though they’re not prominent early on.
I am not denying that this is partly about Witcher 3...I mean the first good look you get at the world on Ultra would bring any console gamer to tears....that said it has been said it has been said and the resaid recently that the Witcher games as a series are amazing RPGs. And to be honest...as a fan of RPGs if I am handed 3 amazing ones...it seems silly to only play 2
If you need to, you can follow the main story a bit more. I didn’t feel the need to do that, so I could jump right in. I started with the idea of experiencing this bleak world and occasionally completing my personal quests too. You should still take some time exploring. The side missions are really well crafted—they’re not just simple tasks like collecting herbs. They tell their own little stories. For example, the pan fetch mission initially seemed like a simple fetch task but opened up many deeper questions about the world. There’s also that quest in White Orchard that really establishes the tone of the game and explains how Witchers operate. It feels better than many main quests in other RPGs. One thing to keep in mind is you’re not the hero of the story—you’re just a small monster hunter here, just there to fit in with the world.