The Witcher

File:Wiedźmin – logo serii książek.png

The Last Wish contains four of the five stories in The Witcher, in addition to three other stories. The fifth story, "The Road with No Return", is not in the book.

File:Andrzej Sapkowski - Lucca Comics and Games 2015 2.JPG made his debut as an author with "The Witcher" (1986).]]

In 1985, Andrzej Sapkowski was a 38-year-old traveling fur salesman with an economics degree and a love of fantasy literature. He decided to enter a short story competition, limited to 30-pages, held by Polish science fiction and fantasy magazine Fantastyka.{{Cite news|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-03-24-meeting-andrzej-sapkowski-the-writer-who-created-the-witcher|title=Meeting Andrzej Sapkowski, the writer who created The Witcher |last=Purchese|first=Robert|date=March 25, 2017|website=Eurogamer|access-date=June 24, 2021}} He did so at the urging of his son Krzysztof, who was an avid reader of the magazine.{{Cite news|last=Swiatek|first=Bart|url=https://www.gamepressure.com/newsroom/andrzej-sapkowskis-son-has-passed-away-without-him-there-would-be/z6d99|title=Andrzej Sapkowski's Son has Passed Away. Without Him, there Would be no Witcher|date=28 June 2019|website=Gamepressure|access-date=10 March 2022}} Sapkowski submitted "{{ill|The Witcher (short story)|lt="The Witcher"|pl|Wiedźmin (opowiadanie)}}" (1986), which was conceived as a retelling of a Polish fairy tale where a princess turned into a monster as punishment for the incest of her parents.{{Cite web|last=Cutali|first=Dan|url=https://sugarpulp.it/en/26893/|title=Interview with Andrzej Sapkowski |date=13 July 2015|work=Sugarpulp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119025755/https://sugarpulp.it/en/26893/ |archive-date=19 January 2023 |access-date=30 March 2025}} He had to wait about a year for the results of the contest, and came in third place. Sapkowski felt that his work was the best in the competition, but the jurors relegated it to third because fantasy was considered to be for children at the time in Poland. However, reaction from readers was overwhelmingly positive and Sapkowski wrote more stories, about one or two a year, in response to their demand.

He based "A Question of Price" (and later "Sword of Destiny") on the universally known fairy tale in which a monster or sorcerer saves somebody's life and then demands payment. The first four stories dealing with the witcher Geralt of Rivia were collected into a 1990 short story collection titled The Witcher — now out of print — by publisher Reporter.{{Cite web|title=The Witcher Books Reading Order|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-witcher-books-reading-order|date=15 December 2022|work=IGN|access-date=8 March 2022}} It includes 1988's "The Road with No Return" ("Droga, z której się nie wraca"), which is set before The Witcher stories and features Geralt's mother-to-be.

After what he called a chance meeting, Sapkowski made a deal in 1990 with SuperNowa to publish the series. They released the second short story collection, Sword of Destiny, in 1992. The Last Wish was published by SuperNowa in 1993 to replace The Witcher as the first book, and includes all of its stories except "The Road with No Return" (the only story without Geralt). Although new short stories were also added to The Last Wish, they chronologically take place before those in Sword of Destiny.

"Something Ends, Something Begins" ("Coś się kończy, coś się zaczyna") is an alternate ending to The Witcher Saga about Geralt and Yennefer's wedding that was written in 1992 as a wedding gift for Sapkowski's friends. It and "The Road with No Return" are included in some Polish editions of The Last Wish or Sword of Destiny.

With the positive reader reception to his short stories, Sapkowski decided to write a fantasy saga. He claimed that Polish publishers at the time believed only Anglo-Saxon fantasy authors were worth publishing and that Polish writers of the genre were too risky. SuperNowa were the only publisher willing to take the risk, and "Now everybody envies" them. For the saga, the author expanded on the story he used for "A Question of Price" and "Sword of Destiny". Blood of Elves, the first novel in The Witcher Saga, was published in 1994. The story focuses on Geralt of Rivia and Ciri, who are linked by destiny. Ciri, princess of a recently conquered country and a pawn of international politics, becomes a witcher-in-training. Geralt is drawn into a whirlwind of events in his attempts to protect her.

Three more novels quickly followed at a pace of one a year; Time of Contempt (1995), Baptism of Fire (1996), and The Tower of the Swallow (1997). The fifth and final installment, The Lady of the Lake, was published in 1999.

After 14 years, Sapkowski released Season of Storms in 2013. Set between short stories included in The Last Wish, it is a standalone prequel to The Witcher Saga.{{cite web |last1=Gennis |first1=Sadie |title=The Witcher Books: The Best Order to Read Them and Everything to Know Before the Netflix TV Show |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/the-witcher-books-reading-order-netflix-tv-show/ |website=TV Guide |language=en |date=December 20, 2019}} In 2020, Sapkowski stated that he had "some plans" for a new entry in The Witcher, but "My future plans are vague, nothing is fixed yet".{{Cite news|last=Maher|first=John |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/82269-toss-a-coin-to-your-author-pw-talks-with-andrzej-sapkowski.html|title=Toss a Coin to Your Author: PW Talks with Andrzej Sapkowski |date=28 January 2020|work=Publishers Weekly|access-date=9 March 2022}} On 29 November 2024, the ninth installment of the series — Crossroads of Ravens — was published in Poland. The book is a prequel to both the Witcher Saga and the short stories and describes Geralt as a young and inexperienced witcher shortly after completing his training in Kaer Morhen.{{cite web |author=Filip Chruszcz |date=2024-11-21 |title=Poznaliśmy tytuł nowego "Wiedźmina" Andrzeja Sapkowskiego. Wiemy też, kiedy książka trafi do księgarń |trans-title=We know the title of Andrzej Sapkowski's new "Witcher". We also know when the book will hit bookstores |url=https://cdaction.pl/newsy/poznalismy-tytul-nowego-wiedzmina-andrzeja-sapkowskiego-wiemy-tez-kiedy-ksiazka-trafi-do-ksiegarn |website=CD-Action.pl |publisher=Gaming Tech Esports Media SA |lang=pl}}

{{ill|Coś się kończy, coś się zaczyna|pl|Coś się kończy, coś się zaczyna (zbiór opowiadań)}} (Something Ends, Something Begins) is a 2000 collection of short stories by Sapkowski, including two from The Witcher: "The Road with No Return" and "Something Ends, Something Begins". That collection was republished in 2012, with two additional stories (not related to the Witcher universe), as Maladie i inne opowiadania (Maladie and Other Stories).{{cite web|access-date=2024-09-05 |language=pl |title=Esensja: ‹Maladie i inne opowiadania› – Andrzej Sapkowski, oprawa broszurowa |url=https://www.esensja.pl/esensjopedia/obiekt.html?rodzaj_obiektu=2&idobiektu=13312 |website=Esensja.pl}}

Chosen by Fate: Zajdel Award Winner Anthology is a 2000 English anthology by SuperNowa, in cooperation with the Silesian Club of Fantastika, that includes a translation by Agnieszka Fulińska of "{{ill|The Witcher (short story)|pl|Wiedźmin_(opowiadanie)|lt=The Witcher}}" short story entitled "The Hexer".{{cite book |access-date=2025-04-05 |editor=Rajendra A. Chitnis |editor2=Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen |editor3=Rhian Atkin |editor4=Zoran Milutinović |chapter=Literary Translation and Digital Culture: The Transmedial Breakthrough of Poland's The Witcher |author=Paulina Drewniak |date=2020 |isbn=978-1-78962-052-8 |language=en |publisher=Oxford University Press |title=Translating the Literatures of Small European Nations |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m4_UDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA205}} 2010's A Polish Book of Monsters is an English anthology edited and translated by Michael Kandel that includes a translation of "The Witcher" entitled "Spellmaker".{{cite journal |date=July 11, 2011 |editor-last=Wodzynski |editor-first=Lukasz |editor2-last=Tomaszewski |editor2-first=Irene |editor3-last=Jablonska |editor3-first=Justine |title=A Polish Book of Monsters: Five Dark Tales from Contemporary Poland: A Review |url=http://cosmopolitanreview.com/a-polish-book-of-monsters/ |journal=The Cosmopolitan Review |volume=3 |issue=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814005139/http://cosmopolitanreview.com/articles/41-reviews/339-a-polish-book-of-monsters-review |archive-date=August 14, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2011}} Maladie and Other Stories (not to be confused with the above Polish book of the same name) is a 2014 English e-book sampler with translations of "The Witcher", "The Edge of the World", and the first chapters of Blood of Elves and Baptism of Fire.

With Sapkowski's permission, the Polish publishing house Solaris published a collection of eight short stories entitled {{ill|Opowieści ze świata Wiedźmina|pl|Opowieści ze świata Wiedźmina}} (Tales from the World of The Witcher). Written by Russian and Ukrainian fantasy writers (including Andrei Belyanin and Vladimir Vasilyev), they are set in the world of The Witcher and feature its characters;{{cite web|url=https://www.literatura.gildia.pl/tworcy/andriej_bielanin/opowiesci-ze-swiata-wiedzmina|title=Opowieści ze świata wiedźmina (antologia) – literatura.gildia.pl – książki, recenzje, artykuły, nowości|website=Literatura.gildia.pl|access-date=January 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104132411/https://www.literatura.gildia.pl/tworcy/andriej_bielanin/opowiesci-ze-swiata-wiedzmina|archive-date=January 4, 2018|url-status=live}}

Vasilyev story is part of his The Witcher of Grand Kiev universe.{{cite web

|url= http://www.sapkowski.su/modules.php?name=Articles&pa=showarticle&artid=265

|script-title= ru:Владимир Васильев — «Ведьмак из большого Киева»

|trans-title= Vladimir Vasilyev — The Witcher of Grand Kiev

|date=2009-01-29

|script-work= ru:Миры Анджея Сапковского

|trans-work= Worlds of Andrzej Sapkowski

|at=

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}} Szpony i kły (Claws and Fangs), a similar collection of eleven short stories by authors chosen through a 2016 competition by the Polish magazine Nowa Fantastyka, was published in 2017 by SuperNowa.{{cite web|url=http://www.fantastyka.pl/informacje/pokaz/1586|title=Nowa Fantastyka|website=Fantastyka.pl|access-date=January 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030015/http://www.fantastyka.pl/informacje/pokaz/1586|archive-date=November 7, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.spidersweb.pl/rozrywka/2017/11/16/szpony-i-kly-recenzja/|title=Tylko dla fanów wiedźmina Geralta. Szpony i kły – recenzja Spider's Web|date=November 16, 2017|website=Spidersweb.pl|access-date=January 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104132432/https://www.spidersweb.pl/rozrywka/2017/11/16/szpony-i-kly-recenzja/|archive-date=January 4, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.spidersweb.pl/rozrywka/2017/11/02/wiedzmin-szpony-i-kly/|title=Nikczemnie wprowadzająca w błąd okładka. Wiedźmin: Szpony i Kły nie jest książką Sapkowskiego, ale… fanów|date=November 2, 2017|website=Spidersweb.pl|access-date=January 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102053614/https://www.spidersweb.pl/rozrywka/2017/11/02/wiedzmin-szpony-i-kly/|archive-date=January 2, 2018|url-status=live}}

When he first created The Witcher, Sapkowski had not thought up any background on the world of the series, "I began with short stories; you don't create universes in short stories, there is—literally and metaphorically—no place for them". But when he switched to writing full novels, "the necessity of some coherent background became imminent. And slowly, step by step, something resembling a universe started to emerge. But it's only in the background, so it plays a secondary role in the story".{{Cite news|last=Handel|first=Christian |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-03-24-meeting-andrzej-sapkowski-the-writer-who-created-the-witcher|title=Andrzej Sapkowski Answers (Most Of) Our Burning Questions About The Witcher|date=3 February 2020|website=Audible|access-date=9 March 2022}} Although admitting to using Slavic mythology often due to it being very rich and abundant, Sapkowski said he does not have any preferred mythologies, folklores or bestiaries that he draws on for monsters in The Witcher; "The story dictates the necessity. And, mostly, I put aside existing mythologies and invent something myself". He said that the monsters in the series can be put into one of three categories. First, those that already "exist" with established names, appearances, habits and habitats, such as dragons. Second are those that he invents but gives names that can be found in nature, mostly insects because they are "horrible and scary". Third are those that are completely original creations, some of which are only named, because, "When it has no importance as far as the storyline is concerned whatsoever, why bother?" The author has also stated that he personally abhors politics and considers his books to be politically neutral.

The stories are set on an unnamed Continent,Maciej Nowak-Kreyer, Book of the Continent in Wiedźmin: Gra Wyobraźni Handbook, p152, 2001, Wydawnictwo MAG, Warsaw, {{ISBN|83-87968-39-0}} which was settled several thousand years earlier by elves from overseas. When they arrived, the elves encountered gnomes and dwarves. After a war between the elves and dwarves, the dwarves retreated into the mountains, and the elves settled in the plains and forests. Human colonists arrived about five hundred years before the events in the stories, igniting a series of wars. The humans were victorious and became dominant; the non-human races, now considered second-class citizens, often live in small ghettos within human settlements. Those not confined to the ghettos live in wilderness regions not yet claimed by humans. Other races on the Continent are halflings and dryads; werewolves and vampires appeared after a magical event known as the Conjunction of the Spheres.

During the centuries preceding the stories, most of the Continent's southern regions have been taken over by the Nilfgaard Empire; the north belongs to the fragmented Northern Kingdoms. The Witcher Saga takes place in the aftermath of the first major war between the Nilfgaard Empire and the Northern Kingdoms, with a second war beginning in the middle of the series.

{{further|List of characters in The Witcher series}}

• File:Henry Cavill by Gage Skidmore.jpgGeralt of Rivia (Polish: Geralt z Rivii), also known as Gwynbleidd (Elder Speech: "White Wolf") and the Butcher of Blaviken,{{cite book|last=Sapkowski|first=Andrzej|title=The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher (Original title (Polish): Ostatnie Zyczenie)|date=May 2008 |publisher=Orbit|location=New York|isbn=978-0-316-02918-6|pages=[https://archive.org/details/lastwish00andr/page/92 92, 149]|edition=1st|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/lastwish00andr/page/92}} is the protagonist of the series and its adaptations, a witcher who travels the Continent and makes a living hunting monsters that plague the land. He is linked to Ciri by destiny. Kacper Pobłocki argues that he embodies the "neo-liberal anti-politics" spirit of the Polish popular culture of the 1990s.{{cite book|author=Péter Apor|title=Past for the eyes: East European representations of communism in cinema and museums after 1989|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SO8LAQAAMAAJ|access-date=May 28, 2011|year=2008|publisher=Central European University Press|isbn=978-963-9776-05-0|page=198|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705154643/http://books.google.com/books?id=SO8LAQAAMAAJ|archive-date=July 5, 2014|url-status=live}} Geralt has been played by Michał Żebrowski in the Polish shows and movies. Geralt was portrayed by Henry Cavill in seasons 1 - 3 of the Netflix series The Witcher; from season 4 on, he is portrayed by Liam Hemsworth.{{Cite web|url=https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-witcher-season-4-liam-hemsworth|first=Chancellor|last=Agard|title=Liam Hemsworth is Picking up Geralt's Sword for 'The Witcher' Season 4 |website=Netflix}}
• Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon (known as "Ciri", from the name Zireael in Elder Speech (meaning "Swallow"; Polish: Jaskółka)), also known as the Lion Cub of Cintra, Child of the Elder Blood, Falka, and the Lady of Time and Space. Cirilla is the princess of Cintra, daughter of Pavetta and Duny (also known as the Urcheon of Erlenwald) and granddaughter of Queen Calanthe. She is also Geralt's destiny and adopted daughter, and the focus of much of the plot. Ciri is a descendant of Lara Dorren and has the Elder blood, which gives her access to powers that allow her to cross space and time. Ciri has ashen grey hair and green emerald eyes, a trait that runs in her family.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} In the Polish 2002 film and 2002 TV series, she was played by Marta Bitner and by Freya Allan in the Netflix series.{{IMDb name|1256559|Marta Bitner}}
• Yennefer of Vengerberg (Polish: Yennefer z Vengerbergu) first appeared in the collection of short stories, The Last Wish, featuring in the short story of the same name. She is a powerful sorceress, is a mother figure to Ciri, and becomes Geralt's lover. As an avid reader of fantasy, Sapkowski said he was sometimes bored and disgusted with stories in which the hero could easily have sex with any woman he wished; as such, he created Yennefer to "complicate things a little" as a woman character who refuses to be a fantasy cliché. In the Polish 2002 film and 2002 TV series, she was played by Grażyna Wolszczak; she was played by Anya Chalotra in the Netflix series.
• Dandelion (Polish: Jaskier) is a poet, minstrel, bard and Geralt's best friend. The Polish word jaskier refers to the buttercup flower (Ranunculus). Some of his more famous ballads were about the relationship between Geralt and Yennefer. He accompanies Geralt in many short stories and ends up joining his hansa while searching for Ciri.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} He is played by Joey Batey in The Witcher TV series.{{IMDb title|qid=Q47500433|id=tt5180504|title=The Witcher}} (TV series) In the 2001 Polish Wiedźmin film, he was played by Zbigniew Zamachowski.{{cite web |url=http://radom.wyborcza.pl/radom/7,143526,24573901,nowy-wiedzmin-nadchodzi.html |title=Nowy Wiedźmin nadchodzi. Ostatni klaps na zamku w Iłży |author=Amanda Grzmiel |date=March 22, 2019 |website=Wyborcza.pl |language=pl |access-date=July 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602212304/http://radom.wyborcza.pl/radom/7,143526,24573901,nowy-wiedzmin-nadchodzi.html |archive-date=June 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}
• Triss Merigold is a sorceress and a friend of Geralt and Yennefer. She took care of Ciri for some time and is like an older sister to her. She was a member of the Lodge of Sorceresses. Triss is in love with Geralt. The image of Triss Merigold from The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings appeared as cover girl in the Polish edition of Playboy in May 2011.{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/the-witcher-2-casts-a-sexy-spell-on-polish-playboy-5793138|title=The Witcher 2 Casts A Sexy Spell On Polish Playboy|author=Mike Fahey|date=April 18, 2011|website=Kotaku|access-date=June 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621195144/https://kotaku.com/the-witcher-2-casts-a-sexy-spell-on-polish-playboy-5793138|archive-date=June 21, 2019|url-status=live}} She also appeared in a live model calendar for the game in Russia.{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/russian-witcher-2-calendar-bares-all-in-the-name-of-mar-5798977|title=Russian Witcher 2 Calendar Bares All in the Name of Marketing|author=Mike Fahey|date=May 5, 2011|website=Kotaku|access-date=March 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621195209/https://kotaku.com/russian-witcher-2-calendar-bares-all-in-the-name-of-mar-5798977|archive-date=June 21, 2019|url-status=live}}

Although no map of the universe created by Sapkowski has been released, fans have created several maps. According to Sapkowski, the existing maps are "mostly accurate", and he uses a version created by Czech translator Stanislav Komárek.{{cite web|url = http://www.sapkowski.pl/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=453|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071215043502/http://www.sapkowski.pl/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=453|archive-date = December 15, 2007|title = "Nie bądź, kurwa, taki Geralt" – interview on author's page|language = pl}}

The Continent can be divided into four regions. The Northern Kingdoms (where most of the saga occurs) consists of Aedirn, Cidaris, Cintra, Hengfors League, Kaedwen, Kerack, Kovir and Poviss, Lyria and Rivia, Redania, Temeria and Verden and several minor duchies and principalities such as Bremervoord or Ellander. The Nilfgaard Empire occupies most of the area south of the Northern Kingdoms. The eastern part of the Continent, such as the Korath desert, Zerrikania, Hakland and the Fiery Mountains, is mostly unknown. The book series mentions overseas countries with whom the Northern Kingdoms trade, including Zangvebar, Ofir, Hannu and Barsa.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}}

Sapkowski created a language for the series known as Elder Speech,{{Cite book|last=Marek|first=Ruszkowski|title=Wielojęzyczność w perspektywie stylistyki i poetyki|publisher=Wydawnictwo Akademii Swiętokrzyskiej|year=2004|page=98|isbn=83-7133-232-7}}{{cite web | url = http://www.sapkowski.pl/modules.php?op=modload&name=Companion&file=index&func=slownik | title = Projekt słownika Starszej Mowy | access-date = March 6, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140324172408/http://www.sapkowski.pl/modules.php?op=modload&name=Companion&file=index&func=slownik | archive-date = March 24, 2014 | df = mdy-all }} based on Welsh, English, French, Irish, Latin and other languages. Unique dialects are spoken on the Skellige Islands and in Nilfgaard. In an interview, Sapkowski explained that he wanted the language to be reasonably legible to a reader, to avoid footnotes. As he said: "In my book, I do not want for an orc telling to another orc 'Burbatuluk grabataluk!' to be supplied with a footnote: 'Shut the door, don't let the flies in!'"[https://web.archive.org/web/20180203071018/http://old.mirf.ru/Articles/art934.htm НО МЫ ЖЕ СЛАВЯНЕ! РАЗГОВОР С АНДЖЕЕМ САПКОВСКИМ], An interview with Sapkowski for Russian monthly magazine "World of Fatnastics"{{Cite web |url=https://sapkowskipl.wordpress.com/2017/03/12/nomest-est-omen/ |title=Nomest est omen |date=March 12, 2017 |access-date=December 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213192404/https://sapkowskipl.wordpress.com/2017/03/12/nomest-est-omen/ |archive-date=December 13, 2019 |url-status=live }}

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}

1. "The Road with No Return" – untranslated
2. Crossroads of Ravens (forthcoming 1 October 2025)
3. "A Grain of Truth"
4. "The Lesser Evil"
5. "The Edge of the World"
6. "The Last Wish"
7. Season of Storms
8. "A Question of Price"
9. "The Witcher"
10. "The Voice of Reason"
11. "The Bounds of Reason"
12. "A Shard of Ice"
13. "Eternal Flame"
14. "A Little Sacrifice"
15. "Sword of Destiny"
16. "Something More"
17. Blood of Elves
18. Time of Contempt
19. Baptism of Fire
20. The Tower of the Swallow
21. The Lady of the Lake
22. Epilogue to the Season of Storms
23. "Something Ends, Something Begins" (alternative ending) – untranslated

{{Div col end}}

The stories and novels have been translated into 37 languages worldwide.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/836558/the-witcher-henry-cavill-geralt-of-rivia-season-1-preview/|title='The Witcher's Henry Cavill Says 'Tough' Geralt Has a 'Heart of Gold'|last=Holbrook|first=Damian|date=December 10, 2019|website=TV Insider|access-date=June 23, 2021|language=en-US}} Sapkowski denied having any involvement in the English translations, explaining, if the translator "is polite enough, sometimes he asks me questions, sometimes he presents me with a fragment of the first page, but it is his own will – I have nothing to do with it". When asked his opinion on the quality of the translation, the original author stated, "We Poles, we say, 'Translations are like women: if they are beautiful, they are not true; if they are true, they are not beautiful.' I speak some 15 languages so for me it's very easy to read the translations and see if they are good or not. Sometimes it's terrible; sometimes I'm very happy because the spirit, the spirit, is in the translation".

{{see also|Vedmak}}

Sapkowski chose wiedźmin as the male equivalent of the Polish word for witch (wiedźma).{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MWIYAQAAIAAJ|title=Historia i fantastyka|author1=Andrzej Sapkowski|author2=Stanisław Bereś|publisher=SuperNOWA|year=2005|isbn=978-83-7054-178-1|page=268|language=pl}} In his book 2005 book-interview Historia i fantastyka, Sapkowski states that he believes the word "witcher" is a natural male version of the English word "witch", and implied that the similarity between those two words, as well as between the German terms, was the inspiration coining wiedźmin as a new Polish word. Polish video game designer Adrian Chmielarz claimed to have invented the translation of wiedźmin into English as witcher around 1996–1997.

Although wiedźmin is now usually translated into English as "witcher", an earlier translation of the title was "hexer" (the title of the 2001 film adaptation and the first official English translation in the 2000 short story collection Chosen by Fate: Zajdel Award Winner Anthology);{{Cite news|url=https://culture.pl/en/article/the-witcher-the-road-from-rivia-to-hollywood|title=The Witcher: The Road from Rivia to Hollywood|website=Culture.pl|author=Agnieszka Warnke|date=November 18, 2016|access-date=October 8, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008175207/https://culture.pl/en/article/the-witcher-the-road-from-rivia-to-hollywood|archive-date=October 8, 2018|url-status=live}} Hexe and Hexer are the German words for female and male 'witch' respectively. CD Projekt used "witcher" for the title of its 2007 English release of the video game,{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-06-16-the-witcher-game-that-never-was|title=The Witcher game that never was|last=Purchese|first=Robert|date=May 19, 2015|website=Eurogamer.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623103811/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-06-16-the-witcher-game-that-never-was|archive-date=June 23, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=May 22, 2015}} and Danusia Stok used it in her translation of Ostatnie życzenie that was published the same year.{{Cite web|url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?526757|title=Title: The Last Wish|website=Isfdb.org|language=en-us|access-date=October 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014170225/http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?526757|archive-date=October 14, 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/lastwish00andr|url-access=registration|quote=sapkowski last wish.|title=The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher|last=Sapkowski|first=Andrzej|date=December 14, 2008|publisher=Orbit|isbn=978-0-316-05508-6|language=en|access-date=October 14, 2018}} Michael Kandel however used "spellmaker" in his 2010 translation of the "Wiedźmin" short story for A Book of Polish Monsters anthology.{{Cite journal|url=http://cosmopolitanreview.com/a-polish-book-of-monsters/|title=A Polish Book of Monsters: Five Dark Tales from Contemporary Poland|last=Wodzynski|first=Lukasz|journal=Cosmopolitan Review|volume=3|issue=2|date=2011|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326182908/http://cosmopolitanreview.com/a-polish-book-of-monsters/|archive-date=March 26, 2014|url-status=live|access-date=October 14, 2018}}

The Witcher series has been described as having a cult following in Poland and Central and Eastern European countries.{{Cite web|last=iMeshup|date=2018-11-29|title=Gamedev glory: "The Witcher" and CD Projekt Red|url=https://medium.com/imeshup/gamedev-glory-the-witcher-and-cd-projekt-red-59f1e8dfeb5|access-date=2021-11-21|website=iMeshup|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-to-get-into-the-witcher-novels-1706064080|title=How To Get Into The Witcher Novels|last=Whitbrook|first=James|date=June 21, 2015|website=Io9|access-date=November 4, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105062347/https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-to-get-into-the-witcher-novels-1706064080|archive-date=November 5, 2018|url-status=live}} They have been translated into 37 languages and sold over 15 million copies worldwide as of December 2019. Two weeks after the Netflix TV adaptation was released in 2020, revenue from the books was reportedly up 562% compared to the same period in 2018.{{cite news |author=Jones, Alistair |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2020/02/the-witcher-book-and-game-sales-are-up-500-on-last-year/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228055823/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2020/02/the-witcher-book-and-game-sales-are-up-500-on-last-year/ |archive-date=February 28, 2020 |title=The Witcher Book And Game Sales Are Up 500% On Last Year |work=Kotaku |date=17 February 2020 |access-date=8 March 2022}} Entries in The Witcher series have earned Sapkowski the Janusz A. Zajdel Award three times; "The Lesser Evil" (1990), "Sword of Destiny" (1992), and Blood of Elves (1994).{{cite news |url=https://zajdel.art.pl/laureaci.html |title=Laureaci Nagrody Fandomu Polskiego im. Janusza A. Zajdla |work=Janusz A. Zajdel Award |language=Polish |access-date=8 March 2022 |archive-date=August 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803014234/https://zajdel.art.pl/laureaci.html }} The Last Wish won the 2003 Premio Ignotus for Best Anthology in Spain.{{cite news |url=https://www.aefcft.com/premios-ignotus-2003/ |title=Premios Ignotus 2003 |work=Premio Ignotus |language=Spanish |access-date=8 March 2022 |archive-date=March 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309024747/https://www.aefcft.com/premios-ignotus-2003/ }} In the United Kingdom, Blood of Elves won Best Novel at the first David Gemmell Awards for Fantasy in 2009.{{cite news |author=Flood, Alison |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/jun/19/1 |title=Gemmell prize for fantasy goes to Polish novel, Blood of Elves |newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 June 2009 |access-date=8 March 2022}} Sword of Destiny won the 2012 Tähtifantasia Award in Finland.{{cite news |url=https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000002546427.html |title=Tähtifantasia-palkinto jälleen Sapkowskille |work=Helsingin Sanomat |language=Finnish |date=23 July 2012|access-date=23 June 2023}}

In October 2018, Sapkowski's hometown of Łódź officially renamed a garden square Witcher Square (Skwer Wiedźmina) and announced plans to add benches, swings and other installations based on the series to the area.{{cite web |url=http://lodz.eska.pl/newsy/skwer-wiedzmina-z-lodzi-przy-placu-komuny-paryskiej-pojawia-sie-motywy-z-ksiazek-andrzeja-sapkowskiego-audio/741205 |title=Skwer Wiedźmina z Łodzi. Przy Placu Komuny Paryskiej pojawią się motywy z książek Andrzeja Sapkowskiego! |date=5 October 2018 |work=Radio Eska |language=Polish |access-date=8 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007041305/http://lodz.eska.pl/newsy/skwer-wiedzmina-z-lodzi-przy-placu-komuny-paryskiej-pojawia-sie-motywy-z-ksiazek-andrzeja-sapkowskiego-audio/741205|archive-date=7 October 2018}} In October 2021, a mural of Geralt was painted on the side of a skyscraper in Łódź. Spanning three {{convert|70|m|ft|adj=mid|high}} walls and covering almost {{convert|2000|m2|sqft}}, it is the largest mural in Poland and one of the largest in the world.{{cite news |url=https://polishnews.co.uk/lodz-piotrkowska-street-the-witcher-on-the-walls-of-a-skyscraper-geralt-of-rivia-on-the-largest-mural-in-poland/ |title=Łódź, Piotrkowska Street. The witcher on the walls of a skyscraper, Geralt of Rivia on the largest mural in Poland |work=Polish News |date=10 October 2021 |access-date=8 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309040154/https://polishnews.co.uk/lodz-piotrkowska-street-the-witcher-on-the-walls-of-a-skyscraper-geralt-of-rivia-on-the-largest-mural-in-poland/ |archive-date=9 March 2022}}

{{main|The Witcher (Dark Horse Comics)}}

From 1993 to 1995, Sapkowski's stories were adapted into a six-issue comic The Witcher by Maciej Parowski and Sapkowski (story), Bogusław Polch (art).{{cite web|url=https://culture.pl/pl/artykul/wiedzmin-droga-z-rivii-do-hollywood|title=Wiedźmin: droga z Rivii do Hollywood|website=culture.pl|access-date=September 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930193101/https://culture.pl/pl/artykul/wiedzmin-droga-z-rivii-do-hollywood|archive-date=September 30, 2018|url-status=live}}

In 2011, Egmont released a 2-part comic book, titled Reasons of State, containing an original story. It was written by Michał Gałek, illustrated by Arkadiusz Klimek, and colorized by Łukasz Poller.

In 2013, Dark Horse Comics announced a comic book series called The Witcher, based on the video-game series and made in collaboration with CD Projekt Red.{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/1494/nycc-2013-witcher-comes-dark-horse|title=NYCC 2013: THE WITCHER COMES TO DARK HORSE|date=October 11, 2013|work=Dark Horse Comics|access-date=March 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320232443/http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/1494/nycc-2013-witcher-comes-dark-horse|archive-date=March 20, 2014|url-status=live}} It began publishing in 2014.{{Cite web|last=Tach|first=Dave|date=October 11, 2013|title=Eve Online and Witcher comics coming from Dark Horse in 2014|url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/10/11/4827812/eve-online-witcher-comics-dark-horse-2014|access-date=August 4, 2021|website=Polygon|language=en}} Most of the stories are based on original plots not written by Sapkowski, with different writers and artists working on different issues.{{Cite web|last=Zwierzchowski|first=Marcin|date=July 29, 2021|title=Wiedźmin idzie w ślady Bonda i Supermana. To już pewne: do panteonu światowej popkultury wszedł pierwszy Polak|url=https://wyborcza.pl/7,75410,27379723,wiedzmin-idzie-w-slady-bonda-i-supermana-to-juz-pewne-do-panteonu.html?disableRedirects=true|access-date=August 4, 2021|website=Wyborcza.pl|language=Polish}}

In October 2015, a one-shot webcomic titled Matters of Conscience was released by CD Projekt Red to expand on the events following their second video game.

{{main|The Witcher (video game series)}}

File:The Witcher 3 - Standard Edition Unboxing (Official Trailer) cover.jpg.]]

In 2007, a video game The Witcher developed by CD Projekt Red was released. A sequel, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, was released in 2011 by the same team. The third game in the series, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, was released in 2015.{{Citation |title=The Witcher E3 View – IGN |date=May 25, 2006 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/25/the-witcher-e3-view |access-date=February 14, 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=July 25, 2013 |title=CD Projekt RED Partners With Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to Bring The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to North America |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130725006266/en/CD-Projekt-RED-Partners-With-Warner-Bros.-Interactive-Entertainment-to-Bring-The-Witcher-3-Wild-Hunt-to-North-America |access-date=February 14, 2021 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}} Sapkowski had no involvement with the video games, giving the studio license to create a completely new story using his characters. All three games were positively received, with Metacritic giving them an 81, an 88, and a 93 out of 100 respectively.{{Cite web |title=The Witcher |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-witcher/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |access-date=February 14, 2021 |website=Metacritic |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-witcher-2-assassins-of-kings/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |access-date=February 14, 2021 |website=Metacritic |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |access-date=February 14, 2021 |website=Metacritic |language=en}} They were also extremely successful commercially, selling more than 75 million copies as of May 2023, with over 50 million being from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt alone.

CD Projekt Red developed a card game named "Gwent" that was included in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt as an in-game activity. They have created two stand-alone video games based on it, titled Gwent: The Witcher Card Game and Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, both released in 2018.{{cite web |last1=Newhouse |first1=Alex |date=May 18, 2017 |title=PS4/Xbox One/PC Gwent: The Witcher Card Game Open Beta Coming Next Week |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4xbox-onepc-gwent-the-witcher-card-game-open-bet/1100-6450148/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615004615/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4xbox-onepc-gwent-the-witcher-card-game-open-bet/1100-6450148/ |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |access-date=May 24, 2017 |website=Gamespot.com}}{{cite web |last=Robert |first=Purchese |date=September 18, 2018 |title=CD Projekt Red dates full Gwent: The Witcher Card Game release, and standalone Thronebreaker adventure |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-09-18-cd-projekt-red-dates-full-gwent-the-witcher-card-game-release-and-standalone-thronebreaker-adventure |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401062632/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-09-18-cd-projekt-red-dates-full-gwent-the-witcher-card-game-release-and-standalone-thronebreaker-adventure |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |access-date=March 19, 2019 |website=Eurogamer}}

A remake of The Witcher was announced in October 2022, which was formerly first teased under the codename "Canis Majoris". Entitled The Witcher Remake, it will be developed using Unreal Engine 5, the same engine in use for the planned second trilogy. Fool's Theory will mainly develop the remake with full creative supervision from The Witcher series staff and CD Projekt Red.{{Cite web |title=The Witcher Universe {{!}} Action-Adventure RPGs |url=https://www.thewitcher.com/us/en/news/46225/the-witcher-remake-is-in-development |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.thewitcher.com |language=en}}

A fourth game in the series, The Witcher 4, has been confirmed by Red and is under development.{{Cite web |title=The Witcher IV |url=https://www.ign.com/games/the-witcher-iv |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=IGN |language=en}} It is supposed to be a new installment and will be different than previous trilogy based on Sapkowski books.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-17 |title=The Witcher 4 release date estimate, trailer, and latest news |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/the-witcher-4/the-witcher-4-release-date-system-requirements-news-trailer-story-everything-we-know |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}

The Witcher was adapted into a 2002 TV series and a shorter 2001 film version, both titled The Hexer (Wiedźmin) and directed by Marek Brodzki. Michał Żebrowski portrayed Geralt. In several interviews, Sapkowski has criticized these screen adaptations: "I can answer only with a single word, an obscene, albeit a short one."{{Cite web |url=http://fantlab.ru/article446 |script-title=ru:Анджей Сапковский: 'Мне пришлось искать свое русло. И я его нашел...' |script-website=ru:Лаборатория Фантастики |access-date=February 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219142345/http://fantlab.ru/article446|archive-date=February 19, 2014|url-status=live}}

In 2015, Platige Image planned an American film adaptation of the novel series to arrive in 2017.{{cite web|last1=Eddie|first1=Makuch|date=November 5, 2015|title=The Witcher Movie Coming in 2017 From The Mummy Producers|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-witcher-movie-coming-in-2017-from-the-mummy-pr/1100-6432017/|website=Gamespot.com|access-date=November 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107214537/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-witcher-movie-coming-in-2017-from-the-mummy-pr/1100-6432017/|archive-date=November 7, 2015|url-status=live}} In May 2017, they announced that they would be producing a The Witcher TV series in cooperation with Netflix and Sean Daniel Company, with Tomasz Bagiński as one of the directors and Sapkowski as a creative consultant.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PlatigeImage/status/864787632991219712|title=We started production of the series based on "The Witcher" in coop. with @NetflixUS and SeanDanielCompany. Tomek #Bagiński one of the dir!pic.twitter.com/hYXWCHySOF|author=Platige Image|date=May 17, 2017|publisher=Twitter|access-date=May 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517155148/https://twitter.com/PlatigeImage/status/864787632991219712|archive-date=May 17, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/2017/05/17/witcher-saga-has-netflix-found-game-thrones/|title=The Witcher Saga: has Netflix found its Game of Thrones?|date=May 17, 2017|website=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=March 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622062706/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/2017/05/17/witcher-saga-has-netflix-found-game-thrones/|archive-date=June 22, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.platige.com/en/page/839-The_Witcher_Saga_On_Netflix |title=The Witcher Saga on Netflix |date=May 17, 2017 |website=Platige Image |access-date=January 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123135557/http://www.platige.com/en/page/839-The_Witcher_Saga_On_Netflix |archive-date=January 23, 2018 }} Created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, it stars Henry Cavill as Geralt.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BnTrcgwFgSk/|title=Henry Cavill on Instagram|date=September 4, 2018|access-date=September 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513005225/https://www.instagram.com/p/BnTrcgwFgSk/|archive-date=May 13, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/henry-cavill-the-witcher-netflix-series-1202925521/|title=Henry Cavill to Star in 'Witcher' Series at Netflix|author=Joe Otterson|date=September 4, 2018|website=Variety|access-date=September 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904153444/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/henry-cavill-the-witcher-netflix-series-1202925521/|archive-date=September 4, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/henry-cavill-star-netflix-drama-series-witcher-1139388|title=Henry Cavill to Topline Netflix Drama Series 'The Witcher'|author=Lesley Goldberg|date=September 4, 2018|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=September 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904230104/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/henry-cavill-star-netflix-drama-series-witcher-1139388|archive-date=September 4, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/04/entertainment/henry-cavill-the-witcher/index.html|title=Henry Cavill will lead 'The Witcher' series for Netflix|author=Sandra Gonzalez|date=September 4, 2018|website=CNN|access-date=September 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921205650/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/04/entertainment/henry-cavill-the-witcher/index.html|archive-date=September 21, 2018|url-status=live}} On October 10, 2018, it was announced that Freya Allan and Anya Chalotra had been cast as main female characters, Ciri and Yennefer.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/the-witcher-netflix-fantasy-drama-series-casts-its-females-leads-ciri-yennefer-1202480106/|title='The Witcher': Netflix Fantasy Drama Series Casts Its Females Leads Ciri & Yennefer|last=Petski|first=Denise|publisher=Deadline|date=October 10, 2018|access-date=October 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011172907/https://deadline.com/2018/10/the-witcher-netflix-fantasy-drama-series-casts-its-females-leads-ciri-yennefer-1202480106/|archive-date=October 11, 2018|url-status=live}} The first season was released on December 20, 2019, with all eight episodes available.{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2019-04-29/the-witcher-netflix-release-date-cast-plot-trailer-spoilers/|title=When is The Witcher released on Netflix? Who's in the cast, and what's going to happen?|author=Ben Allen|date=September 15, 2019|website=Radio Times|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501164006/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2019-04-29/the-witcher-netflix-release-date-cast-plot-trailer-spoilers/|archive-date=May 1, 2019|url-status=live}} A second season was announced on November 13, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2019/11/13/the-witcher-season-2-renewed-netflix-henry-cavill-adaptation/|title=The Witcher Scores Early Season 2 Renewal at Netflix|last=Schwartz|first=Ryan|work=TVLine|date=November 13, 2019|access-date=December 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119031853/https://tvline.com/2019/11/13/the-witcher-season-2-renewed-netflix-henry-cavill-adaptation/|archive-date=November 19, 2019|url-status=live}} All eight episodes were released on December 17, 2021, featuring many of the same characters and some new stars.{{Cite web|last1=Dwiar|first1=Rob|last2=Roberts|first2=Samuel|date=September 25, 2021|title=The Witcher season 2: release date, trailer, cast, episode titles and more|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/the-witcher-season-2-release-date-netflix|access-date=October 10, 2021|website=TechRadar|language=en}} In September 2021, Netflix renewed the series for a third season.{{Cite web|last=Earl|first=William|date=September 25, 2021|title='The Witcher' Renewed for Season 3, Expands Universe With New Projects|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/the-witcher-renewed-season-3-trailer-spinoff-1235073587/|access-date=September 25, 2021|website=Variety}} Starting in the show's fourth season, Liam Hemsworth is scheduled to replace Cavill as Geralt.

Netflix released an animated film, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, on August 23, 2021, with their TV series showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich as producer and writer BeAu DeMayo, and animation provided by Studio Mir. Another animated film, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep with Doug Cockle voicing Geralt of Rivia, directed by Kang Hei Chul, was released by Netflix on February 11, 2025.

A live-action prequel series, The Witcher: Blood Origin, was released by Netflix in 2022, set 1200 years before Geralt's time to show the origin of the Witchers developed by Hissrich.{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-07-27-witcher-netflix-showrunner-announces-prequel-series-set-1200-years-before | title = Witcher Netflix showrunner announces prequel series set 1200 years before | first = Robert | last = Purchase | date = July 27, 2020 | access-date = July 27, 2020 | work = Eurogamer }}

A tabletop role-playing game based on Sapkowski's books, Wiedźmin: Gra Wyobraźni (The Witcher: A Game of Imagination), was published by MAG in 2001.

Another tabletop RPG based on the video games, produced by R. Talsorian Games, was planned for release in 2016{{cite web|title=CD Projekt Red and R.TALSORIAN GAMES Announce The Witcher Role-Playing Game|url=http://thewitcher.com/news/view/1086|date=July 29, 2015|access-date=July 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731195440/http://thewitcher.com/news/view/1086|archive-date=July 31, 2015}} but was delayed and finally released in August 2018.{{cite web|url=https://rtalsoriangames.com/2018/08/03/buy-yourself-a-witcher/|title=Buy yourself a witcher|date=August 3, 2018|website=R. Talsorian Games}}

Full article on : Gwent: The Witcher Card Game

Gwent: The Witcher Card Game is a digital collectible card game (CCG) developed and published by CD Projekt Red, based on a mini-game originally found in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It was officially released as a standalone title in 2018.{{Cite web |title=GWENT: The Witcher Card Game |url=https://www.playgwent.com/en/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=GWENT: The Witcher Card Game |language=en}}

Gwent is a strategic, turn-based card game played between two players.

CD Projekt Red and Fantasy Flight Games released The Witcher Adventure Game, a board game designed by Ignacy Trzewiczek,{{cite web |url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/147116/witcher-adventure-game |title=The Witcher Adventure Game – Board Game |publisher=BoardGameGeek |access-date=April 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418120548/http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/147116/witcher-adventure-game |archive-date=April 18, 2016 |url-status=live }} in 2014{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-08-the-witcher-gets-a-board-game-spin-off|title=The Witcher gets a board game spin-off|last=Matulef|first=Jeffrey|date=January 8, 2014|work=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=January 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109164641/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-08-the-witcher-gets-a-board-game-spin-off|archive-date=January 9, 2014|url-status=live}} in physical and digital forms.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-27-the-witcher-adventure-game-has-been-released|title=The Witcher Adventure Game has been released|last=Purchese|first=Robert|date=November 27, 2014|work=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=November 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129163545/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-27-the-witcher-adventure-game-has-been-released|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=live}} The digital version is available on Windows, OS X, Android and iOS.

The board game The Witcher: Old World was announced in February 2021.{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=February 10, 2021|title=The next Witcher board game comes to Kickstarter in May|url=https://www.polygon.com/2021/2/10/22276278/witcher-old-world-board-game-kickstarter-announcement-release-date-price|access-date=June 1, 2021|website=Polygon|language=en}} Designed by Łukasz Woźniak and produced by Go on Board in partnership with CD Projekt Red, the game is set prequel to the main video game series with deck building and role-playing elements. In May 2021, the game raised more than $3 million on Kickstarter and was planned to be shipped in June 2022.{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=May 27, 2021|title=The Witcher: Old World is an epic prequel produced in partnership with CD Projekt Red|url=https://www.polygon.com/22456755/the-witcher-old-world-kickstarter-cost|access-date=June 1, 2021|website=Polygon|language=en}}

In 2007, Kuźnia Gier developed two card games based on CD Projekt's The Witcher video game. One, Wiedźmin: Przygodowa Gra Karciana (The Witcher: Adventure Cardgame), was published by Kuźnia Gier;{{cite web|url=http://www.planszowki.gildia.pl/gry/wiedzmin_przygodowa_gra_karciana|title=Wiedźmin: Przygodowa Gra Karciana|website=Gildia.pl|access-date=February 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202185455/http://www.planszowki.gildia.pl/gry/wiedzmin_przygodowa_gra_karciana|archive-date=February 2, 2015|url-status=live}} the other, Wiedźmin: Promocyjna Gra Karciana (The Witcher Promo Card Game) was added to the "Collector's Edition" of The Witcher in some countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.grynazamowienie.pl/index.php?page=witcher|title=Gry na zamówienie. Kuźnia Gier. Produkcja i kreacja gier planszowych na zamówienie klienta!|website=Grynazamowienie.pl|access-date=February 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506072424/http://grynazamowienie.pl/index.php?page=witcher|archive-date=May 6, 2016}}

A rock opera and a musical entitled {{ill|The Road of No Return|ru|Дорога без возврата (рок-опера)}} based on the series were produced by Russian symphonic rock band {{ill|ESSE|ru|ESSE (группа)}} in 2009 and 2011–2012 respectively.{{Cite web |url=http://werawolw.ru/?p=4672 |title=Вера Волошинова — Премьера рок-оперы "Дорога без возврата" прошла в Ростове-на-Дону |access-date=2010-08-09 |archive-date=2019-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404072444/http://werawolw.ru/?p=4672 |url-status=live }}

• {{portal-inline|Literature}}
• Polish literature

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

; Novel series

• [https://sapkowskipl.wordpress.com/ Official website of Andrzej Sapkowski] {{in lang|pl}}
• {{isfdb series|id=25632|title=The Witcher Saga}}

; Video game series

• [https://www.thewitcher.com/ Official website]

{{Witcher series}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Witcher, The}}

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