Should I play beholder 1 and 2 first?

[Norfar]

Or is 3 the same but better?

[Lonesome 77]

Each game is effectively standalone since they all feature a different main character and story. You could play Beholder 3 without having played 1 and 2 first, and you wouldn't be confused about who the characters are, what the setting is, etc. I'd recommend also playing Beholder 1 and 2 at some point.

[wrenelessedil]

I think it would be a slightly better experience if you played Beholder 1 and Blissful sleep first. Just slightly. As Lonesome said, it's not a dealbreaker if you play 3 first, though. I am not a big fan of 2, and it seems to be the most stand-alone one and deviated a lot from the art style. So I would say that enjoyment of 3 doesn't hinge much on that one at all.