What is the best order to watch Sword Art Online?

For first-timers, we recommend Release Order as it's the intended experience. For rewatches, Timeline/Chronological Order offers a fresh perspective by following the in-universe chronology.

How many titles are in Sword Art Online?

Sword Art Online currently includes content across multiple formats. Use the section filters to view specific content types and the order variants to choose your preferred viewing order.

Should I watch Sword Art Online in release order or chronological order?

Release order is best for first-time viewers as it preserves the creators' intended narrative reveals. Chronological order is great for rewatches and understanding the timeline better.

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Sword Art Online

edited 2026-05-21

A complete watch and read order for Sword Art Online — Reki Kawahara's anime series, theatrical films, Progressive theatrical films, light novels, and manga adaptations. Covers the main story from the original 2012 Aincrad arc through Alicization and War of Underworld, plus the SAO Alternative: Gun Gale Online spin-off anime.

sections6items26completed0 / 26 · 0%first2009latest2024

Tags · [main-arc][progressive][spin-off][aincrad][alicization]

page order

anime7 items · 7 unwatched

01ANIME

2012The first 25-episode season of Sword Art Online, directed by Tomohiko Itou and produced by A-1 Pictures, broadcast on MBS from July 8 to Dec…

02SPECIAL

2013A 101-minute special produced by A-1 Pictures, aired on December 31, 2013. The first half consists of recap footage from Season 1 narrated b…

1h 41m

03ANIME

2014The 24-episode second season directed by Tomohiko Itou and produced by A-1 Pictures, broadcast from July 5 to December 20, 2014. Episodes 1–…

04FILM

2017The 2017 theatrical film directed by Tomohiko Itou and produced by A-1 Pictures, released in Japan on February 18, 2017. In 2026, a wearable…

2h 0m

05ANIME

2018The first 24-episode cour of Season 3, directed by Manabu Ono and produced by A-1 Pictures, broadcast from October 7, 2018 to March 31, 2019…

06ANIME

2019The 12-episode third cour of Season 3, directed by Manabu Ono and produced by A-1 Pictures, broadcast from October 13 to December 29, 2019.…

07ANIME

2020The 11-episode fourth and final cour of Season 3, directed by Manabu Ono and produced by A-1 Pictures, broadcast from July 12 to September 2…

progressive films2 items · 2 unwatched

spin-off anime2 items · 2 unwatched

light novels8 items · 8 unwatched

progressive light novels1 items · 1 unwatched

manga6 items · 6 unwatched