Where does Season 2 leave off in Sword Art Online?

Suggested reading (English · Yen On): Season 2 ends at Ep 24. Continue with Vol. 9.

Where does Season 3 · Part 1 leave off in Sword Art Online?

Suggested reading (English · Yen On): Where Season 3 · Part 1 leaves off in the original hasn’t been confirmed. Reports point to Vol. 15. Reading notes: After the 24-episode Alicization season, Volume 15 of the original light novel is a tentative next starting point. After both War of Underworld parts, use Volume 19 instead.

Where does Season 3 · Part 2 leave off in Sword Art Online?

Suggested reading (English · Yen On): Season 3 · Part 2 ends at Ep 23. Continue with Vol. 19. Reading notes: Volumes 19–20 are Moon Cradle; Volume 21 begins Unital Ring. Skipping directly to Unital Ring omits both Moon Cradle volumes.

Is the original light novel finished?

The original light novel is still ongoing; Vol. 29 is the latest as of October 2026.

How far have the editions in other languages got?

Kadokawa: The Japanese edition is at Vol. 29. Ofelbe: The French edition is at Vol. 13. Planeta Cómic: The Spanish edition is at Vol. 8.

Sword Art Online

TV animeFilm2012–20203 seasons96 episodesOriginal: light novelReki Kawahara

Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! 2013, No. 1Over 30 million copies

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...

After Season 3 · Part 2, continue with Vol. 19

Book language

EditionYen On

Season 1

Medium confidence

25 episodesJul 2012 – Dec 2012

Anime ends at: Ep 25Original: Vol. 4
Read next: Vol. 5light novel · English · Yen On

The anime’s continuation point is Vol. 5 of the original. This is the book that contains it.

Sword Art Online 5: Phantom Bullet (light novel)

Yen OnEnglishPaperback

Buy on Amazon Kindle edition

Also in other languages:

Where it stops:

1 side entrySPreading notes

Sword Art Online Extra EditionSP1 episodeDec 2013A separate main light-novel starting point after Extra Edition is not confirmed. For the main story, use the Season 1 reading route.

Season 2

Medium confidence

24 episodesJul 2014 – Dec 2014

Anime ends at: Ep 24Original: Vol. 8
Read next: Vol. 9light novel · English · Yen On

The anime’s continuation point is Vol. 9 of the original. This is the book that contains it.

Sword Art Online 9 (light novel): Alicization Beginning

Yen OnEnglishPaperback

Buy on Amazon Kindle edition

Also in other languages:

Where it stops:

Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale

Feb 2017

An original feature film positioned between Sword Art Online II and Alicization.

A separate light-novel starting point after Ordinal Scale is not confirmed. Continue watching Alicization and War of Underworld, then use the War of Underworld reading route.

Season 3 · Part 1

Low confidence

24 episodesOct 2018 – Mar 2019

Anime ends at: Ep 24
Read next: Vol. 15?light novel · English · Yen On

After the 24-episode Alicization season, Volume 15 of the original light novel is a tentative next starting point. After both War of Underworld parts, use Volume 19 instead.