The Witcher: How to watch Netflix's The Witcher in chronological and release order

Toss a coin to your witcher, The Witcher is back, sort of. On December 25, Netflix released The Witcher: Blood Origin.

This limited series takes place over 1200 years prior to the events of the main The Witcher show and will explore a time before witchers. This series explores the events leading up to the Conjunction of the Spheres – before the world of man, elf, monster would collide. If you’re new to the world of The Witcher or are a long-time fan, here’s how to watch the series in chronological and release order. Prepare your coins, this will be a spellbinding watch order!

The Witcher in chronological order

Like eating a sandwich, you might just say start at the beginning and work to the end - but like a sandwich, there's more than one way to enjoy this meal. In the case of the Witcher, there are some episodes that were released out of chronological order - that is to say, much of season one of The Witcher hop-scotched around in the timeline before settling into a single narrative journey.

And then, there is the prequel animated movie The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf and the prequel series The Witcher: Blood Origin.

So here, let us help.

Here's how to watch The Witcher in chronological order:

• The Witcher: Blood Origin, season one episode one 'Of Ballads, Brawlers, and Bloodied Blades' (2022)
• The Witcher: Blood Origin, season one episode two 'Of Dreams, Defiance, and Desperate Deeds' (2022)
• The Witcher: Blood Origin, season one episode three 'Of Warriors, Wakes, and Wondrous Worlds' (2022)
• The Witcher: Blood Origin, season one episode four 'Of Mages, Malice, and Monstrous Mayhem' (2022)
• The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021)
• The Witcher, season one episode two 'Four Marks' (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode three 'Betrayer Moon' (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode one 'The End's Beginning' (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode two 'Four Marks' (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode four 'Of Banqeyst, Bastars and Burials (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode five 'Bottles Appetites' (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode six 'Rare Species' (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode seven 'Before a Fall' (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode eight 'Much More' (2019)
• The Witcher, season two episode one 'A Grain of Truth' (2021)
• The Witcher, season two episode two 'Kaer Morhen' (2021)
• The Witcher, season two episode three 'What is Lost' (2021)
• The Witcher, season two episode four 'Redanian Intelligence' (2021)
• The Witcher, season two episode five 'Turn Your Back' (2021)
• The Witcher, season two episode six 'Dear Friend' (2021)
• The Witcher, season two episode seven 'Voleth Meir' (2021)
• The Witcher, season two episode eight 'Family' (2021)

Presumably the already announced third and fourth seasons of the Witcher will follow chronologically, but let's not count out a few surprises.

Another animated film, as well as a family-friendly animated series, is also in the works - but without even titles or a plot its too soon to say where they will fit into the Witcher universe.

The Witcher in release order

Does The Witcher chronological order seem a bit complicated? We emphathize, and we also see merit in watching it just as nature intended it - the order in which Netflix and the franchise's producers released the series - and how many of us long-time fans watched it.

While there will be some confusion for two-thirds of the first season of the Witcher, it's a puzzle worth struggling with to figure it out.

Here's how to watch The Witcher in release order:

• The Witcher, season one episode one 'The End's Beginning' (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode two 'Four Marks' (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode three 'Betrayer Moon' (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode four 'Of Banqeyst, Bastars and Burials (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode five 'Bottles Appetites' (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode six 'Rare Species' (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode seven 'Before a Fall' (2019)
• The Witcher, season one episode eight 'Much More' (2019)
• The Witcher, season two episode one 'A Grain of Truth' (2021)
• The Witcher, season two episode two 'Kaer Morhen' (2021)
• The Witcher, season two episode three 'What is Lost' (2021)
• The Witcher, season two episode four 'Redanian Intelligence' (2021)
• The Witcher, season two episode five 'Turn Your Back' (2021)
• The Witcher, season two episode six 'Dear Friend' (2021)
• The Witcher, season two episode seven 'Voleth Meir' (2021)
• The Witcher, season two episode eight 'Family' (2021)
• The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021)
• The Witcher: Blood Origin, season one episode one 'Of Ballads, Brawlers, and Bloodied Blades' (2022)
• The Witcher: Blood Origin, season one episode two 'Of Dreams, Defiance, and Desperate Deeds' (2022)
• The Witcher: Blood Origin, season one episode three 'Of Warriors, Wakes, and Wondrous Worlds' (2022)
• The Witcher: Blood Origin, season one episode four 'Of Mages, Malice, and Monstrous Mayhem' (2022)

What’s the difference between The Witcher: Blood Origin and The Witcher

The Witcher: Blood Origin is a prequel series set 1,200 years prior to the events of The Witcher. The story of this series shows the birth of the first Witcher, how the Conjunction of the Spheres happened, and several other key lore elements for the main The Witcher series.

The Witcher follows Geralt, an established Witcher.

Should I watch The Witcher or The Witcher: Blood Origin First?

For new fans, watching The Witcher: Blood Origin is an ideal way to jump into The Witcher universe. However, it is not necessary to watch Blood Origin before watching the first two seasons of The Witcher.

Should I watch The Witcher: Blood Origin or The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf first?

The Witcher: Blood Origin should be watched first as it takes place over a thousand years prior to Nightmare of the Wolf. Nightmare of the Wolf focuses on Geralt’s mentor and fellow Witcher, Vesemir.

Catch up with all things Witcher with Everything We Know About The Witcher: Blood Origin, and Everything We Know About The Witcher: Season 3.