How to Watch Sword Art Online in Order (With Movies)

The Sci-Fi anime, Sword Art Online, based on the Japanese light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by Abec, has become quite popular in the past decade. SAO's story is set in the future and focuses on the protagonist "Kirito" Kirigaya Kazuto and Asuna Yuuki as they play through various virtual reality MMORPG worlds.

The two players are eventually trapped in the virtual world of "Sword Art Online," where they are tasked with clearing all 100 Floors and defeating the final boss to be freed from the game. Sword Art Online's futuristic story is remarkably unique for the anime genre, especially with the twists and turns we witness throughout the series.

Fans looking to watch Sword Art Online can check it out on Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu, and Netflix. All four platforms feature the series in the English subbed and dubbed versions. The two Sword Art Online films (Extra Edition and Ordinal Scale) are also available on Crunchyroll and Hulu. Funimation only features the Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale film on its platform.

The Sword Art Online anime series has three seasons and 86 episodes, none of which are fillers. The recommended order of Sword Art Online is its chronological order. 

Check out the full list of Sword Art Online episodes, movies, ONAs, specials, and the chronological order to watch them below:

Release Order

TV Series

• Season 1: Sword Art Online (2012)
• Season 2: Sword Art Online II (2014)
• Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online (2018)
• Season 3, Part 1: Sword Art Online: Alicization (2018–19)
• Season 3, Part 2: Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld (2019–20)
• Season 3, Part 3: Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld Part 2 (2020)

Movies

• Sword Art Online: Extra Edition (2013)
• Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale (2017)

ONAs

• Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet: The Third Episode – Pilot-ban (2018)

Specials

• Sword Art Online: Sword Art Offline (2013)
• Sword Art Online: Extra Edition (2013)
• Sword Art Online: Sword Art Offline – Extra Edition (2014)
• Sword Art Online II: Debriefing (2014)
• Sword Art Online II: Sword Art Offline II (2014)
• Sword Art Online Movie: Ordinal Scale – Sword Art Offline (2017)
• Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet: The Third Episode (2018)
• Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online – Refrain (2018)
• Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld Reflection (2018)
• Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld Recap (2020)

Upcoming

• Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night (30th October 2021) (Movie)

Chronological Order

• Season 1: Sword Art Online
• MOVIE - Sword Art Online: Extra Edition
• Season 2: Sword Art Online II
• Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online
• MOVIE - Sword Art Online Movie: Ordinal Scale
• Season 3, Part 1: Sword Art Online: Alicization
• Season 3, Part 2: Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld
• Season 3, Part 3: Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld 2nd Season

Fans can also watch the anime specials; however, the episodes are either recaps or one-shots that do not fit into the main plotline.

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