How To Watch Sword Art Online in Order
Sword Art Online (SAO) is one of the most popular anime series that blends action, adventure, and virtual reality. Since its debut in 2012, it has expanded into several seasons, spin-offs, and even films. However, with the various arcs and storylines, it can be tricky to figure out the best way to watch it.
How to watch Sword Art Online in chronological order
Sword Art Online season 1, episodes 1 and 2
Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night (Movie)
Sword Art Online season 1, episodes 3 to 25
Sword Art Online’s first two episodes set up the Aincrad Arc (that goes on till episode 14). This arc sets the foundation for the entire series, where players are trapped in the virtual reality game Sword Art Online and must fight for their survival.
Aincrad is the name of the primary setting in the first arc of Sword Art Online. It is a massive, floating, steel castle with 100 floors, each of which has its own unique environment, cities, and monsters. If a player dies in Aincrad, they die in real life, which makes the stakes incredibly high for all the players within the game.
In between episode 2 and 3 are two movies that are labeled as Sword Art Online Progressive. These movies retell the events of Aincrad in greater detail, showing new perspectives and exploring previously untold stories within the virtual world.
Following episode 3, the Aincrad Arc continues till episode 14. Then, from episodes 15 to 25, we get to see the Fairy Dance Arc. Following the events of Aincrad, the series continues with Kirito’s journey into the world of ALfheim Online as he tries to rescue Asuna from captivity.
Then comes the Sword Art Online Extra Edition OVA. This special episode primarily recaps the first season, but also contains new scenes that connect to the events leading up to the Gun Gale Online arc.
The second season of Sword Art Online shifts the focus to Gun Gale Online, a VR game where Kirito is tasked with investigating mysterious player deaths.
Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online is a spin-off series from Sword Art Online, set in the same virtual universe but with a different cast of characters. The story focuses on a girl named Karen, who uses the avatar "LLENN" in the game Gun Gale Online.
Set after the events of SAO season 2, the film Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale features a new augmented reality game called Ordinal Scale, and introduces new characters while advancing the core storyline.
After this, Kirito finds himself in a new, hyper-realistic VR world called the Underworld, kicking off the Alicization arc. This final arc is massive and kicks off a complex, multi-season story.
Here’s a guide to watching Sword Art Online in both chronological and release order. Our guide also gives you all the shows and movies that are streaming online along with offers to watch them.
