# Sword Art Online Watch Order

Also known as: S.A.O, SAO
Source: https://www.animechrono.com/franchise/sword-art-online
Last updated: 2026-09-16
Maintained by the AnimeChrono community. 21 entries in chronological viewing order.

The Sword Art Online watch order runs through all four main arcs — Aincrad and Fairy Dance (Episodes 1-25), Phantom Bullet (Episodes 26-49), Gun Gale Online Alternative, and the sprawling Alicization saga — plus the Ordinal Scale movie and a stack of specials. Start with Episodes 1-25, then the lighthearted Sword Art Offline specials and Extra Edition before jumping into Episodes 26-49 and Sword Art Offline II. Watch Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale next, since the film bridges into later events, followed by the Fatal Bullet entries and the Gun Gale Online Alternative run of Episodes 1-12. Alicization comes last: Episodes 1-24, the Recollection and War of Underworld Reflection specials, then War of Underworld Episodes 1-12 and its recap. This is the complete chronological order including all movies and OVAs, so you always know exactly where each special and film fits between the numbered episode blocks.

## The order

1. Season 1: Sword Art Online: Episodes 1-25
2. Season 1: Sword Art Online: Sword Art Online: Sword Art Offline Special (OVA) — optional
3. Season 1: Sword Art Online: Sword Art Online: Extra Edition Special (OVA) — optional
4. Season 1: Sword Art Online: Sword Art Online: Sword Art Offline- Extra Edition Special (OVA) — optional
5. Season 2: Sword Art Online 2: Episodes 26-49
6. Season 2: Sword Art Online 2: Sword Art Online II: Sword Art Offline II (OVA) — optional
7. Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale Movie (movie)
8. Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet: The Third Episode: Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet: The Third Episodes ONA (OVA) — optional
9. Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet: The Third Episode: Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet: The Third Episodes/ Special (OVA) — optional
10. Sword ARt Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online: Episodes 1-12
11. Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online Special (OVA) — optional
12. Season 3: Sword Art Online: Alicization: Episodes 1-24
13. Season 3: Sword Art Online: Alicization: Sword Art Online: Alicization- Recollection Special (OVA) — optional
14. Season 3: Sword Art Online: Alicization: Sword Art Online: Alicization- War of Underworld Reflection Special (OVA) — optional
15. Season 3: Sword Art Online: Alicization: Sword Art Online: Alicization- War of Underworld Episodes 1-12
16. Season 3: Sword Art Online: Alicization: Sword Art Online: Alicization- War of Underworld Recap Special
17. Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld Part 2: Episodes 1–11
18. Sword Art Online the Movie -Progressive- Aria of a Starless Night (movie)
19. Sword Art Online the Movie -Progressive- Scherzo of Deep Night (movie)
20. Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II: Episodes 1–12
21. Unanswered//butterfly: Sword Art Online (movie)

## FAQ

**What is the correct order to watch Sword Art Online?**

Start with Episodes 1-25 (Season 1: Sword Art Online), then continue with Sword Art Online: Sword Art Offline Special (Season 1: Sword Art Online), Sword Art Online: Extra Edition Special (Season 1: Sword Art Online), Sword Art Online: Sword Art Offline- Extra Edition Special (Season 1: Sword Art Online), Episodes 26-49 (Season 2: Sword Art Online 2), and Sword Art Online II: Sword Art Offline II (Season 2: Sword Art Online 2), followed by 15 more entries. The full Sword Art Online watch order on this page has 21 entries across 11 series, listed in chronological viewing order.

**How many episodes is Sword Art Online?**

Sword Art Online has 120 TV episodes in this order, plus 4 movies and 9 OVAs.

**Where do the Sword Art Online movies fit in the watch order?**

Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale Movie comes right after Sword Art Online II: Sword Art Offline II (Season 2: Sword Art Online 2), Sword Art Online the Movie -Progressive- Aria of a Starless Night comes right after Episodes 1–11 (Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld Part 2), Sword Art Online the Movie -Progressive- Scherzo of Deep Night comes right after Sword Art Online the Movie -Progressive- Aria of a Starless Night, and Unanswered//butterfly: Sword Art Online comes right after Episodes 1–12 (Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II).

**Can I skip anything in Sword Art Online?**

Yes. 9 entries are marked optional: Sword Art Online: Sword Art Offline Special, Sword Art Online: Extra Edition Special, Sword Art Online: Sword Art Offline- Extra Edition Special, Sword Art Online II: Sword Art Offline II, Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet: The Third Episodes ONA, and Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet: The Third Episodes/ Special, and 3 more. Everything else is part of the main story.

**Is Sword Art Online finished?**

Yes. Sword Art Online has finished airing, and this order covers everything released so far in chronological viewing order.

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