All 3 ‘Sword Art Online’ Seasons in Order (Including Movies & a Special)

by

As a dedicated anime enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in various virtual worlds, I wholeheartedly recommend embarking on the captivating journey that is “Sword Art Online”. The series, with its intricate plotlines and engaging characters, provides an unparalleled experience for fans of both action and drama.

As a dedicated fan of ‘Sword Art Online’, here’s the step-by-step guide I followed to watch the series in chronological order:

Editor’s Note: This watch order was updated in September 2024 and reflects the most up-to-date state of the ‘Sword Art Online’ franchise.

All ‘Sword Art Online’ seasons, movies & specials in release date order

The adaptation of the “Sword Art Online” anime was unveiled back in 2011, and the initial season premiered a year later in 2012, garnering varied opinions from the anime enthusiasts and eventually winning over fans. Over time, the franchise has experienced substantial growth, and here is a list of its releases in the order they came out:

  • ‘Season 1: Sword Art Online‘ (2012)
  • ‘Sword Art Online Extra Edition’ (2013)
  • ‘Season 2: Sword Art Online II‘ (2014)
  • ‘Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale’
  • ‘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)
  • ‘Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night‘ (2021)
  • ‘Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of a Dark Dusk‘ (2022)

Are all seasons & movies of ‘Sword Art Online connected? What’s the best way to watch them?

In essence, the diverse seasons in ‘Sword Art Online’ often link together to create a unified story arc. The show primarily revolves around the journeys of its main characters, Kirito and Asuna, as they traverse distinct virtual realms, encountering numerous obstacles along the way. Though each season presents fresh game worlds and characters, there’s an underlying plot that binds them all together.

For first-time viewers exploring the ‘Sword Art Online’ universe, it’s recommended to watch the series in the order of its release. But if you’re an experienced fan seeking a fresh perspective, opting for a chronological viewing might be more intriguing for you.

All ‘Sword Art Online’ seasons & movies in chronological order

In essence, the timeline of ‘Sword Art Online’ isn’t overly complicated once you take a closer look. Key storylines, or arcs, are crucial to understand, and here’s a breakdown of them in their correct sequence.

  1. ‘Sword Art Online’ Season 1
    • ‘Sword Art Online’: Aincrad Arc (Episodes 1-14)
    • ‘Sword Art Online’: Fairy Dance Arc (Episodes 15-25)
  2. Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of the Starless Night (an expanded retelling of Aincrad Arc)
  3. ‘Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of Deep Night’ (takes place roughly a month after ‘Aria of the Starless Night)
  4. ‘Sword Art Online: Extra Edition’ (This is a special episode that includes a recap of the first season and some additional content.)
  5. ‘Sword Art Online’ Season 2
    • ‘Sword Art Online’: Phantom Bullet Arc (Episodes 1-14)
    • ‘Sword Art Online’: Calibur Arc (Episodes 15-17)
    • ‘Sword Art Online’: Mother’s Rosario Arc (Episodes 18-24)
  6. ‘Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online‘ (takes place around the same time as Mother Rosario Arc)
  7. ‘Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale’ (This is a movie set after the events of Season 2.)
  8. Sword Art Online: Alicization
    • Part 1: Alicization Beginning (Episodes 1 -13)
    • Part 2: Alicization Rising (Episodes 14 – 20)
    • Part 3: Alicization Uniting (Episodes 21-24)
    • Part 4: Alicization Invading (Episodes 24-29)
    • Part 5: Alicization Exploding (Episodes 30 – 34)
    • Part 6: Alicization Awakening (Episodes 35 – 41)
    • Part 7: Alicization Lasting (Episodes 42- 47)

It’s recommended that you begin by watching the first season of ‘Sword Art Online’. Following this, you might want to watch ‘Aria of the Starless Night’, as the film is set during the Aincrad Arc, which serves as an expanded retelling of the arc. After ‘Aria of the Starless Night’, you should proceed to ‘Scherzo of Deep Night’, since the movie takes place approximately a month after the events in ‘Aria of the Starless Night’.

‘Sword Art Online: Extra Edition’ is essentially a summary of the first season, which you can safely skip if you’ve already watched it. After finishing the first season, you can move on to Season 2.

The last season is smooth sailing from here.

Where to watch all the above-mentioned seasons & movies?

You can watch the entire first season of ‘Sword Art Online’ on both Hulu and Crunchyroll, but to catch the following two seasons and a special episode, you’ll need to head over to Crunchyroll exclusively.

Gun Gale Online’ on platforms like Hulu or Crunchyroll.

The first movie ‘Sword Art Online: The Movie – Ordinal Scale’ can be streamed only on Hulu, ‘Sword Art Online: Progressive – Aria of a Starless Night’ can only be streamed on Crunchyroll, and ‘Sword Art Online the Movie -Progressive- Scherzo of Deep Night’ is still not on western streaming services and therefore cannot be found anywhere legally.

Will there be more ‘Sword Art Online’ seasons or movies?

Despite appearing as if the anime series had reached its end, fans now have something exciting to anticipate – a sequel movie, titled ‘Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of Deep Night’, has been successfully released, hinting at more stories to come.

During the special celebration for “Sword Art Online: Full Dive”, a thrilling new movie concept was revealed. This unique production stands out as an original work, offering stories different from those presented in the light novel series.

Read More

2024-09-21 17:15