We’re in the age of the VRMMO anime, whether we like it or not. It’s debatable where this trend started; it could be that.Hack//SIGN(which began airing in 2002) could be responsible, but things didn’t really start to kick off untilSword Art Online (SAO)started airing in 2012.
Sword Art Onlinefollows Kirito and Asuna, two players of a VRMMO known as Sword Art Online who are, along with many, many others, trapped inside the game. It’s an evergreen premise, given the amount of other anime that have been made on the back ofSAO, includingLog Horizon,Accel World, and more.
But, as the franchise has been in production for over 20 years now, there are more people than ever who want to see what all the fuss has been about, but who don’t know how. So, let’s go over the best watch order for theSword Art Onlineanime. This will only cover the currently available anime seasons and films, so anything not adapted into anime at the time of writing this will not be included.
How to start watching Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online(E1 — E25)
First up is the original season ofSword Art Online. It covers Kirito and Asuna’s experience in Aincrad, or the game called Sword Art Online. Starting in episode 15, the focus shifts from Sword Art Online to Alfheim Online, and the story starts to go a little off the rails. But it’s still good. It’s just strange.
Sword Art Online II(E1 — E24)
Sword Art Online IIcovers the next trilogy of story arcs: Gun Gale Online, Excalibur, and Mother’s Rosario — and unfortunately, they are not all created equally. If you were to ask me, skip episodes 15 through 17; they aren’t relevant to anything else, and it is an absolute slog to get through them.
Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale
Ordinal Scaleis an original film set between the events ofSAO IIandAlicization, so it’s best to watch it here. It shifts from a VRMMO focus to an ARMMO focus, and introduces a new character, Yuuna.
Sword Art Online: Alicization(E1 — E47)
Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night / Scherzo of a Deep Night
I place both this film and its sequel at the end becauseSword Art Online Progressiveis a reimagining of the original Aincrad arc from Asuna’s perspective. As such, you could either watch it after having seen everything else, or you could watch it immediately after the Aincrad arc in the original anime.
Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online(E1 — E12)
Last, but certainly not least — I think it’s arguably better than most of the franchise — we haveSword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online. This is a spinoff of the series based on light novels written by Keiichi Sigsawa, the mind behind theKino’s Journeylight novels. It’s set in Gun Gale Online and follows Llenn, who participates in the Bullet of Bullets tournament. This one is immediately relevant because a second season was announced earlier in 2023.
