You should play first two games!

Got to be honest only played 1 and 2 after finishing 3 but i did. Read the books too!

witcher one is a slog, the game play isnt really polished at all and its a totally different style. The voice acting in witcher 1 is also fucking awful. I gave up on the game part way in cause i just couldnt stand the game. I can defo see why people would skip it. witcher 2 is veeeeery similar to witcher 3 tho and anyone that rather liked the gameplay style of 3 would enjoy 2 and the storytelling is also rather similar.

I'm guilty of this, but the Witcher 3 is one of the greatest games ever made