Based on the popular light novels by Reki Kawahara, Sword Art Online is ane of the best-known anime of the by decade. The fantasy sci-fi series has captured the imaginations of viewers across the world with its adventures through different game worlds and often blurs the lines between virtual reality and existent life.

Equally the serial continues to grow, information technology can be intimidating to newcomers with its unique timeline and lengthy titles for story arcs and films. Here'southward a breakdown of the full SAO timeline and the best order in which to watch it.

Flavour ane: Sword Art Online (Aincrad/Fairy Trip the light fantastic toe)

The first season that started information technology all is separate into two arcs: the "Aincrad" Arc and the "Fairy Trip the light fantastic" Arc. "Aincrad" introduces protagonist Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya, who in November 2022 is trapped, along with x,000 other players, within the VR globe of Sword Art Online. The threat is real: anyone who dies in the game dies in existent life, and all 100 floors must be cleared in order to escape the game and return to the real world. Information technology's filled with exciting battles and heartbreaking deaths — dearest even blossoms in the midst of the life-or-expiry struggle.

Sword Art Online Kirito Yui and Asuna

"Fairy Dance" begins two months after the end of "Aincrad." 300 players from the SAO incident remain trapped for reasons unknown, including Kirito's dearest girlfriend Asuna. She remains unconscious and extremely frail in the real world as Kirito finds out she is existence held hostage in some other VR game, ALfheim Online. The world and cast start to expand here as Asuna's family and connections are introduced, along with a mysterious government representative whose influence grows with each successive season.

This short picture features Kirito giving a full recap of Flavor 1'due south events to government official Seijirou Kikuoka. There'south also some make new content as the girls have a swimming adventure in the real world and the full cast finally enjoys a non-life threatening quest in ALO.

Season 2: Sword Art Online 2 (Phantom Bullet/Calibur/Mother's Rosario)

Season 2 begins with the "Phantom Bullet" Arc, a total year afterwards the SAO incident. Every bit the new shooter VR game Gun Gale Online grows in popularity, two mysterious incidents involving a player named Death Gun alarm the authorities. When Death Gun shoots a thespian's avatar, that player as well ends upwardly dying in the real earth. Due to Kirito'southward gaming knowledge and expertise, he is asked to dive into GGO and investigate. He teams up with sniper extraordinaire Shino "Sinon" Asada and learns the antagonists are more familiar than he realized.

The "Calibur" Arc is a brusk but fun filler run a risk for the full cast — at present including Sinon — back in ALfheim Online. A lighthearted story that sits in between 2 significantly heavier ones.

"Mother's Rosario" is an emotional story that gives Asuna her long-awaited turn in the spotlight. Back in ALO, she hears of an skillful sword fighter named Zekken who is undefeated in 1-on-one battles, including a victory over Kirito. Asuna and Zekken, real name Yuuki, become fast friends and Asuna joins her guild for a fourth dimension. Reality, nonetheless, isn't so lighthearted every bit Yuuki carries a devastating real-earth burden connected to her desire to compete in ALO. Have tissues at the ready.

Sword Art Online Culling: Gun Gale Online

SAO Alternative is a separate series with a whole different cast of characters. Based on the light novels by Keiichi Sigsawa, the only similarity to the chief serial is that it takes place in the already-established world of Gun Gale Online. It tin can exist viewed completely on its ain, although a couple of easter egg references to Sinon and Kirito might be missed without watching the "Phantom Bullet" Arc kickoff.

Shy college educatee Karen Kouhirimaki struggles with socializing and making friends due to her exceptionally tall pinnacle. She decides to endeavor VR games as an escape and comes to love the thrill of Gun Gale Online, which as well allows her to create her own avatar and become the brusque, pink-clad daughter she always wanted to be. Now full of confidence every bit Llenn, she guns down all who stand in her way equally she competes in a tournament that means life or expiry for one particular player.

Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale (Film)

Back in the chief timeline, theOrdinal Scale pic takes identify a few weeks later the cease of the "Mother'southward Rosario" Arc. It also has the distinction of existence an anime-exclusive story, not appearing in author Kawahara'southward light novels.

A new augmented reality device called the Augma is all the rage, with a combat-based game chosen Ordinal Scale becoming the first ARMMORPG. Kirito shows little involvement in AR until Asuna and the others tell him that dominate monsters from the original Sword Art Online game have started appearing. The mysteries compound when the game'south second-ranked player, Eiji, purposely injures Klein and his society, leaving them in the infirmary. Multiple SAO survivors who interact with Eiji, including Asuna, begin to lose the memories of their time in SAO.

Season 3: Sword Art Online - Alicization (Alicization/State of war of Underworld)

The third and still-ongoing season of SAO is its longest and about expansive so far. Split into three arcs — "Alicization,""War of Underworld" Part 1" and "State of war of Underworld Part ii" — it begins a few months afterwards the events of Ordinal Scale.

"Alicization" sees Kirito working with the top undercover government-run company Rath to exam a new experimental full-swoop machine chosen the Soul Translator (STL). After existence attacked in the existent world past a member of the Death Gun plot from Flavor 2, Kirito suffers meaning encephalon harm and is only kept alive thanks to the STL. As Kirito wakes upwards in the Underworld with his existent-world memories intact, he must figure out how to survive in a much more realistic VR world than ever before while Rath's true goals for the STL become articulate.

The subsequent "State of war of Underworld" arc continues the events of Alicization equally a world-spanning state of war breaks out in the Underworld with major international consequences for the real world as well. "Part two" is currently airing and available to stream on Crunchyroll.

It can be disruptive, but the SAO anime'south chronology does fit in a proper order — though Alternative can be viewed independently —even though many of the stories begin very shortly subsequently their preceding arcs. Seems Kirito and friends get even shorter spans of peace and repose than the Dragon Ball cast.

KEEP READING: SAO: Alicization'southward Heroes' Big Win Comes With [SPOILER]'south Death

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About The Author

Joe Ballard (159 Articles Published)

Joe Ballard is an Illinois-based Editor for CBR and incurable anime lover. Anime was starting time injected into his veins as a teenager thanks to Dragon Ball and Yu Yu Hakusho ambulation on Toonami'south Midnight Run. Since graduating from Illinois State with a BA in English, his journey has taken him from the music business to public relations to writing about anime and popular culture. He dreams of one day trying every single dish shown in Food Wars. You can find him on Instagram @JoeBallard88 or reach out via e-mail at joe.b@cbr.com!

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