# Higurashi: When They Cry Watch Order Also known as: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, When They Cry, When the Cicadas Cry Source: https://www.animechrono.com/franchise/higurashi-when-they-cry Last updated: 2026-10-30 Last checked against current sources: 2026-10-30 AnimeChrono watch orders put every season, movie, OVA, ONA and special in chronological story order, mark optional entries, say where to start, and are maintained by signed-in fans with versioned edits that can be reverted (7 entries in this order). The Higurashi: When They Cry watch order is simple once you know the series is a mystery told in question and answer arcs. Start with the 2006 series, Episodes 1-26, which replays the same June in the village of Hinamizawa through several question arcs, each ending in tragedy. Kai, Episodes 1-24, follows straight on with the answer arcs that explain them. Rei, the five-episode 2009 OVA, comes next: its Saikoroshi-hen episodes are the canon epilogue, while the first and last episodes are comedy. Higurashi Gou (Episodes 1-24) and Sotsu (Episodes 1-15), from 2020 and 2021, must be watched after Kai, because Gou looks like a remake but is a sequel built on the original's twists. The Kira and Kaku: Outbreak OVAs are non-canon extras listed after the main story, and a new TV anime announced in June 2026 will be added once it has a date. Umineko: When They Cry shares the name but is a separate story and is not part of this order. ## Recommended first watch Watch the 2006 series (26 episodes), then Kai (24), then Rei (2009 OVA; episodes 2-4 are the ones that matter), then Gou (24) and Sotsu (15). Do not start with Gou: it opens like a remake but spoils the original. Kira and Outbreak are optional, non-canon extras. ## Start here Start with Episodes 1-26 (Higurashi: When They Cry (2006)). 2 entries are optional: Higurashi Kira and Higurashi Kaku: Outbreak. The story still tracks without them. Filler and skip notes: - **Higurashi Kaku: Outbreak** — Optional. - **Higurashi Kira** — Optional. ## The chronological order 1. Higurashi: When They Cry (2006): Episodes 1-26 2. Higurashi Kai: Episodes 1-24 3. Higurashi Rei (OVA) 4. Higurashi Gou: Episodes 1-24 5. Higurashi Sotsu: Episodes 1-15 6. Higurashi Kira (OVA) — optional 7. Higurashi Kaku: Outbreak (OVA) — optional ## Release order Sorted by air date. This follows when each entry aired, which may differ from the chronological watch order. 1. Higurashi: When They Cry (2006): Episodes 1-26 — aired 2006-04-05 2. Higurashi Kai: Episodes 1-24 — aired 2007-07-06 3. Higurashi Rei (OVA) — aired 2009-02-15 4. Higurashi Kira (OVA) — optional — aired 2011-07-21 5. Higurashi Kaku: Outbreak (OVA) — optional — aired 2013-08-15 6. Higurashi Gou: Episodes 1-24 — aired 2020-10-01 7. Higurashi Sotsu: Episodes 1-15 — aired 2021-07-01 ## FAQ **What order should I watch Higurashi: When They Cry in?** Watch the 2006 series (26 episodes), then Kai (24), then Rei (2009 OVA; episodes 2-4 are the ones that matter), then Gou (24) and Sotsu (15). Do not start with Gou: it opens like a remake but spoils the original. Kira and Outbreak are optional, non-canon extras. **Should I watch Higurashi Gou before the original?** No. Gou opens like a remake, but it is a sequel whose twists assume you know how the original and Kai end. Watch the 2006 series and Kai first. **Is Higurashi Rei canon?** Partly. Episodes 2-4 (Saikoroshi-hen) are a canon epilogue to Kai, and Gou builds on them. Episodes 1 and 5 are comedy and can be skipped. **Do I need to watch Umineko before or after Higurashi?** No. Umineko: When They Cry is a separate story by the same creator with only small crossover nods, so it is not part of this order. Higurashi stands on its own. **What is the chronological order of Higurashi: When They Cry?** Start with Episodes 1-26 (Higurashi: When They Cry (2006)), then continue with Episodes 1-24 (Higurashi Kai), Higurashi Rei, Episodes 1-24 (Higurashi Gou), Episodes 1-15 (Higurashi Sotsu), and Higurashi Kira, followed by 1 more entry. The full Higurashi: When They Cry watch order on this page has 7 entries across 7 series, listed in chronological viewing order. **What is the release order of Higurashi: When They Cry?** In the order they aired, start with Episodes 1-26 (Higurashi: When They Cry (2006)), then Episodes 1-24 (Higurashi Kai), Higurashi Rei, Higurashi Kira, Higurashi Kaku: Outbreak, and Episodes 1-24 (Higurashi Gou), followed by 1 more entry. Release order follows air dates and is not the recommended chronological order. **How many episodes is Higurashi: When They Cry?** Higurashi: When They Cry has 89 TV episodes in this order, plus 3 OVAs. **Can I skip anything in Higurashi: When They Cry?** Yes. 2 entries are marked optional: Higurashi Kira and Higurashi Kaku: Outbreak. Everything else is part of the main story. **Is Higurashi: When They Cry finished?** Yes. Higurashi: When They Cry has finished airing, and this order covers everything released so far in chronological viewing order. --- Something wrong or out of date? Anyone can edit this order at https://www.animechrono.com/franchise/higurashi-when-they-cry. Every change is versioned.