How to Watch Sword Art Online in Order: The Ultimate Guide
Sword Art Online (SAO) has captivated audiences worldwide with its immersive virtual reality world, compelling characters, and thrilling storylines. If you’re new to the series or looking to revisit it, understanding the correct viewing order is crucial to fully appreciate the narrative’s evolution. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of how to watch Sword Art Online in order, ensuring you experience the complete story as intended.
Understanding the Sword Art Online Universe
Before diving into the viewing order, it’s helpful to understand the basic premise of Sword Art Online. The series, based on the light novels by Reki Kawahara, revolves around a near-future world where virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-playing games (VRMMORPGs) have become the dominant form of entertainment. Players use a device called NerveGear to fully immerse themselves in these virtual worlds, experiencing them as if they were reality. The initial arc introduces the deadly game of Sword Art Online, where players are trapped and must clear all 100 floors of Aincrad to escape. Subsequent arcs explore different VRMMORPGs and the challenges the characters face within them.
The Correct Sword Art Online Viewing Order
The recommended viewing order is based on the chronological order of the anime adaptations and related movies. This will allow you to follow the storyline as it was intended.
Sword Art Online (Season 1)
This is where it all begins. Season 1 covers the initial Sword Art Online arc and the subsequent Fairy Dance arc.
- Episodes 1-14: Aincrad Arc: The players are trapped in Sword Art Online and must fight to survive. This arc introduces Kirito and Asuna, the main protagonists.
- Episodes 15-25: Fairy Dance Arc: Kirito enters a new VRMMORPG called ALfheim Online to rescue Asuna.
Watching these episodes in order is essential to understand the foundation of the series and the relationship between Kirito and Asuna. You need to understand how to watch Sword Art Online in order right from the start.
Sword Art Online: Extra Edition
This special episode is a recap of the first season with some new footage. While not essential, it provides a good refresher and some additional character development. It can be watched after Season 1.
Sword Art Online II (Season 2)
Season 2 continues the story with new adventures and challenges in different VRMMORPGs.
- Episodes 1-3: Phantom Bullet Arc Prologue: Sets the stage for the Phantom Bullet arc.
- Episodes 4-14: Phantom Bullet Arc: Kirito investigates a series of mysterious deaths in Gun Gale Online (GGO), a VRMMORPG focused on shooting. This arc introduces Sinon.
- Episodes 15-17: Calibur Arc: A short, lighthearted arc where Kirito and his friends attempt to retrieve Excalibur in ALfheim Online.
- Episodes 18-24: Mother’s Rosario Arc: Asuna takes center stage in this emotional arc, focusing on her friendship with Yuuki in ALfheim Online.
Season 2 expands the world of Sword Art Online and introduces new characters and themes. Ensuring you know how to watch Sword Art Online in order is key to understanding the character relationships and plot developments.
Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale
This movie is a direct sequel to Season 2 and introduces a new augmented reality game called Ordinal Scale. It’s considered canon and provides important context for later seasons. It should be watched after Season 2.
Sword Art Online: Alicization (Season 3)
Sword Art Online: Alicization is the longest arc in the series and introduces the Underworld, a highly advanced virtual world. It’s divided into two parts.
- Episodes 1-24: Alicization: Kirito takes on a new job testing a FullDive system and ends up trapped in the Underworld.
This arc is a significant departure from previous seasons and delves into deeper philosophical themes. The question of how to watch Sword Art Online in order becomes even more important here due to the complexity of the narrative.
Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld (Season 4)
The second part of the Alicization arc, continuing Kirito’s adventures in the Underworld and escalating the conflict.
- Episodes 1-12: War of Underworld Part 1: The war in the Underworld intensifies.
- Episodes 13-23: War of Underworld Part 2: The epic conclusion to the Alicization arc.
This arc brings the Alicization storyline to a close and sets the stage for future developments. Keeping track of how to watch Sword Art Online in order is essential to appreciate the scale of the story.
Alternative Viewing Orders and Considerations
While the above order is generally recommended, there are a few alternative approaches you might consider.
Chronological Order within Arcs
Some viewers prefer to watch episodes within each arc in chronological order. For example, within the Aincrad arc, you could watch the earliest events first, even if they aren’t presented in that order in the anime. This is a more granular approach and might appeal to those who want a more detailed understanding of the timeline.
Release Order vs. Chronological Order
While the recommended order aligns closely with the release order, some might argue for watching the series purely in chronological order based on in-universe events. However, this can be confusing for first-time viewers as it disrupts the narrative flow intended by the creators. Sticking to the release order (as outlined above) is generally the best approach when considering how to watch Sword Art Online in order.
Where to Watch Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online is available on various streaming platforms, including:
- Crunchyroll
- Funimation
- Netflix
- Hulu
- Amazon Prime Video
Availability may vary depending on your region. Check your local streaming services to see which seasons and movies are available. Make sure you know how to watch Sword Art Online in order before you start searching.
Why Watching in the Correct Order Matters
Watching Sword Art Online in the correct order is crucial for several reasons:
- Character Development: The characters evolve throughout the series, and their relationships deepen. Watching in order allows you to fully appreciate these developments.
- Plot Continuity: The storyline builds upon previous events, and skipping episodes or seasons can lead to confusion.
- Emotional Impact: The emotional impact of certain scenes and arcs is heightened when you have followed the characters’ journeys from the beginning.
- Understanding the World: The world of Sword Art Online is complex and multifaceted. Watching in order helps you understand the rules, lore, and nuances of the various VRMMORPGs.
Conclusion: Enjoy the Journey
Sword Art Online is a captivating series that offers a unique blend of action, adventure, romance, and philosophical themes. By following this guide on how to watch Sword Art Online in order, you can ensure that you experience the story as intended and fully appreciate the rich world and characters that make this series so beloved. Whether you’re a seasoned anime fan or new to the genre, Sword Art Online is a journey worth taking. So, grab your NerveGear (or your streaming device), and prepare to dive into the world of SAO!
[See also: Sword Art Online Season 5 Release Date Predictions]
[See also: Best Anime Series to Watch After Sword Art Online]
[See also: Sword Art Online: Progressive Movie Review]
