TV series
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...
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Sep 3, 2026
Sword Art Online is available to stream on Crunchyroll Premium, Crunchyroll Premium (Via Amazon Prime), and Hulu in United States. You can also buy it from Apple TV. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
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...
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
Six months have passed since the fierce battle against Administrator. Alice has brought Kirito to her childhood home, Rulid Village, where they live peacefully. Gazing out at the world that she saved with Kirito, Alice reflects on all that’s happened.
Directed by Takashi SakumaWritten by Muneo NakamotoGuest stars Tasuku Kida, Takayuki Ishii, Hidemitsu Shimizu, Hikaru Tanaka, Wataru Katoh, Naoyuki Ageishi, Shinya Takahashi, Kanehira Yamamoto
Episode 2
A force from the Dark Territory is attacking Rulid Village. Though she’d lost her purpose in battle, in order to fight for her family, and for the people that Kirito and Eugeo tried to protect, Alice takes up the Osmanthus Blade once again!
Directed by Takehiro MiuraWritten by Muneo NakamotoGuest stars Kanehira Yamamoto, Haruki Ishiya, Kenta Sasa, Tsuguo Mogami, Koji Seki, Yuki Tamai, Masashi Yamane, Tsuyoshi Koyama
Episode 3
The mysterious group that attacked the Ocean Turtle turns out to be a secret unit under orders from the U.S. National Security Agency. And its leader, Gabriel, has battled Kirito and Sinon before.
Directed by Hiroshi KimuraWritten by Muneo NakamotoGuest stars Akira Ishida, Kiyomitsu Mizuuchi, Ikuto Kanemasa, Shinya Takahashi, Sayaka Senbongi, Ayako Kawasumi, Tsuyoshi Koyama, Akira Ishida
Episode 4
Shasta, commander of the Dark Territory's dark knights, had intended to use Administrator's death as a chance for peace with the Human Empire. But his plans are thwarted by Emperor Vecta's return to the land of darkness.
Directed by Takashi Sakuma, Naomi NakayamaWritten by Yukito KizawaGuest stars Rie Kugimiya, Shinya Takahashi, Sayaka Senbongi, Hiroki Goto, Mitsuaki Kanuka, Kiyomitsu Mizuuchi, Kouki Harasawa, Akane Ouchi
Episode 5
Resolved to fight for humankind, Alice joins the forces of the Human Empire, bringing Kirito with her. But while the forces of darkness boast overwhelming numbers, only thirteen Integrity Knights are available to fight for the Human Empire.
Directed by Tomohisa OnoueWritten by Yukito KizawaGuest stars Hikaru Hanada, Masashi Yamane, Takeaki Masuyama, Hitomi Nabatame, Kaori Ishihara, Reina Kondo, Junichi Suwabe, Mutsumi Tamura
Episode 6
The Final Load Test has begun, and the Eastern Gate has collapsed. Incited by Gabriel, now Emperor Vecta, the massive army of the land of darkness pushes on towards the Human Empire.
Directed by Takuma SuzukiWritten by Yukito KizawaGuest stars Hikaru Hanada, Mirei Kumagai, Kanako Sakuragi, Shoko Yuzuki, Hitomi Ueda, Tomohiro Ohmachi, Takanori Hoshino, Masashi Yamane
Episode 7
Integrity Knight Renly Synthesis Twenty-Seven, in battle for the first time, flees his position, allowing goblins from the forces of darkness to infiltrate to the tent where Kirito is.
Directed by Yuya HoriuchiWritten by Kohei UrushibaraGuest stars Maaya Sakamoto, Hina Kino, Konomi Kohara, Ryota Suzuki, Wataru Takagi, Shunichi Maki, Shinya Takahashi, Naoto Kobayashi
Episode 8
The powerful formal art unleashed by the Integrity Knight Alice inflicts severe casualties on the forces of darkness. Alice encounters an enemy survivor and learns that Emperor Vecta's objective is to find the "Priestess of Light."
Directed by Shunsuke NakashigeWritten by Muneo NakamotoGuest stars Takeaki Masuyama, Saori Onishi, Daichi Endo, Fumiko Uchimura, Ayumi Takeo, Riho Kuma, Shinya Nishiyama, Keigo Hoshino
Episode 9
Upon seeing Alice, Gabriel orders his entire army to capture her. The pugilists guild races ahead of the main force. As Alice and Bercouli try to come up with a strategy to counter them, the silent Integrity Knight Sheyta Synthesis Twelve steps forward.
Directed by Hiroshi KimuraWritten by Kohei UrushibaraGuest stars Maaya Sakamoto, Akane Ouchi, Ryosuke Hara, Takayuki Ishii, Shinya Takahashi, Akira Ishida, Takumu Miyazono, Kaori Ishihara
Episode 10
Asuna has logged into the Underworld using the superuser account of Stacia, the Goddess of Creation. After she descends, she is reunited with Kirito, thanks to Ronie and Tiese. But soon Alice arrives, leading to a precarious situation!
Directed by Takashi SakumaWritten by Kohei UrushibaraGuest stars Ryo Sugisaki, Shinya Takahashi, Takayuki Ishii, Ayako Kawasumi, Megumi Han, Kaori Ishihara, Reina Kondo, Junichi Suwabe
Episode 11
Asuna has created a bottomless chasm. The dark knights and the pugilists attempt to cross over to the other side, where the Human Empire Army waits. Meanwhile, Critter releases an announcement about a limited-time beta test for a bizarre new VRMMO.
Directed by Akira YamadaWritten by Muneo NakamotoGuest stars Ayana Taketatsu, Maaya Sakamoto, Shinya Takahashi, Fumiya Tanaka, Yūki Robin Hakodate, Kenji Roa, Hikaru Tsuchizaki, Robert Waterman
Episode 12
Due to Gabriel's scheme, U.S. players were given black knight accounts, and are now continuously logging in to the Underworld. They begin mercilessly slaughtering soldiers from both the Human Empire Army and the Dark Territory Army.
Directed by Shunsuke Nakashige, Kenji SetoWritten by Muneo NakamotoGuest stars Shinya Takahashi, Naoto Kobayashi, Fumiya Tanaka, Kei Minegishi, Robert Waterman, Kenji Roa, Hikaru Tsuchizaki, Akira Ishida
Episode 13
Sinon has logged in with the super-account of Solus, the Sun Goddess and rescues Asuna and the others at the last minute. Meanwhile, Leafa logs in with the super-account of Terraria, the Earth Goddess, and descends to the Underworld.
Directed by Masakazu ObaraWritten by Kohei UrushibaraGuest stars Robert Waterman, Hikaru Tsuchizaki, Fumiya Tanaka, Kei Minegishi, Akira Ishida, Megumi Han, Kaori Ishihara, Reina Kondo
Episode 14
Despite its modest size, the Human Empire Army and Asuna valiantly battle the wave of American players surging towards them. But they’re hopelessly outnumbered, and the Human Empire soldiers start to fall one after another.
Directed by Toru HamasakiWritten by Kohei UrushibaraGuest stars Maaya Sakamoto, Nobuyuki Kobushi, Atsushi Tamaru, Hitomi Nabatame, Akira Ishida, Naoyuki Ageishi, Yūgo Ikezawa, Shoichiro Kuroda
Episode 15
Bercouli pursues Vecta, who’s abducted Alice. After a long, vicious battle, Bercouli unleashes his secret sword skill, Uragiri, and finally defeats Vecta, despite having sustained severe injuries himself.
Directed by Takehiro MiuraWritten by Muneo NakamotoGuest stars Shiori Izawa, Kenta Miyake, Asami Tano, Takumu Miyazono, Soungdok, Emiri Iwai, Takayuki Ishii, Sayuri Yahagi
Episode 16
The traitor inside Rath turns out to be a researcher named Yanai. When Higa attempts to restore Kirito, Yanai tries to thwart the operation by holding him at gunpoint. Meanwhile, in the Underworld, Sinon confronts Gabriel, who has logged back in.
Directed by Takashi SakumaWritten by Kohei UrushibaraGuest stars Sayuri Yahagi, Chiwa Saito, Yu Shimamura, Daiki Yamashita, Fumiya Tanaka, Kei Minegishi, Yusuke Numata, Megumi Han
Episode 17
Asuna and the others succumb to Vassago and the Chinese/Korean players. Discovering the catatonic Kirito, Vassago kicks his wheelchair over. Enraged, Klein lunges at Vassago, only to be pinned down by enemy players. Just then, someone unexpected appears.
Directed by Akira YamadaWritten by Muneo NakamotoGuest stars Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Yusuke Numata, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Ren Kato, Yuji Takada, Takuma Yoshida, Fumiya Sato, Shoichiro Kuroda
Episode 18
Sinon manages to severely damage Gabriel, but her strength has been sapped. Leafa collapses after wiping out the American players. And Asuna, her situation now hopeless, gazes at Kirito. But the Black Swordsman continues to wander through his dreams.
Directed by Yuya HoriuchiWritten by Muneo NakamotoGuest stars Saori Hayami, Soichiro Hoshi, Aoi Yuuki, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Ayana Taketatsu, Koji Yusa, Takehito Koyasu, Toshiyuki Toyonaga
Episode 19
Escaping his nightmares, Kirito regains consciousness at last. With the Night-Sky Blade in his right hand and the broken Blue Rose Sword in his left, he faces off against Vassago, armed with the Mate-Chopper, now enormous in size.
Directed by Shunsuke NakashigeWritten by Kohei UrushibaraGuest stars Aoi Yuuki, Megumi Han, Kaori Ishihara, Reina Kondo, Tsuyoshi Koyama, Ayaka Kyo, Mutsumi Tamura, Naoyuki Ageishi
Episode 20
Alice and Asuna head to the World’s End Altar as Kirito confronts Gabriel. Unless he can defeat Gabriel and return to the real world before the maximum-acceleration phase begins, Kirito will have to spend the next 200 years in the Underworld.
Directed by Masakazu ObaraWritten by Muneo NakamotoGuest stars Maaya Sakamoto, Sakura Tange, Junichi Suwabe, Mutsumi Tamura, Lynn, Akira Ishida, Hiroki Touchi, Nobunaga Shimazaki
Episode 21
The maximum-acceleration phase has begun. Alice successfully logs out of the Underworld, but Kirito doesn’t make it in time. In the real world, Higa and Kikuoka rush to shut down the STL, in order to disable the maximum-acceleration phase, but…
Directed by Tomonari TanakaWritten by Muneo NakamotoGuest stars Koichi Yamadera, Akira Ishida, Yoji Ueda, Yasunori Matsumoto, Ai Kayano, Daichi Hayashi, Koji Seki, Shinya Nishiyama
Episode 22
The “Rath Attack Incident,” masterminded by the American National Security Agency, is over. Now head of the newly formed Oceanic Resource Exploration & Research Institution, Rinko unveils Alice to the world as an authentic artificial general intelligence.
Directed by Akira YamadaWritten by Muneo NakamotoGuest stars Ayahi Takagaki, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Ayana Taketatsu, Rina Hidaka, Miyuki Sawashiro, Hiroaki Hirata, Shinya Takahashi, Masumi Tazawa
Episode 23
Rinko informs Kazuto that Alice is missing. He’s about to rush to the Rath Roppongi branch when the doorbell rings. In a panic, Kazuto throws open the door, only to find a deliveryman there with a huge cardboard box.
Directed by Takashi SakumaWritten by Muneo NakamotoGuest stars Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Ayana Taketatsu, Shunsuke Sakuya, Aya Endo, Kaori Ishihara, Reina Kondo, Shinya Takahashi, Ai Kayano
Episode information updated Sep 17, 2026
Haruka TomatsuAsuna (voice)
Hiroki YasumotoAgil (voice)
Isshin ChibaCritter (voice
Kaori MaedaSelka (voice)
Taku YashiroIskahn (voice)
Yuhko KaidaDee Eye Ell (voice)
Yoshitsugu MatsuokaKirito (voice)
Kanae ItouYui (voice)
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