The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - to simulate or not to simulate a Witcher 2 save

At the beginning of the game, you're given the choice of whether to simulate a Witcher 2 save to influence the events of The Witcher 3.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt gives players the choice of either going in with a clean slate or answering a few questions about Geralt's part in the events of previous games. The choices yield different results, but it's not clear which is which from the outset.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the first game in the series to come to a PlayStation and Nintendo platforms. It's also the series' first new-gen instalment, which means importing saves from The Witcher 2 is impossible. The PC version has a save import function, so it's not an issue there.

To get around that on consoles, developer CD Projekt devised a scene in which a character asks Geralt a few questions about his choices in the previous game's various plot points. Your choices matter, as they alter the world state and other small storylines in the game.

There's just one small problem: when you're given the choice after starting a new game, the description doesn't make it clear which of them shows you this scene and which doesn't.

To make it even more confusion, the scene in question doesn't actually play until a good few hours into the game, so there's no way to know if you made the choice you wanted. As part of our full The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt guide and walkthrough, we're here to help.

Here's what you need to decide:

• If you want to make sure choices you've made in The Witcher 2 carry over to the new game - or want to curate history for yourself - you'll need to choose to simulate. This will cue the scene (which takes place after the prologue) and you will be asked you about your past when you arrive in Vizima.
• If you want to go in clean, or "as CD Projekt intended," as some players believe, you will need to not select the simulate option when selecting a new game.

Simulating a Witcher 2 save

There are various choices presented to you if you choose to simulate a save. These are:

• Killing or sparing Aryan La Valette
• Siding with either Vernon Roche or Iorveth
• Saving Triss in Loc Muinne
• Saving Anaïs La Valette, if you sided with Roche
• Helping lift Saskia's spell, if you sided with Iorveth
• Saving Síle de Tansarville from the malfunctioning megascope or letting her die
• Killing or sparing Letho of Gulet

Each of these choices will influence which characters are still alive and reappear in The Witcher 3 as well as your relationships with them. They show up throughout the game and some even have their own side quests.

For example, Vernon Roche and the rival Witcher, Letho of Gulet, can be recruited to play key roles in some of the game's main arcs, as well as having their own stories.

You can also check out our The Witcher 3 main quest guide, as well as our Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine guides if you want to jump straight into the DLC.