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Yu-Gi-Oh! watch order

Yugi Mutou solves the ancient Millennium Puzzle and gains a second soul, the spirit of a pharaoh who settles everything through card duels. Kazuki Takahashi's manga grew into a string of anime series, each with a new hero and a new way to duel.

First time? Start with Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, then watch The Dark Side of Dimensions. After that, any later series works as a starting point; GX and 5D's continue the same world.

First-timer order

Duel Monsters and its sequel film, then each series in release order. Only GX and 5D's continue from Duel Monsters; the rest are standalone, so you can jump to whichever looks fun.

  1. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters TV, 2000–04, 224 episodes

    The series most people know. Duelist Kingdom, Battle City, several anime-original arcs, and the Millennium World finale. About 90 episodes are filler.

  2. The Dark Side of Dimensions Movie, 2016

    A sequel film written by creator Kazuki Takahashi, set some months after the manga's ending, with Kaiba determined to duel the departed pharaoh again. Some details clash with the anime, but it's usually watched right after Duel Monsters.

  3. Yu-Gi-Oh! GX TV, 2004–08, 180 episodes

    Years after Duel Monsters, Jaden Yuki attends Duel Academy. In the last episode he meets Yugi. The English dub stops at episode 155; season 4 (157–180) is subtitle-only.

  4. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's TV, 2008–11, 154 episodes

    Far in the future of the same world, Yusei Fudo duels on motorcycles in New Domino City. The English dub covers 123 episodes; the final 31 are subtitle-only.

  5. Bonds Beyond Time (optional) Movie, 2010

    A crossover film where Yusei, Jaden and Yugi team up across time against Paradox. Set during 5D's; guides suggest after episode 82. Optional.

  6. Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL TV, 2011–12, 73 episodes

    A standalone story: Yuma Tsukumo and the mysterious Astral hunt the scattered Number cards. Fully dubbed.

  7. Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL II TV, 2012–14, 73 episodes

    The second half of ZEXAL, continuing straight on from the first.

  8. Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V TV, 2014–17, 148 episodes

    Yuya Sakaki's Action Duels lead to a war across four dimensions, each modeled on an earlier series, with counterparts of characters from GX, 5D's and ZEXAL. Its own story.

  9. Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS TV, 2017–19, 120 episodes

    A standalone story set in a virtual-reality network, following the hacker Playmaker.

  10. Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS TV, 2020–22, 92 episodes

    A lighter, kid-focused series that introduces Rush Duels. The English dub has 89 of the 92 episodes.

  11. Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! TV, 2022–25, 151 episodes

    Another Rush Duel series with a new cast. Set in the same world as SEVENS, but earlier, so it works as a stealth prequel. The latest series.

Story order

The Duel Monsters world in order, with the films and Capsule Monsters where they fit, then the standalone series. The Toei 1998 series is a separate version of the manga's opening, listed first. Go Rush!! goes before SEVENS because it's set earlier in the same world.

  1. Yu-Gi-Oh! (1998, Season 0) (optional) TV, 1998, 27 episodes

    Toei's earlier adaptation of the manga's first chapters, with all kinds of games, not just cards. A separate version, never released in English. Optional.

  2. Yu-Gi-Oh! (1999 film) (optional) Movie, 1999

    A 30-minute Toei film set after the 1998 series: Yugi duels Kaiba over a boy's Red-Eyes Black Dragon card. Optional.

  3. Duel Monsters, episodes 1–49 TV, 2000–01, 49 episodes

    Duelist Kingdom (1–40), Pegasus's tournament to win back Grandpa's soul. Filler: 13, 25, 33 and 41–45 (including the Legendary Heroes arc). Episodes 46–49 adapt the manga's Dungeon Dice Monsters story.

  4. Duel Monsters, episodes 50–144 TV, 2001–03, 95 episodes

    Battle City, Kaiba's city-wide tournament against Marik and his Rare Hunters. Episodes 98–121 are the anime-original Virtual World (Noah) arc; other filler: 74, 80, 136 and 144.

  5. Pyramid of Light (optional) Movie, 2004

    Anubis returns to take revenge on Yugi. Made with the Western market in mind; set after the Battle City finals. Optional.

  6. Duel Monsters, episodes 145–198 (optional) TV, 2003–04, 54 episodes

    All anime-original: the Doma / Orichalcos arc (145–184, 'Waking the Dragons' in English) and the KC Grand Championship (185–198). Skippable if you only want the manga story.

  7. Capsule Monsters (optional) TV, 2006, 12 episodes

    A US-only miniseries made for 4Kids and never aired in Japan: Yugi and friends are trapped in a world of capsule monsters. Set before Millennium World. Optional.

  8. Duel Monsters, episodes 199–224 TV, 2004, 26 episodes

    Millennium World ('Dawn of the Duel'): the pharaoh's lost memories in ancient Egypt, ending with the Ceremonial Duel. The manga's ending.

  9. The Dark Side of Dimensions Movie, 2016

    A sequel film written by creator Kazuki Takahashi, set some months after the manga's ending, with Kaiba determined to duel the departed pharaoh again. Some details clash with the anime, but it's usually watched right after Duel Monsters.

  10. Yu-Gi-Oh! GX TV, 2004–08, 180 episodes

    Years after Duel Monsters, Jaden Yuki attends Duel Academy. In the last episode he meets Yugi. The English dub stops at episode 155; season 4 (157–180) is subtitle-only.

  11. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's TV, 2008–11, 154 episodes

    Far in the future of the same world, Yusei Fudo duels on motorcycles in New Domino City. The English dub covers 123 episodes; the final 31 are subtitle-only.

  12. Bonds Beyond Time (optional) Movie, 2010

    A crossover film where Yusei, Jaden and Yugi team up across time against Paradox. Set during 5D's; guides suggest after episode 82. Optional.

  13. Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL TV, 2011–12, 73 episodes

    A standalone story: Yuma Tsukumo and the mysterious Astral hunt the scattered Number cards. Fully dubbed.

  14. Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL II TV, 2012–14, 73 episodes

    The second half of ZEXAL, continuing straight on from the first.

  15. Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V TV, 2014–17, 148 episodes

    Yuya Sakaki's Action Duels lead to a war across four dimensions, each modeled on an earlier series, with counterparts of characters from GX, 5D's and ZEXAL. Its own story.

  16. Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS TV, 2017–19, 120 episodes

    A standalone story set in a virtual-reality network, following the hacker Playmaker.

  17. Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! TV, 2022–25, 151 episodes

    Another Rush Duel series with a new cast. Set in the same world as SEVENS, but earlier, so it works as a stealth prequel. The latest series.

  18. Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS TV, 2020–22, 92 episodes

    A lighter, kid-focused series that introduces Rush Duels. The English dub has 89 of the 92 episodes.

Release order

Everything in the order it came out.

  1. Yu-Gi-Oh! (1998, Season 0) (optional) TV, 1998, 27 episodes

    Toei's earlier adaptation of the manga's first chapters, with all kinds of games, not just cards. A separate version, never released in English. Optional.

  2. Yu-Gi-Oh! (1999 film) (optional) Movie, 1999

    A 30-minute Toei film set after the 1998 series: Yugi duels Kaiba over a boy's Red-Eyes Black Dragon card. Optional.

  3. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters TV, 2000–04, 224 episodes

    The series most people know. Duelist Kingdom, Battle City, several anime-original arcs, and the Millennium World finale. About 90 episodes are filler.

  4. Battle City Special (optional) Special, 2002

    A recap special from the Battle City arc. Skip it.

  5. Pyramid of Light (optional) Movie, 2004

    Anubis returns to take revenge on Yugi. Made with the Western market in mind; set after the Battle City finals. Optional.

  6. Yu-Gi-Oh! GX TV, 2004–08, 180 episodes

    Years after Duel Monsters, Jaden Yuki attends Duel Academy. In the last episode he meets Yugi. The English dub stops at episode 155; season 4 (157–180) is subtitle-only.

  7. Capsule Monsters (optional) TV, 2006, 12 episodes

    A US-only miniseries made for 4Kids and never aired in Japan: Yugi and friends are trapped in a world of capsule monsters. Set before Millennium World. Optional.

  8. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's TV, 2008–11, 154 episodes

    Far in the future of the same world, Yusei Fudo duels on motorcycles in New Domino City. The English dub covers 123 episodes; the final 31 are subtitle-only.

  9. 5D's: Evolving Duel! Stardust vs. Red Demon's (optional) Special, 2008

    A short non-canon special duel between Yusei and Jack. Optional.

  10. Bonds Beyond Time (optional) Movie, 2010

    A crossover film where Yusei, Jaden and Yugi team up across time against Paradox. Set during 5D's; guides suggest after episode 82. Optional.

  11. Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL TV, 2011–12, 73 episodes

    A standalone story: Yuma Tsukumo and the mysterious Astral hunt the scattered Number cards. Fully dubbed.

  12. Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL II TV, 2012–14, 73 episodes

    The second half of ZEXAL, continuing straight on from the first.

  13. Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V TV, 2014–17, 148 episodes

    Yuya Sakaki's Action Duels lead to a war across four dimensions, each modeled on an earlier series, with counterparts of characters from GX, 5D's and ZEXAL. Its own story.

  14. The Dark Side of Dimensions Movie, 2016

    A sequel film written by creator Kazuki Takahashi, set some months after the manga's ending, with Kaiba determined to duel the departed pharaoh again. Some details clash with the anime, but it's usually watched right after Duel Monsters.

  15. Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS TV, 2017–19, 120 episodes

    A standalone story set in a virtual-reality network, following the hacker Playmaker.

  16. Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS TV, 2020–22, 92 episodes

    A lighter, kid-focused series that introduces Rush Duels. The English dub has 89 of the 92 episodes.

  17. Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! TV, 2022–25, 151 episodes

    Another Rush Duel series with a new cast. Set in the same world as SEVENS, but earlier, so it works as a stealth prequel. The latest series.

Explained

Where do I start?

With Duel Monsters, the series that started the card-game boom and the one the rest build on. The Toei 1998 series (often called Season 0) adapts the manga's earliest chapters, before the card game took over, but it was never released in English and most people skip it. After Duel Monsters, any later series can be a starting point.

Which series are connected?

Duel Monsters, GX and 5D's share one world: GX is set a few years after Duel Monsters, 5D's far in its future, and Bonds Beyond Time brings all three heroes together. ZEXAL, ARC-V and VRAINS are standalone (ARC-V nods to earlier series). Go Rush!! is set in the same world as SEVENS, but earlier.

What's filler in Duel Monsters?

Roughly 90 of 224 episodes. The big anime-original arcs are Virtual World / Noah (98–121), Doma / Waking the Dragons (145–184) and the KC Grand Championship (185–198), plus scattered episodes such as 13, 25, 33 and 41–45. Skip them if you only want the manga story; Duelist Kingdom, Battle City and Millennium World are the core.

Which dubs are incomplete?

Duel Monsters, ZEXAL, ARC-V and VRAINS were fully dubbed. GX's dub stops at episode 155, leaving season 4 subtitled only; 5D's dub stops 31 episodes before the end; SEVENS's dub skips 3 episodes.

Is there a new series?

No. Go Rush!! ended in March 2025, and no new TV series had been announced as of autumn 2026. The 30th anniversary in 2026 brought a music video and a short promotional animation rather than a new show.