In the year 2022, gamers rejoice as Sword Art Online - a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) like no other - debuts, allowing players to take full advantage of the ultimate in gaming technology: NerveGear, a system that allows users to completely immerse themselves in a wholly realistic gaming experience. But when the game goes live, the elation of the players quickly turns to horror as they discover that, for all its amazing features, SAO is missing one of the most basic functions of any MMORPG - a log-out button. Now trapped in the virtual world of Aincrad, their bodies held captive by NerveGear in the real world, users are issued a chilling ultimatum: conquer all one hundred floors of Aincrad to regain your freedom. But in the warped world of SAO, "game over" means certain death - both virtual and real...
 
(Source: Yen Press)

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... 
(Source: Crunchyroll)

In the year 2022, gamers rejoice as Sword Art Online - a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) like no other - debuts, allowing players to take full advantage of the ultimate in gaming technology: NerveGear, a system that allows users to completely immerse themselves in a wholly realistic gaming experience. But when the game goes live, the elation of the players quickly turns to horror as they discover that, for all its amazing features, SAO is missing one of the most basic functions of any MMORPG - a log-out button. Now trapped in the virtual world of Aincrad, their bodies held captive by NerveGear in the real world, users are issued a chilling ultimatum: conquer all one hundred floors of Aincrad to regain your freedom. But in the warped world of SAO, "Game Over" means certain death - both virtual and real...
 
(Source: Yen Press)
 
Notes: 
- Covers the Aincrad Arc from Volume 1 and some side stories in Volume 2 of the light novel series. 
- The American version of this manga published all 12 chapters in one volume.

Kazuto Kirigaya (aka Kirito) has beaten Sword Art Online, a VRMMORPG that transformed into a literal game of death, and returned to the real world. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Asuna Yuuki (aka Asuna the Flash), the girl with whom Kirito fell in love in the virtual world of Aincrad but who has yet to awaken from her game-induced slumber. As his sister, Suguha, sadly looks on, Kazuto continues to visit Asuna in the hospital in the hope of finding answers. But when one day he meets a man claiming to be Asuna's fiancé, Kazuto fears that Asuna may be lost to him forever... That is until a fellow survivor of SAO taken form the latest VRMMORPG sensation, ALfheim Online - a screenshot that features someone being held captive who looks entirely too much like Asuna! His hope renewed, Kirito dives headlong into an all-new virtual adventure, but can true love conquer the game?!
 
Note: Covers the Fairy Dance Arc from Volumes 3 and 4 of the light novel series.
 
(Source: Yen Press)

A year after Kazuto and Asuna escaped from Aincrad, the deadly setting of Sword Art Online, they're still coping with the aftermath as they try to recover from the harrowing experience. Meanwhile, there's a new VRMMO game sweeping the world's gamers--Gun Gale Online. When a mysterious player who calls himself "Death Gun" claims to be responsible for real-world deaths, Kazuto (aka Kirito) is recruited to enter the game to investigate, bringing an end to his hard-won peace!
 
(Source: Yen Press)
 
Note: Covers the Phantom Bullet Arc from Volumes 5 and 6 of the light novel series.

Kirito awakens in a vast, fantastical forest filled with towering trees. In his search for clues to the truth of his surroundings, he encounters a young boy who seems to know him. He ought to be a simple NPC, but the depth of his emotions seem no different than a human. As they search for the boy's parents, Kirito finds a peculiar memory returning to him. A memory from his own childhood, of this boy and a girl, too, with golden hair, and a name he should have never forgotten - Alice. 
 
(Source: Yen Press)
 
Note: The first episode aired with a runtime of ~48 minutes as opposed to the standard 24 minute long episode.

After the battle against the raid boss and receiving an attack from the dark elves, a familiar figure appears before Kirito after: the dark elf swordsman from Sword Art Online, Kizmel! Kirito is also in an event area that should be devoted to rescuing the captured Silica and Premiere, but danger approaches the dark elves in the form of an evil demon...
 
(Source: Yen Press)
 
Note: Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization is an adaptation of the console game of the same title.

"There's no way to beat this game. The only difference is when and where you die..." 
 
One month has passed since Akihiko Kayaba's deadly game began, and the body count continues to rise. Two thousand players are already dead. 
 
Kirito and Asuna are two very different people, but they both desire to fight alone. Nonetheless, they find themselves drawn together to face challenges from both within and without. Given that the entire virtual world they now live in has been created as a deathtrap, the surviving players of Sword Art Online are starting to get desperate, and desperation makes them dangerous to loners like Kirito and Asuna. As it becomes clear that solitude equals suicide, will the two be able to overcome their differences to find the strength to believe in each other, and in doing so, survive? 
 
Sword Art Online: Progressive is a new version of the Sword Art Online tale that starts at the beginning of Kirito and Asuna's epic adventure—on the very first level of the deadly world of Aincrad! 
 
(Source: Yen Press)

Kirito and Sinon's battle with Death Gun is over, but mere weeks later, something strange is afoot in the next-generation VRMMO ALfheim Online. A new duelist with a custom sword skill is defeating all comers--including Kirito! But when Asuna goes to face this duelist, she receives something she never expected: an invitation to an exclusive guild! But what is their aim? The Mother's Rosario arc begins!
 
Note: Covers the Mother's Rosario Arc from Volume 7 of the light novel series.
 
(Source: Yen Press)

The goddess Urd is in danger, and only Kirito and his friends can save her! The evil frost giants have invaded her homeland of Jotunheim, bringing death and destruction in their wake. The linchpin of it all is the frost giant king's sword-the legendary weapon Excalibur! If Kirito's crew can make it to the end of the dungeon and pull the sword from the stone, peace will be brought to the land once more!
 
Note: Covers the Calibur Arc from a side story in Volume 8 of the light novel series.
 
(Source: Yen Press)

Kirito awakens in a vast, fantastical forest filled with towering trees. In his search for clues to the truth of his surroundings, he encounters a young boy who seems to know him. He ought to be a simple NPC, but the depth of his emotions seem no different than a human. As they search for the boy's parents, Kirito finds a peculiar memory returning to him. A memory from his own childhood, of this boy and a girl, too, with golden hair, and a name he should have never forgotten—Alice. 
 
(Source: Yen Press)

The alternative version to the Caliber SS in volume 8, where they decided not to save Freya in the dungeon. The SS in the title means &#23569;&#12375;&#22833;&#25943; (sukoshi shippai) which translates to Slight Failure.

A series of 4-panel comic strips that touch on the days of Aincrad in a comedic viewpoint.

A doujinshi co-authored by Kawahara Reki, under the pen-name of Kunori Fumio, and ponz on Sword Art Online. 
Note: Part comic/novel doujinshi. Novel by Kawahara Reki, manga by ponz. 
The contents are: 
"Sound of Water, Sound of Hammer" - Kunori Fumio 
"Extraordinary Ordinary Days" - ponz

A doujinshi co-authored by Kawahara Reki, under the pen-name of Kunori Fumio, and Kurusu Tatsuya on Sword Art Online. 
The contents are: 
"The Final Promise" 
"A Spot of Sunshine in the Winter" 
Note: Part comic/novel doujinshi. Novel by Kawahara Reki, manga by Kurusu Tatsuya.

One year after the SAO incident, Kirito is approached by Seijiro Kikuoka from Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Department "VR Division" with a rather peculiar request.

That was an investigation on the "Death Gun" incident that occurred in the gun and steel filled VRMMO called Gun Gale Online (GGO). "Players who are shot by a mysterious avatar with a jet black gun lose their lives even in the real world..." Failing to turn down Kikuoka's bizarre request, Kirito logs in to GGO even though he is not completely convinced that the virtual world could physically affect the real world. 
 
Kirito wanders in an unfamiliar world in order to gain any clues about the "Death Gun." Then, a female sniper named Sinon who owns a gigantic "Hecate II" rifle extends Kirito a helping hand. With Sinon's help, Kirito decides to enter the "Bullet of Bullets," a large tournament to choose the most powerful gunner within the realm of GGO, in hopes to become the target of the "Death Gun" and make direct contact with the mysterious avatar. 
 
(Source: Crunchyroll)

When Kirito took on a random quest on the 76th floor to kill time, he didn't expect to be transported to a bedroom and find himself wearing pajamas. To his surprise, the One Thousand and One Nights quest summons various girls that he is acquainted with, all of whom are tricked into thinking that they have to share a bed with Kirito to complete the quest. The true goal of the quest, however, is for Kirito to survive till morning without getting into bed with them. If he fails, there will be a penalty for the girls...
 
(Source: Dreadful Decoding)

Kirito, Eugeo, and Alice. Six months have passed since the two disciples and an Integrity Knight brought down the pontifex, Administrator. With the fighting over, Alice has been living in her hometown of Rulid Village. Beside her is Kirito, who has not only lost his arm and soul, but also his dear friend. As Alice devotes herself to looking after Kirito, she too has lost the will to fight she once had as a knight. 
 
Nevertheless, the time for the final stress test – one which will engulf the entire Underworld with tragedy – draws relentlessly closer. 
 
Meanwhile, in the deepest areas of the Dark Territory, the Dark God Vecta has resurrected, as if to have waited for this very moment. Leading an army of dark forces, they begin their invasion into the human empire in hopes of attaining the Priestess of Light. The human empire force led by the Integrity Knight Bercouli prepares for a war of an unimaginable scale against the army of the Dark Territory. Even then, Alice is nowhere to be seen, nor the two heroes that saved the realm... 
 
(Source: Official Website)

Having won a photon sword in a mini-game, Yui decided that it would be the perfect gift for Kirito. However, convinced that a present is more impactful when it's delivered as a surprise, Yui enlisted the help of Asuna and the other girls. The girls would face Kirito in battle during a new GGO event and create an opportunity for the perfect surprise: using slime guns to blind him during the fight, thus allowing Yui to present her gift to the unsuspecting Kirito just as he regains his vision. However, Yui did not foresee one thing: that her surprise gift will have to compete in impactfulness with Kirito's mastery at getting himself into all kinds of ecchi situations...


In 2022, the world of virtual reality was upended by the arrival of a new invention from a genius programmer, Akihiko Kayaba, called NerveGear. It was the first full-dive system, and with it, came endless possibilities to VRMMORPGs.
 
In 2026, a new machine called the Augma is developed to compete against the NerveGear and its successor, the Amusphere. A next-gen wearable device, the Augma doesn't have a full-dive function like its predecessors. Instead, it uses Augmented Reality (AR) to get players into the game. It is safe, user-friendly and lets users play while they are conscious, making it an instant hit on the market. The most popular game on the system is "Ordinal Scale" (OS), an ARMMORPG developed exclusively for the Augma.
 
Asuna and the gang have already been playing OS for a while, by the time Kirito decides to join them. They're about to find out that Ordinal Scale isn't all fun and games...
 
(Source: Aniplex USA)
 
Note: Includes 3 extra chapters.

The final load test... The war between the Human Empire and the Dark Territory has engulfed Underworld entirely. The battle has shifted course with the Dark Territory army led by Gabriel, who seeks to capture Alice, the Priestess of Light, against Asuna and the Human Empire forces fighting to save Underworld. 
 
As Kirito's consciousness remains buried in a deep sleep, Gabriel, standing in as the Dark God Vecta, has recruited thousands of American players to log in to Underworld to annihilate the Human Empire forces. Meanwhile, Asuna, Sinon, and Leafa have joined the battle utilizing three super-accounts of the deities of the Underworld. As the Goddess of Creation Stacia Asuna fights alongside the Human Empire forces to take on the American players in a vicious combat. Sinon, who has gained the super-account for the Sun Goddess Solus, is in pursuit of Gabriel, who has abducted Alice, while Leafa arrives to Underworld with the super-account Earth Goddess Terraria. 
 
But that is not all... 
 
The impassioned speech by Lisbeth has convinced many ALO players to join the fight with the Human Empire despite the risks. With this great war, not only Underworld's continued existence, but the bottom-up artificial intelligence, the ultimate AI, and even the future of mankind is at stake. 
 
Though he has yet to awaken, only one man holds the fate of this world: the Black Swordsman. 
 
(Source: Official Website)

1. The Fourteenth Autumn (十四回目の秋); Aincrad 35th floor, October 4, 2024 
Brief story about Silica and Kirito approximately one month before the clearing of SAO. Also introduces the «Angel's Ring», which is used later in Sword Art Online: Girls Ops.
 
2. Pina Edition Bonus Manga Theatre (ピナ・エディ・おまけ・まんが劇場)

Delve deeper into Kirito's and Asuna's pasts in this collection of three short stories adapted to manga for the first time! From their newlywed life in SAO to Asuna's time in ALO, revisit events from throughout the series as they originally appeared in the novels!
 
(Source: Yen Press)

Manga adaptation of the RPG game "Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris" for Playstation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Sword Art Online, as reimagined by famed fantasy author Soitiro Watase!
 
Asuka Empire. A Japanese-style VRMMO created by Akihiko Kayaba from a VR engine entitled “The Seed”—a game once played by Yuuki, Ran, and Merida of the Sleeping Knights that hides many stories. Two young women—warrior priestess Nayuta and ninja Koyomi, who became friends in-game—come across a mysterious priest named Yanagi. The elderly man tells them that he's looking for a detective to solve a riddle with a one-million-yen reward. The girls are shocked by the outlandish sum for this peculiar request, and then they meet an equally peculiar young man, who claims to be able to do this job as well as any other detective. With all his stat points invested in Luck, the man is useless in battle, but he does still seem to have some tricks up his sleeve, like that unbeatable drop rate for rare items... The mystery unfolds as two young girls and their dubious detective partner try to solve the case in this cutting-edge VRMMO world!
 
(Source: Yen Press)

In 2022, a genius by the name of Akihiko Kayaba created the first FullDive VRMMORPG: Sword Art Online. However, this game has a terrifying secret: You can't log out until the game is beaten, and dying in game means death in real life... This is the story of a player trapped in this deadly game, dreaming of conquering Aincrad. Your story.
 
(Source: Bandai Namco Entertainment)

The virtual world of ALfheim Online might not be literally deadly, but there's still plenty of tough adventuring to be had. The trio of Liz, Silica, and Leafa set out on a quest for a magical ring but immediately run into monsters tougher than they expected. A certain black-clothed swordsman comes to their rescue--but it's not Kirito?! It seems the "game of death" has had lingering emotional effects on everyone, and even the survivors bear scars. But the trio have gotten through tough times before, and they're not gonna let a buffed boss stand between them and their goal! Even if they succeed in finishing the quest, though, will they be able to heal the mysterious sword-wielder's broken heart...? Join Liz, Silica, and Leafa on a new adventure that's all their own!
 
(Source: Yen Press)

Sword Art Online Aincrad reboot manga
 
In the year 2022, gamers rejoice as Sword Art Online—a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) like no other—opens its virtual doors, allowing players to take full advantage of the ultimate in gaming technology: NerveGear, a system that allows users to completely immerse themselves in the game world by manipulating their brain waves to create a wholly realistic gaming experience. But when the game goes live, the elation of the players quickly turns to horror as they discover that, for all its amazing features, SAO is missing one of the most basic functions of any MMORPG—a log-out button. Now trapped in the virtual world of Aincrad, their bodies held captive by NerveGear in the real world, users are issued a chilling ultimatum: conquer all one hundred floors of Aincrad to regain your freedom. But in the warped world of SAO, "game over" means certain death-both virtual and real...
 
(Source: Yen Press)

The fact that Kohiruimaki Karen is 183 centimeters tall has always been something she's felt extremely self-conscious about as an introverted high school girl. But in the world of games, she can be whoever she wants to be! In the popular Gun Gale Online game, she's Ren, a short, all pink, P90 wielding bombshell who's aiming to win the next battle royale!
 
(Source: Yen Press)

The Sword Art Online Comic Anthology is a comic anthology of Sword Art Online-themed short, independent manga stories by various illustrators, published under the Dengeki Comics imprint.

Orchestrated by genius scientist Akihiko Kayaba, the SAO Incident created a game you couldn't leave until you beat it. One where death in the game meant death in the real world... Kirito is a survivor of SAO who now spends his time playing the new VRMMORPG Alfheim Online with his old SAO friends, Asuna and Alice. But Kirito soon finds himself caught up in a mysterious game he never expected...
 
(Source: Yen Press)

The world’s first full-dive VRMMO, Sword Art Online—known as SAO. What was meant to be a dream come true has instead transformed into a deadly game where dying in the virtual world means dying in reality. 
Emirun and Rex, who once knew each other in the real world, reunite by chance within SAO. They join a scouting party to learn how to survive in this unforgiving world. One day, however, they encounter a mysterious PK (Player Killer) known only as the Black Swordsman. When Emirun rushes to the scene, she finds Rex collapsed in despair, and the Black Swordsman standing over him. The one who wiped out their entire scouting party—was the Black Swordsman. 
Determined to avenge their fallen comrades, Emirun and Rex seek out the legendary prodigy swordswoman Asuna, and begin intense training under her guidance. In a death game where even players turn against one another, what new beginning will these two reach at the end of their struggle…? (Source: Official Site, translated)

The world’s first full-dive VRMMO, Sword Art Online—known as SAO. What was meant to be a dream come true has instead transformed into a deadly game where dying in the virtual world means dying in reality. 
Emirun and Rex, who once knew each other in the real world, reunite by chance within SAO. They join a scouting party to learn how to survive in this unforgiving world. One day, however, they encounter a mysterious PK (Player Killer) known only as the Black Swordsman. When Emirun rushes to the scene, she finds Rex collapsed in despair, and the Black Swordsman standing over him. The one who wiped out their entire scouting party—was the Black Swordsman. 
Determined to avenge their fallen comrades, Emirun and Rex seek out the legendary prodigy swordswoman Asuna, and begin intense training under her guidance. In a death game where even players turn against one another, what new beginning will these two reach at the end of their struggle…? (Source: Official Site, translated) 
Note: Released as part of the Echoes of Aincrad: Sword Art Online's game limited edition.

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