The Witcher 3 is one of the best games I’ve ever played, and I do think The Witcher 2 is worth trying going back to beforehand, considering how much the previous experience enhances the third game. I usually tell people that Chapter 1 (not the intro, which is good) is pretty rough. It’s a bit aimless and the first boss there can be too difficult for an early game challenge. After that, it really picks up and sprints through the finish line, in my view. I disagree quite a bit on the writing; I think there’s some excellent writing to be found in the game, both with an interesting core cast that continues its level of quality banter and intrigue into the sequel, and also on the politics of neutrality and the ripple effects that a set of small changes can have on the broader power struggles of the continent.

The Witcher 2 is also rare in that it has a genuine branching storyline. It’s not quite to the insane degree that Baldur’s Gate 3 went with it last year, but it’s still very much the kind of design modern AAA publishers/developers shy away from, not wanting to invest resources in whole swathes of the game that half your players aren’t going to see. Helps a lot for replay, especially since that first chapter gets smoothed out quite a bit once you know what you’re doing.