Witcher 3.

Should I play Witcher 1 and 2 before playing Witcher 3?

Iirc, the main character has amnesia going into 3 and has forgotten the events of 1 and 2 so it's almost more true to form to start blind with 3.

Someone else should confirm that though.

Personally I could not get into the first two games at all. But I loved TW3. Didn't feel like I was missing out on anything.

no

Imo yes, at least 1.

Witcher 1 writing is great and explains what exactly a Witcher is. There's some good lore here that can help understand the general world of Witcher in later games. Do install a speed mod on PC though some parts just are too big.

Witcher 2 helps expand on the world building but I feel like it was less crucial to the whole thing. Also gameplay is clunky (it wasn't good in 1 but 1 felt more like a traditional RPG).

Anyway if you don't there are actual encyclopedia entries in 3 to explain things and people as you play

Dalthine posted...

Iirc, the main character has amnesia going into 3 and has forgotten the events of 1 and 2 so it's almost more true to form to start blind with 3.

Someone else should confirm that though.

The amnesia is in witcher 1, not 3. If you don't transfer a save file you even get a re-cap/choice at the beginning of 3 where Geralt gets asked on the choices he would have made in witcher 2.