How To Watch Sword Art Online in Order

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Sword Art Online (SAO) is one of the most popular anime series that blends action, adventure, and virtual reality. Since its debut in 2012, it has expanded into several seasons, spin-offs, and even films. However, with the various arcs and storylines, it can be tricky to figure out the best way to watch it.

Here’s a guide to watching Sword Art Online in both chronological and release order. Our guide also gives you all the shows and movies that are streaming online along with offers to watch them.

How to watch Sword Art Online in chronological order

Sword Art Online’s first two episodes set up the Aincrad Arc (that goes on till episode 14). This arc sets the foundation for the entire series, where players are trapped in the virtual reality game Sword Art Online and must fight for their survival.

Aincrad is the name of the primary setting in the first arc of Sword Art Online. It is a massive, floating, steel castle with 100 floors, each of which has its own unique environment, cities, and monsters. If a player dies in Aincrad, they die in real life, which makes the stakes incredibly high for all the players within the game.

In between episode 2 and 3 are two movies that are labeled as Sword Art Online Progressive. These movies retell the events of Aincrad in greater detail, showing new perspectives and exploring previously untold stories within the virtual world.

Following episode 3, the Aincrad Arc continues till episode 14. Then, from episodes 15 to 25, we get to see the Fairy Dance Arc. Following the events of Aincrad, the series continues with Kirito’s journey into the world of ALfheim Online as he tries to rescue Asuna from captivity.

Then comes the Sword Art Online Extra Edition OVA.  This special episode primarily recaps the first season, but also contains new scenes that connect to the events leading up to the Gun Gale Online arc.

The second season of Sword Art Online shifts the focus to Gun Gale Online, a VR game where Kirito is tasked with investigating mysterious player deaths.

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online is a spin-off series from Sword Art Online, set in the same virtual universe but with a different cast of characters. The story focuses on a girl named Karen, who uses the avatar "LLENN" in the game Gun Gale Online.

Set after the events of SAO season 2, the film Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale features a new augmented reality game called Ordinal Scale, and introduces new characters while advancing the core storyline.

After this, Kirito finds himself in a new, hyper-realistic VR world called the Underworld, kicking off the Alicization arc. This final arc is massive and kicks off a complex, multi-season story.

How to watch Sword Art Online in release order

The list below provides you with the way you can watch all Sword Art Online anime and movies in order of their release date. Our guide also shows you how and where to watch, buy or rent them all on streaming platforms in India or watch them for free where available.

Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
Apple TV Plus
Apple TV
Crunchyroll
Hotstar
Jio Cinema
Zee5
Google Play Movies
MUBI
Sony Liv
YouTube
GuideDoc
Netflix Kids
Tubi TV
Sun Nxt
Hoichoi
Alt Balaji
Hungama Play
Curiosity Stream
EPIC ON
ShemarooMe
DOCSVILLE
Tata Play
Discovery+
ManoramaMax
MX Player
Spamflix
aha
Plex
WOW Presents Plus
Magellan TV
BroadwayHD
Filmzie
Lionsgate Play
MovieSaints
Dekkoo
True Story
DocAlliance Films
VI movies and tv
Eventive
ShortsTV Amazon Channel
Amazon Video
Cultpix
FilmBox+
Takflix
Amazon miniTV
AD tv
Shahid VIP
Bookmyshow
Lionsgate Play Apple TV Channel
Eros Now Select Apple TV Channel
Lionsgate Play Amazon Channel
MGM Amazon Channel
Crunchyroll Amazon Channel
Hoichoi Amazon Channel
ManoramaMAX Amazon Channel
Chaupal Amazon Channel
BBC Kids Amazon Channel
Sony Pictures Amazon Channel
Vrott Amazon Channel
Anime Times Amazon Channel
MyZen TV Amazon Channel
Museum Tv Amazon Channel
BBC Player Amazon Channel
MUBI Amazon Channel
Discovery+ Amazon Channel
CuriosityStream Amazon Channel
DocuBay Amazon Channel
Stingray Amazon Channel
Iwonder Amazon Channel
NammaFlix Amazon Channel
JustWatchTV
Filters
  1. Sword Art Online

    Sword Art Online

    2012

    #1

    In the near future, a Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online has been released where players control their avatars with their bodies using a piece of technology called Nerve Gear. One day, players discover they cannot log out, as the game creator is holding them captive unless they reach the 100th floor of the game's tower and defeat the final boss. However, if they die in the game, they die in real life. Their struggle for survival starts now...

  2. Sword Art Online: Extra Edition

    #2

    Kirito and some of his new friends look back at the events of season one. Kirito recalls his defining moments while Suguha learns to swim with the help of Asuna and other girls who fought alongside Kirito.

  3. Sword Art Online: The Movie – Ordinal Scale

    #3

    In 2026, four years after the infamous Sword Art Online incident, a revolutionary new form of technology has emerged: the Augma, a device that utilizes an Augmented Reality system. Unlike the Virtual Reality of the NerveGear and the Amusphere, it is perfectly safe and allows players to use it while they are conscious, creating an instant hit on the market. The most popular application for the Augma is the game Ordinal Scale, which immerses players in a fantasy role-playing game with player rankings and rewards. Following the new craze, Kirito's friends dive into the game, and despite his reservations about the system, Kirito eventually joins them. While at first it appears to be just fun and games, they soon find out that the game is not all that it seems...

  4. Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online

    #4

    A shy university student in Tokyo, Karen Kohiruimaki stands in stark contrast to her in-game avatar—in fact, she happens to stand above everyone else too, much to her dismay. Towering above all the people around her, Karen's insecurities over her height reach the point where she turns to the virtual world for an escape. Starting game after game in hopes of manifesting as a cute, short character, she finally obtains her ideal self in the world of Gun Gale Online. Overjoyed by her new persona, she pours her time into the game as LLENN, garnering her reputation as the legendary player killer. However, when one of LLENN's targets gets the best of her, she ends up meeting Pitohui, a skilled yet eccentric woman. Pitohui insists that LLENN participates in Squad Jam, a battle royale. Thrust into the heated competition, LLENN must fight with all her wit and will if she hopes to shoot her way to the top.

  5. Sword Art Online: Progressive - Aria of a Starless Night

    #5

    High school student Asuna struggles to survive with a young swordsman after its revealed that she is trapped inside the game of Sword Art Online, where if your HP drops to zero, your brain will be destroyed in real life.

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  6. Sword Art Online the Movie – Progressive – Scherzo of Deep Night

    #6

    Over a month has passed since 10,000 users were trapped inside the "Sword Art Online" world. Asuna, who cleared the first floor of the floating iron castle of Aincrad, joined up with Kirito and continued her journey to reach the top floor. With the support of female Information Broker Argo, clearing the floors seemed to be progressing smoothly, but conflict erupts between two major guilds who should be working together – the top player groups ALS (the Aincrad Liberation Squad) and DKB (the Dragon Knights Brigade). And meanwhile, behind the scenes exists a mysterious figure pulling the strings…

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    Sword Art Online the Movie – Progressive – Scherzo of Deep Night is not available for streaming.
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