Accel World Watch Order
Bullied middle schooler Haruyuki escapes into virtual squash until the school's most admired student, Kuroyukihime, gives him Brain Burst, a program that speeds up thought and drops players into a fighting game where they can lose it forever. Based on Reki Kawahara's light novels (he also wrote Sword Art Online).
First time? Watch the TV series (24 episodes), then the two Accel World EX OVAs if you want more, then the film Infinite Burst.
Story Order
The TV series, then the side OVAs, then the film. The film jumps far ahead in the novels' timeline, past several volumes the anime never adapted. The parody shorts are left out.
- Accel World, episodes 1–12
Light novel volume 1 (Kuroyukihime recruits Haru, Ash Roller and Cyan Pile, episodes 1–5), a side story with the bodyguard Aqua Current (6–7), and volume 2, where the Red King Scarlet Rain asks for help against Chrome Disaster (8–12).
- Accel World, episodes 13–24
Volume 3, where the first-year Seiji Nomi (Dusk Taker) steals Haru's wings (13–17), Kuroyukihime's Okinawa school trip from volume 10 (18–19), and volume 4, where Sky Raker trains Haru for the rematch (20–24). The series ends here, at the end of volume 4.
- Accel World EX (optional)
Two side episodes that came with the two Accel World video games: a mystery avatar attacking players on the school network, and a hot spring trip. They don't move the main story along. Optional, and best after the TV series.
- Accel World: Infinite Burst
An 82-minute film: the first half recaps the TV series, then comes a new story by Kawahara in which a black storm throws every Burst Linker out of the game. It's set much later in the novels than where the TV series stops, so expect characters and events the anime never showed.
Release Order
The order everything came out. The Acchel World shorts (on the Blu-rays from July 2012) and the first EX OVA (September 2012) actually started appearing while the TV series was still airing.
- Accel World, episodes 1–12
Light novel volume 1 (Kuroyukihime recruits Haru, Ash Roller and Cyan Pile, episodes 1–5), a side story with the bodyguard Aqua Current (6–7), and volume 2, where the Red King Scarlet Rain asks for help against Chrome Disaster (8–12).
- Accel World, episodes 13–24
Volume 3, where the first-year Seiji Nomi (Dusk Taker) steals Haru's wings (13–17), Kuroyukihime's Okinawa school trip from volume 10 (18–19), and volume 4, where Sky Raker trains Haru for the rematch (20–24). The series ends here, at the end of volume 4.
- Accel World: Acchel World. (optional)
Eight chibi gag shorts of about 3 minutes, one on each Japanese Blu-ray volume, based on the 4-panel parody manga. Optional.
- Accel World EX (optional)
Two side episodes that came with the two Accel World video games: a mystery avatar attacking players on the school network, and a hot spring trip. They don't move the main story along. Optional, and best after the TV series.
- Accel World: Infinite Burst
An 82-minute film: the first half recaps the TV series, then comes a new story by Kawahara in which a black storm throws every Burst Linker out of the game. It's set much later in the novels than where the TV series stops, so expect characters and events the anime never showed.
Explained
Is there a Season 2?
No. There's only the 2012 series, which ends at light novel volume 4, and as of October 2026 no new season has been announced. To keep going after the TV series, start the light novels at volume 5 (Yen Press publishes them in English).
Does Infinite Burst continue the story?
Only loosely. Half of it is a recap of the TV series, and the new half takes place much later in the novels, skipping the volumes in between. It's a canon side story by the author, not a substitute for a second season, and anime-only viewers will meet characters they haven't been introduced to.
Do I need to watch Sword Art Online first?
No. Both are by Reki Kawahara, but Accel World stands alone. The two only meet in a short story in novel volume 10 and in the video game Accel World vs. Sword Art Online, none of which is in the anime.
Are the OVAs and shorts important?
No. Accel World EX is two side episodes bundled with the video games, and Acchel World is a set of short parody gags. Both are fine to skip.