#3592
Ranked
#7
Popularity
70.9K
Favorites
658.7K
Members
#1
This Season
Popular TV
#13
All Time
Popular TV
#13
This Season
Rated TV
Episode Progress
Complete25 / 25 episodes aired
All 25 episodes available on Bilibili TV, Crunchyroll, Hulu, iQ, Netflix
- Premiered
- Summer 2012
- Aired
- Jul 8, 2012 – Dec 23, 2012
- Broadcast
- Sunday · 00:00:00
- Duration
- 23 min
- Time to Complete
- 9h 35m
- Rating
- PG - Children
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
Alternative Titles
jaソードアート・オンライン
enS.A.O
enSAO
thซอร์ดอาร์ตออนไลน์
ruМастера меча онлайн
enאומנות החרב אונליין
zh刀剑神域
Synopsis
Ever since the release of the innovative NerveGear, gamers from all around the globe have been given the opportunity to experience a completely immersive virtual reality. Sword Art Online (SAO), one of the most recent games on the console, offers a gateway into the wondrous world of Aincrad, a vivid, medieval landscape where users can do anything within the limits of imagination. With the release of this worldwide sensation, gaming has never felt more lifelike. However, the idyllic fantasy rapidly becomes a brutal nightmare when SAO's creator traps thousands of players inside the game. The "log-out" function has been removed, with the only method of escape involving beating all of Aincrad's one hundred increasingly difficult levels. Adding to the struggle, any in-game death becomes permanent, ending the player's life in the real world. While Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya was fortunate enough to be a beta-tester for the game, he quickly finds that despite his advantages, he cannot overcome SAO's challenges alone. Teaming up with Asuna Yuuki and other talented players, Kirito makes an effort to face the seemingly insurmountable trials head-on. But with difficult bosses and threatening dark cults impeding his progress, Kirito finds that such tasks are much easier said than done. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Synopsis
Ever since the release of the innovative NerveGear, gamers from all around the globe have been given the opportunity to experience a completely immersive virtual reality. Sword Art Online (SAO), one of the most recent games on the console, offers a gateway into the wondrous world of Aincrad, a vivid, medieval landscape where users can do anything within the limits of imagination. With the release
Ever since the release of the innovative NerveGear, gamers from all around the globe have been given the opportunity to experience a completely immersive virtual reality. Sword Art Online (SAO), one of the most recent games on the console, offers a gateway into the wondrous world of Aincrad, a vivid, medieval landscape where users can do anything within the limits of imagination. With the release of this worldwide sensation, gaming has never felt more lifelike.
However, the idyllic fantasy rapidly becomes a brutal nightmare when SAO's creator traps thousands of players inside the game. The "log-out" function has been removed, with the only method of escape involving beating all of Aincrad's one hundred increasingly difficult levels. Adding to the struggle, any in-game death becomes permanent, ending the player's life in the real world.
While Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya was fortunate enough to be a beta-tester for the game, he quickly finds that despite his advantages, he cannot overcome SAO's challenges alone. Teaming up with Asuna Yuuki and other talented players, Kirito makes an effort to face the seemingly insurmountable trials head-on. But with difficult bosses and threatening dark cults impeding his progress, Kirito finds that such tasks are much easier said than done.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Read moreRead less
Ever since the release of the innovative NerveGear, gamers from all around the globe have been given the opportunity to experience a completely immersive virtual reality. Sword Art Online (SAO), one of the most recent games on the console, offers a gateway into the wondrous world of Aincrad, a vivid, medieval landscape where users can do anything within the limits of imagination. With the release
Ever since the release of the innovative NerveGear, gamers from all around the globe have been given the opportunity to experience a completely immersive virtual reality. Sword Art Online (SAO), one of the most recent games on the console, offers a gateway into the wondrous world of Aincrad, a vivid, medieval landscape where users can do anything within the limits of imagination. With the release of this worldwide sensation, gaming has never felt more lifelike. However, the idyllic fantasy rapidly becomes a brutal nightmare when SAO's creator traps thousands of players inside the game. The "log-out" function has been removed, with the only method of escape involving beating all of Aincrad's one hundred increasingly difficult levels. Adding to the struggle, any in-game death becomes permanent, ending the player's life in the real world. While Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya was fortunate enough to be a beta-tester for the game, he quickly finds that despite his advantages, he cannot overcome SAO's challenges alone. Teaming up with Asuna Yuuki and other talented players, Kirito makes an effort to face the seemingly insurmountable trials head-on. But with difficult bosses and threatening dark cults impeding his progress, Kirito finds that such tasks are much easier said than done. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Where to Watch
Trailer

Platform Scores
MAL
7.22
AniList
69 / 100
Kitsu
74 / 100
AniList Trend
681
Franchise Timeline
Sword Art Online is entry 1 of 9 in the Sword Art Online watch order — the first entry in this franchise's main story.
Essential·Core entries only — skip filler and side content
- 1Sword Art OnlineSeason 1
- 2Sword Art Online: Extra EditionMain Story #2 (SPECIAL)
- 3Sword Art Online IISeason 3
- 4Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal ScaleMain Story #4 (MOVIE)
- 5Sword Art Online: AlicizationSeason 5
- 6Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld ReflectionSeason 6
- 7Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of UnderworldSeason 7
- 8Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld ReminiscenceSeason 8
- 9Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld Part 2Season 9
Complete·Everything including OVAs, specials & side stories
- 1Sword Art Online
- 2Sword Art OfflineOptional SPECIAL
- 3Sword Art Online: Extra Edition
- 4Sword Art Offline: Extra EditionOptional SPECIAL
- 5Sword Art Online II
- 6Sword Art Online II: DebriefingOptional TV
- 7Sword Art Offline IIOptional SPECIAL
- 8Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet: The Third Episode - PilotOptional ONA
- 9Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet: The Third EpisodeOptional TV
- 10Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale OnlineOptional TV
- 11Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online IIOptional TV
- 12Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale
- 13Sword Art Offline: Ordinal ScaleOptional SPECIAL
- 14Sword Art Online: Alicization
- 15Sword Art Online: Alicization - RecollectionOptional TV
- 16Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld Reflection
- 17Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld
- 18Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld Reminiscence
- 19Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld Part 2
- 20Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online - RefrainOptional TV
- 21Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II - GalaOptional ONA
Episode Guide
Aired so far: 25 / 25
Main Story
25 / 25
100%
Latest Aired
Episode 25
Remaining
Fully available
Aired so far
Theme Songs
Status Breakdown
Tags
Shows how closely each tag relates to this animeShow spoiler tags7
Relations
Sequel2
Alt. Version1
Character2
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Information
- Type
- TV
- Status
- Finished
- Premiered
- Summer 2012
- Aired
- Jul 8, 2012 – Dec 23, 2012
- Broadcast
- Sunday · 00:00:00
- Episodes
- 25 / 25
- Duration
- 23 min
- Time to Complete
- 9h 35m
- Rating
- PG - Children
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
Alternative Titles
jaソードアート・オンライン
enS.A.O
enSAO
thซอร์ดอาร์ตออนไลน์
ruМастера меча онлайн
enאומנות החרב אונליין
zh刀剑神域
Discussion
Discussion