GameTimeline

Watch order

The Witcher Netflix timeline

Netflix's Witcher live-action seasons, animated films, and Blood Origin in US release order—with a recommended watch path, book-source notes, and a clear split from CD Projekt's game timeline on the games page.

Updated July 2026

Release order

When each Witcher Netflix season, special, or animated film premiered in the US—one row per season or standalone film. Season 3 released in two volumes (June and July 2023) but counts as one season here.

  • Recommended fiction path → Season 1 → Nightmare of the Wolf (optional) → Season 2 → Season 3 → Season 4
  • Blood Origin → optional prequel—watch anytime; set 1,200 years before Geralt
  • Sirens of the Deep and The Rats → optional side films (2025)
  • Games and books → separate pages; Netflix is its own adaptation layer
Story order tips

When events happen in the show's fiction—Blood Origin in the ancient Continent, then Geralt's saga from short-story era through Baptism of Fire material in Season 4. The Netflix timeline differs from both books and games.

  • Main show → short stories (S1) → Blood of Elves (S2) → Time of Contempt (S3) → Baptism of Fire (S4)—with changes
  • Blood Origin → ancient Elven history and the first witcher prototype
  • Do not merge Netflix story years into game Story rows on /witcher
  • Season 5 planned as the final Netflix season—FAQ only as of July 2026

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. The Witcher — Season 1

    The Witcher — Season 1

    NetflixTV seriesLive-action

    Eight episodes—Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri introduced across three timelines.

    Overview
    Henry Cavill as Geralt—adapted from The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny short stories.
    In-game setting
    Separate from CDPR games; uses book characters with a nonlinear Season 1 structure.
    Should you play it?
    Start here for the Netflix Continent.
    Release date
    US Netflix premiere December 20, 2019 (eight episodes).
  2. The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf

    The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf

    NetflixAnimationFilm

    Vesemir's origin—animated prequel to the live-action show.

    Overview
    Studio Mir anime film—Theo James voices young Vesemir before Richard Wilson in Season 2.
    In-game setting
    Optional but helpful before Kaer Morhen scenes in Season 2.
    Should you play it?
    Watch after Season 1, before Season 2, for Vesemir context.
    Release date
    US Netflix premiere August 23, 2021.
  3. The Witcher — Season 2

    The Witcher — Season 2

    NetflixTV seriesLive-action

    Eight episodes—Geralt and Ciri at Kaer Morhen; Blood of Elves arc.

    Overview
    Linear season adapting the first main Witcher novel, Blood of Elves.
    In-game setting
    Ciri training arc—parallel themes to games but different plot beats.
    Should you play it?
    Direct continuation after Season 1.
    Release date
    US Netflix premiere December 17, 2021.
  4. The Witcher: Blood Origin

    The Witcher: Blood Origin

    NetflixTV seriesPrequel

    Four episodes—1,200 years before Geralt; the first witcher prototype.

    Overview
    Live-action limited series—Michelle Yeoh as warrior elf Scian; original story, not a direct book adaptation.
    In-game setting
    Explains witcher origins in Netflix fiction only—not game or book canon 1:1.
    Should you play it?
    Optional—watch anytime; no impact on Season 2–3 continuity.
    Release date
    US Netflix premiere December 25, 2022 (four episodes).
  5. The Witcher — Season 3

    The Witcher — Season 3

    NetflixTV seriesLive-action

    Eight episodes in two volumes—Time of Contempt and the Thanedd coup.

    Overview
    Volume 1 (five episodes) June 29; Volume 2 (three episodes) July 27, 2023—Henry Cavill's final season as Geralt.
    In-game setting
    Political mage war storyline—no direct game equivalent.
    Should you play it?
    Watch both volumes back-to-back—one story arc.
    Release date
    US Netflix premiere June 29, 2023 (Volume 1); July 27, 2023 (Volume 2).
  6. The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep

    The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep

    NetflixAnimationFilm

    Animated film—Jaskier and a merfolk romance from Sword of Destiny.

    Overview
    Studio Mir follow-up to Nightmare of the Wolf—based on the short story A Little Sacrifice.
    In-game setting
    Side story—optional for Netflix fans; not tied to game plots.
    Should you play it?
    Optional anytime after Season 1–2 if you know Jaskier.
    Release date
    US Netflix premiere February 11, 2025.
  7. The Rats: A Witcher Tale

    The Rats: A Witcher Tale

    NetflixLive-actionSpecial

    Feature special—the Rats gang before Ciri joins them in Season 3.

    Overview
    Released alongside Season 4—fills in the Rats' backstory from Baptism of Fire material.
    In-game setting
    Optional recap for Season 3–4 Ciri street-arc threads.
    Should you play it?
    Watch before Season 4 if you skipped or forgot Season 3's Rats plot.
    Release date
    US Netflix premiere October 30, 2025.
  8. The Witcher — Season 4

    The Witcher — Season 4

    NetflixTV seriesLive-action

    Eight episodes—Liam Hemsworth debuts as Geralt; Baptism of Fire arc.

    Overview
    Geralt recast after Henry Cavill—continues Ciri's Rats arc and the hunt for Vilgefortz.
    In-game setting
    Still Netflix adaptation fiction—not Witcher 3 game plot.
    Should you play it?
    Latest main season as of July 2026.
    Release date
    US Netflix premiere October 30, 2025 (eight episodes).

FAQ

Watch vs Netflix release order, books vs show vs games, Blood Origin placement, and Liam Hemsworth as Geralt from Season 4.

Watch order

Henry Cavill played Geralt in Seasons 1–3 (final season July 2023). Liam Hemsworth took over as Geralt from Season 4 (October 2025). The story continues—no reboot.

Canon & games

The Witcher games timeline (/witcher) covers CD Projekt RED's trilogy (2008–2015) and Thronebreaker (2018). This page is Netflix film and TV only.

No. Netflix adapts Andrzej Sapkowski's books (with changes). CD Projekt's games branch after Witcher 1 and tell an original Geralt saga—especially Witcher 2 and 3. You can play the games without watching Netflix, and vice versa.

Optional & extras

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.