Based on the popular light novels by Reki Kawahara, Sword Art Online is ane of the best-known anime of the past decade. The fantasy sci-fi series has captured the imaginations of viewers beyond the earth with its adventures through different game worlds and often blurs the lines betwixt virtual reality and real 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's a breakdown of the full SAO timeline and the best order in which to lookout man information technology.

Flavour one: Sword Art Online (Aincrad/Fairy Dance)

The outset season that started it all is split into 2 arcs: the "Aincrad" Arc and the "Fairy Trip the light fantastic toe" Arc. "Aincrad" introduces protagonist Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya, who in November 2022 is trapped, along with x,000 other players, within the VR world of Sword Art Online. The threat is real: anyone who dies in the game dies in real life, and all 100 floors must be cleared in guild to escape the game and return to the real world. Information technology's filled with heady battles and heartbreaking deaths — love even blossoms in the midst of the life-or-death struggle.

Sword Art Online Kirito Yui and Asuna

"Fairy Dance" begins two months after the finish of "Aincrad." 300 players from the SAO incident remain trapped for reasons unknown, including Kirito'due south beloved girlfriend Asuna. She remains unconscious and extremely frail in the real world as Kirito finds out she is existence held hostage in another VR game, ALfheim Online. The earth and cast showtime to expand here as Asuna'southward family and connections are introduced, forth with a mysterious authorities representative whose influence grows with each successive season.

This short moving picture features Kirito giving a full recap of Season 1'due south events to government official Seijirou Kikuoka. In that location's as well some brand new content as the girls have a pond adventure in the real world and the total cast finally enjoys a not-life threatening quest in ALO.

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

Flavour 2 begins with the "Phantom Bullet" Arc, a full year after the SAO incident. As 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 player'south avatar, that histrion also ends up dying in the existent world. Due to Kirito's gaming cognition 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 brusque merely fun filler gamble for the full cast — now including Sinon — dorsum in ALfheim Online. A lighthearted story that sits in between two significantly heavier ones.

"Mother'southward Rosario" is an emotional story that gives Asuna her long-awaited plough in the spotlight. Back in ALO, she hears of an practiced sword fighter named Zekken who is undefeated in ane-on-i battles, including a victory over Kirito. Asuna and Zekken, real name Yuuki, become fast friends and Asuna joins her club for a time. Reality, still, 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 Fine art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online

SAO Alternative is a divide serial with a whole different cast of characters. Based on the light novels by Keiichi Sigsawa, the but similarity to the main serial is that it takes place in the already-established earth of Gun Gale Online. Information technology can be viewed completely on its own, although a couple of easter egg references to Sinon and Kirito might be missed without watching the "Phantom Bullet" Arc first.

Shy college educatee Karen Kouhirimaki struggles with socializing and making friends due to her uncommonly tall height. She decides to effort VR games every bit an escape and comes to love the thrill of Gun Gale Online, which also allows her to create her ain avatar and become the short, pinkish-clad daughter she e'er wanted to exist. Now total of confidence every bit Llenn, she guns down all who stand up in her manner equally she competes in a tournament that means life or death for i item player.

Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale (Movie)

Back in the primary timeline, theOrdinal Calibration moving-picture show takes place a few weeks later the end of the "Mother's Rosario" Arc. Information technology also has the distinction of being an anime-exclusive story, not actualization in author Kawahara'south calorie-free novels.

A new augmented reality device chosen the Augma is all the rage, with a combat-based game called Ordinal Scale becoming the showtime ARMMORPG. Kirito shows piffling interest in AR until Asuna and the others tell him that boss monsters from the original Sword Fine art Online game have started appearing. The mysteries chemical compound when the game's second-ranked player, Eiji, purposely injures Klein and his guild, leaving them in the hospital. Multiple SAO survivors who interact with Eiji, including Asuna, begin to lose the memories of their time in SAO.

Season 3: Sword Fine art Online - Alicization (Alicization/War of Underworld)

The third and nonetheless-ongoing season of SAO is its longest and about expansive so far. Split into iii arcs — "Alicization,""War of Underworld" Part 1" and "War of Underworld Part two" — it begins a few months after the events of Ordinal Calibration.

"Alicization" sees Kirito working with the meridian surreptitious government-run company Rath to test a new experimental full-dive machine called the Soul Translator (STL). Afterward being attacked in the real world by a fellow member of the Decease Gun plot from Flavour ii, Kirito suffers significant brain damage and is but kept alive thanks to the STL. As Kirito wakes up in the Underworld with his real-world memories intact, he must effigy out how to survive in a much more realistic VR earth than always before while Rath's true goals for the STL become clear.

The subsequent "State of war of Underworld" arc continues the events of Alicization as a globe-spanning state of war breaks out in the Underworld with major international consequences for the real world every bit well. "Part 2" is currently airing and available to stream on Crunchyroll.

It tin exist confusing, merely the SAO anime's chronology does fit in a proper society — though Alternative tin exist viewed independently —even though many of the stories begin very before long after their preceding arcs. Seems Kirito and friends become even shorter spans of peace and quiet than the Dragon Ball cast.

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

Legends of Tomorrow Cast and Coiffure Share Heartfelt Goodbyes After Show'south Cancellation

Read Next

Almost The Author