It would be surprising if you haven't heard of the famous Sword Art Online saga. Indeed, declined in various formats, the work of Kawahara Reki (scriptwriter) and abec (illustrator) is a real success. The only downside is that the series has a number of seasons and it's very easy to tangle your brushes. In what order should you watch the series? We explain everything to you!
The viewing guide…
Sword art Online
This first season consists of 25 episodes. These are available on Wakanim and Netflix. (Aincrad then Fairy Dance)
"Welcome to the online game Sword Art Online. Kirito loves MMORPGs and is one of the 10,000 privileged people who managed to get this game that works with a direct virtual reality system. Thus, the player puts on a helmet and enters the game, wielding his avatar with his thought. Kirito had already tested the Beta version and is doing better than others. Sword Art gives pride of place to combat and has no magic. But all of them panic when they learn they can't get out of the game anymore. The only way to disconnect is to finish it when you get to level 99. In addition, if the player loses all his life points, he also dies in reality! What is the goal of the creator of the game?"
Sword Art Online II
This second season consists of 24 episodes available on Wakanim. She adapts the arc "Phantom Bullet" as well as "Calibur" and "Mother's Rosario" (Phantom Bullet, Calibur then Mother's Rosario)
"One year after the SAO incidents, Kirito is approached by Seijirou Kikuoka of the Virtual Reality Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication, who has a special request for him."
Sword Art Online : Alicization
This third season also has 24 episodes available on Wakanim. She adapts the "Alicization" arc.
"Where am I?" Kirito suddenly finds himself immersed in an epic fantasy world. Having only very vague memories of what may have happened before he logged in, he begins to wander around looking for clues. He then arrives in front of a huge black tree like ebony (the Gigas Cedar), where he meets a young boy. "My name is Eugeo, nice to meet you, Kirito." Although he is supposed to be a resident of the virtual world, an NPC, the boy shows the same range of emotions as any human being. As Kirito befriends Eugeo, he continues to look for ways to disconnect from this world. That's when a buried memory comes back to him. He remembers running up the mountain with Eugeo as a child. In this memory that should not even exist, he also remembers a young blonde girl… Alice.
Sword Art Online : Alicization – War of Underworld
This season has 12 episodes available on Wakanim. It adapts the direct sequel to the "Alicization" arc.
Kirito, Eugeo and Alice. Six months have passed since our two disciples and the Knight of Integrity caused the downfall of the Supreme Archbishop Administrator. Since the end of the fighting, Alice has been living in Rulid, her home village with Kirito who has not only lost his arm and soul, but also his dear friend. Alice is completely dedicated to taking care of Kirito, having also lost all will to fight. "Tell me, Kirito… What am I supposed to do? However, the time for the final load test, the one that will plunge the entire Underworld into tragedy, is inevitably approaching. Meanwhile, in the darkest corners of the Dark Territory, the dark god Vector has been resurrected, as if waiting for this very moment. At the head of the forces of darkness, he invades the World of Men in order to delight the Priestess of Light. The Knight of Integrity Bercouli, commander of the forces of the World of Men, is preparing for an unprecedented war against those of the Dark Territory. But then, Alice is nowhere to be found, just like the two heroes who savior the World of Men… The curtain rises on the final chapter of the longest and most glorious battle in the SAO saga, the Alicization arc.
Sword Art Online : Alicization – War of Underworld Part 2
This is the second part of the arc. All 11 episodes are available on Wakanim.
Spin-offs
Sword Art Online Alternative – Gun Gale Online
This season, also available on Wakanim and Netflix, consists of 12 episodes.
Llenn is a solo player in the world of steel and guns, Gun Gale Online. She loves everything cute and is all dressed in pink. His seriousness and diligence in the game gave him many skills. One day, she awakens to the pleasure of hunting players, the PK, and takes to the game, she is even nicknamed The Pink Demon. Llenn then meets the beautiful and mysterious Pitohui, with whom she gets along perfectly. On the advice of the latter, they decide to participate in the event "Squad Jam"
Movies and special episodes
Sword Art Online: Extra Edition
This special episode lasts 1h40 and is available on Wakanim. It is related to the first season of SAO.
"This special allows you to discover unexplored areas of the virtual world in which Kirito, Asuna, Yui, Lyfa and the whole gang evolve."
Sword Art Online the Movie – Ordinal Scale
This film is set just after the end of the second season. It lasts 1h59 and is available on Wakanim.
The film is set in 2026, two years after the SAO incident. A new augmented reality game called "Ordinal Scale" is becoming popular among the gaming community. But strange things happen, putting Kirito and his friends in grave danger.
Sword Art Online: Progressive – Aria of a Starless Night
This film is a reboot of the first season. With a duration of 1h37, it was broadcast in cinemas in autumn 2021. However, unlike the anime, this time the story is told from Asuna's point of view and not Kirito's.
Sword Art Online: Progressive – Scherzo of Deep Night
This film is the direct sequel to the previous one. It was released in early 2022 in French cinemas. If you enjoy the world of video games, then this saga should completely satisfy you!
