# Rurouni Kenshin Watch Order

Also known as: Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan, Samurai X
Source: https://www.animechrono.com/franchise/rurouni-kenshin
Last updated: 2026-09-16
Maintained by the AnimeChrono community. 12 entries in chronological viewing order.

The Rurouni Kenshin watch order spans the original 95-episode TV series plus its acclaimed OVA arcs and a feature film, and the recommended sequence opens before the main show. Begin with the Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal OVAs, which cover Kenshin's origin as a wandering assassin, then move into the TV series across Episodes 1-27, 28-62, and 63-95. After the series, watch the OVA shorts — The Man of the Slashing Sword, The Lost Cat, The Previous Night at the Mountain Home, The Cross-Shaped Wound, and both parts of After So Many Years Have Lapsed. Finish with Samurai X: The Motion Picture and the Samurai X: Reflections OVA, which closes Kenshin's story. Watching in this chronological order, rather than airing order, gives the emotional beats their full weight and keeps every movie and OVA in its correct place around the main Studio Gallop run.

## The order

1. Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal OVAs
2. Season 1: Episodes 1-27
3. Season 2: Episodes 28-62
4. Season 3: Episodes 63-95
5. Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen: The Man of the Slashing Sword (OVA) — optional
6. Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen: The Lost Cat (OVA) — optional
7. Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen: The Previous Night at the Mountain Home (OVA) — optional
8. Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen: The Cross-Shaped Wound (OVA) — optional
9. Rurouni Kenshin: Seisōhen: After So Many Years Have Lapsed, Part 1 (OVA) — optional
10. Rurouni Kenshin: Seisōhen: After So Many Years Have Lapsed, Part 2 (OVA) — optional
11. Samurai X:The Motion Picture (movie)
12. Samurai X: Reflections OVA (OVA) — optional

## FAQ

**What is the correct order to watch Rurouni Kenshin?**

Start with Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal OVAs, then continue with Episodes 1-27 (Season 1), Episodes 28-62 (Season 2), Episodes 63-95 (Season 3), The Man of the Slashing Sword (Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen), and The Lost Cat (Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen), followed by 6 more entries. The full Rurouni Kenshin watch order on this page has 12 entries across 8 series, listed in chronological viewing order.

**How many episodes is Rurouni Kenshin?**

Rurouni Kenshin has 95 TV episodes in this order, plus 1 movie and 7 OVAs.

**Where do the Rurouni Kenshin movies fit in the watch order?**

Samurai X:The Motion Picture comes right after After So Many Years Have Lapsed, Part 2 (Rurouni Kenshin: Seisōhen).

**Can I skip anything in Rurouni Kenshin?**

Yes. 7 entries are marked optional: The Man of the Slashing Sword, The Lost Cat, The Previous Night at the Mountain Home, The Cross-Shaped Wound, After So Many Years Have Lapsed, Part 1, and After So Many Years Have Lapsed, Part 2, and 1 more. Everything else is part of the main story.

**Is Rurouni Kenshin finished?**

Yes. Rurouni Kenshin 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/rurouni-kenshin. Every change is versioned.