How to watch Sword Art Online in order
Sword Art Online is the king of the isekai genre. Here's how to watch it in an order that makes sense.
Picture this: you've signed up for a new MMO where, with technology called Nerve Gear, you'll be able to control your Avatar with your body.
Only, things take a turn for the worse when you find yourself effectively trapped inside by the game's creator with one simple rule: if you die in the game, you die in real life.
If that sounds like an intriguing premise to you, then you'll most definitely love Sword Art Online.
Written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec, Sword Art Online first began as a web novel in 2002, before it was adapted into a light novel series that is still ongoing today. It became so well-loved that it was adapted into an anime series produced by A-1 Pictures, which aired in 2012.
Sword Art Online was instantly well-received by fans and critics alike, particularly for delving deeper into how online worlds can have psychological effects on the players that inhabit them. With such acclaim, it's no surprise that Sword Art Online has become a franchise in and of itself, quickly gaining video games and movies.
With so much going on, new viewers may find it confusing to know where to start. Thankfully, we have just the guide to help you watch Sword Art Online in order.
How to watch Sword Art Online in order
Sword Art Online has 96 episodes across three seasons, so there's a lot for you to get into if you find yourself feeling the itch to try out this anime series. That's not even including the three movies.
We recommend starting at the beginning and watching Sword Art Online in the order it was released, so you can fully appreciate the story's impact and avoid spoilers.
- Sword Art Online (2012)
- Sword Art Online EXTRA EDITION (2013)
- Sword Art Online II (2014)
- Sword Art Online The Movie: -Ordinal Scale- (2021)
- Sword Art Online: Alicization (2018-2020)
- Sword Art Online The Movie: -Progressive- Aria of a Starless Night (2022)
- Sword Art Online The Movie: -Progressive- Scherzo of Deep Night (2024)
We're aware that Sword Art Online also has a Gun Gal spin-off series, but it's not necessary to watch this, as it doesn't have any significant impact on the franchise as a whole.
If you want to watch it, however, we recommend doing so after Sword Art Online: Alicization.
How to watch Sword Art Online movies in order
Sword Art Online has four movies to its name.
The first is EXTRA Edition, which, for most intents and purposes, is a massive recap of the first season of Sword Art Online.
If you've already watched the first season, there's no real reason to watch this film unless you're in a hurry and want to know the basics of the first season as soon as possible.
The next three movies are all based on original stories, rather than recaps like EXTRA Edition. As such, it's safe to watch them in release order without worrying about potentially spoiling anything.
- Sword Art Online EXTRA EDITION (2013)
- Sword Art Online The Movie: -Ordinal Scale- (2021)
- Sword Art Online The Movie: -Progressive- Aria of a Starless Night (2022)
- Sword Art Online The Movie: -Progressive- Scherzo of Deep Night (2024)
How to watch the English dub of Sword Art Online
You can watch the English dub of Sword Art Online via Crunchyroll as well as Apple TV+.
How to watch Sword Art Online in the UK
The best way to watch Sword Art Online in the UK is through Crunchyroll. You're also able to purchase DVDs and Blu-ray copies of the popular anime series via retail stores like HMV and Amazon.
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