Sword Art Online Watch Order Guide
Looking for the correct order to watch the Sword Art Online series? This guide covers the recommended watch order including sequels, side stories, and related entries.
Why Watch Order Matters
The Sword Art Online franchise has 7 entries, making it important to watch them in the right order to fully understand the story, character development, and plot connections between series.
Recommended Watch Order
The following order is recommended for the best viewing experience. This is the chronological order that follows the story timeline:
- Sword Art Online II (sequel)
- Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale (sequel)
- Sword Art Online: Alicization (sequel)
- Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld (sequel)
- Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld Part 2 (sequel)
- Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online (side story)
Release Order vs Chronological Order
For first-time viewers, we generally recommend release order as it provides the intended viewing experience designed by the creators. Chronological order is better suited for rewatches when you want to experience the story's timeline linearly.
Tips for New Viewers
- Start with the main series if you're unsure
- Side stories and OVAs can be watched after completing the main storyline
- Movies may or may not be canon — check individual entries for details