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Sword Art Online

2012 – 2020Show4 seasons96 episodesTV-MA

AnimationSci-Fi & Fantasy
77
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Rotten Tomatoes–76%

A pulse-pounding, tense animated series about games and the future, with standout world-building.

Good for date night · friends night · party vibe

Skip it if you want something quiet and calm

Where to watch

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Shows with

Episodes

4 seasons · 96 episodes · best: S1E14 "The End of the World" 8.9

Episodes

7.6
7.4
7.9
8.1

Story

Blurring the line between the virtual and the real.

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...

Feels like

  • VRMMORPG Survival Thriller
  • High-Octane Action Fantasy
  • Romantic Drama
  • Techno-Fantasy World
  • Classic Shonen Tropes
  • Emotional Stakes
  • Epic Scale Battles
  • Nostalgic 2010s Anime
  • Immersive Soundtrack

Cast

24 of 243 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Tomohiko Ito, Takashi Sakuma, Manabu Ono
Written by
Reki Kawahara, Muneo Nakamoto, Yukito Kizawa
Produced by
Shinichiro Kashiwada, Yosuke Futami, Kazuma Miki
Music by
Yuki Kajiura

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

July 8, 2012 · September 20, 2020 · Ended

First aired
July 8, 2012
Last aired
September 20, 2020
Status
Ended
Length
4 seasons · 96 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Violence, Strong Language
Genres
Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Original language
Japanese
Made in
Japan
Available in
95 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Supporting Harem, The Cameo, Androids Are People, Too +9

  • Supporting Harem
  • The Cameo
  • Androids Are People, Too
  • Something Only They Would Say
  • Kissing Cousins
  • Trapped in Another World
  • I Believe I Can Fly
  • Artifact Title
  • Super-Speed
  • Squee
  • Color-Coded for Your Convenience
  • Light/Darkness Juxtaposition

12 of 520 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Sword Art Online?"

Questions about Sword Art Online

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Sword Art Online?

HuluCrunchyroll

In the United States, Sword Art Online streams on Hulu and Crunchyroll. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. It also streams in 94 other countries.

Is Sword Art Online worth watching?

77
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 77 (IMDb 7.5).

Which season of Sword Art Online is best?

Season 4, with an IMDb average of 8.1. Season 2 is the weakest at 7.4. The highest-rated episode is The End of the World (season 1, episode 14) at 8.9, and the lowest is The Queen of the Lake (season 2, episode 15) at 6.2.

How long does it take to watch Sword Art Online?

38 h

About 38 hours: 96 episodes in 4 seasons of about 24 minutes each, aired from 2012 to 2020.

Is Sword Art Online good for date night?

and 3 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightParty Vibe

Yes: romance is 8 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Is Sword Art Online in English?

Japanese

No, it was made in Japanese.

What tropes does Sword Art Online use?

Supporting HaremThe CameoAndroids Are People, TooSomething Only They Would SayKissing CousinsTrapped in Another WorldI Believe I Can FlyArtifact TitleSuper-SpeedSqueeColor-Coded for Your ConvenienceLight/Darkness Juxtapositionand 508 more

TV Tropes lists 520 tropes for it, including Supporting Harem, The Cameo, and Androids Are People, Too.