Sword Art Online
Edit
What would you like to edit?
 

Sword Art Online
Add to My List
Buy on Manga Store

Alternative Titles

Synonyms: S.A.O, SAO
Japanese: ソードアート・オンライン
English: Sword Art Online
More titles

Information

Type: Light Novel
Volumes: Unknown
Chapters: Unknown
Status: Publishing
Published: Apr 10, 2009 to ?
Genres: Action Action, Adventure Adventure, Fantasy Fantasy, Romance Romance
Theme: Video Game Video Game
Serialization: None
Authors: BUNBUN (Art), Kawahara, Reki (Story)

Statistics

Score: 7.991 (scored by 2314823,148 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #7372
2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #245
Members: 60,247
Favorites: 3,469

Available At

Official Site

Resources

icon
Wikipedia
icon
Wikipedia
Top
  >  
Manga
  >  
Sword Art Online
7.99
Ranked #737Popularity #245Members 60,247
Light NovelBUNBUN (Art), Kawahara, Reki (Story)
Add to List
Volumes: /?
Chapters: /?
* Your list is public by default.
Available on Manga Store
Sword Art Online (light novel)
Volume 1
$7.99

Edit
Synopsis

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)

Edit
Background

Author Reki Kawahara wrote the first volume of Sword Art Online in 2002 and intended to submit it for the Dengeki Game Novel Prize, but refrained as he exceeded the page limit. He instead published the series as a web novel. Shortly after his other series Accel World won the Dengeki Novel Grand Prize in 2008, Sword Art Online was published in print.

The series placed 1st on the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! ranking under Best Light Novel category in 2012 and 2013.

Yen Press has been publishing the series in English under the Yen On imprint since April 22, 2014. It has also been published in Italian by J-POP since October 11, 2014; in Polish by Kotori since December 2014; and in Russian by Istari Comics since December 2015.

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

Learn how to draw anime & manga from Japanese pros🎨
Join the official Paradox Live MAL Club & celebrate the anime! 🎤
Elevate Your Style Today

Edit
Related Manga

Alternative version:Sword Art Online: Aincrad, Sword Art Online: Fairy Dance, Sword Art Online: Phantom Bullet, Sword Art Online: Mother's Rosario, Sword Art Online: Calibur, Sword Art Online: Project Alicization, Sword Art Online Re:Aincrad, Sword Art Online: Unital Ring, Sword Art Online: Kiss and Fly
Side story:Sword Art Online Side Stories, Sword Art Online: Progressive, Sword Art Online: Girls Ops, Sword Art Online: Celeste no Yousei, Sword Art Online SS: Calibur SS-han, Sword Art Online: Material Edition, Sword Art Online dj - Lisbeth Edition, Sword Art Online dj - Silica Edition, Sword Art Online dj - Pina Edition, Gekijouban Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale
Spin-off:Sword Art☆Online., Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online, Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization, Sword Art Online Alternative: Clover's Regret, Sword Art Online: Kirito no Aincrad Night, Sword Art Online Iden: Kibaou-han!, Sword Art Online: Integral Factor - Prologue Comic, Sword Art Online: Kirito no Gun Gale Wars
Adaptation:Sword Art Online: Alicization, Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld, Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld 2nd Season, Sword Art Online, Sword Art Online: Extra Edition, Sword Art Online II

More characters
Characters

Kirigaya, Kazuto
Kirigaya, Kazuto
Main
Yuuki, Asuna
Yuuki, Asuna
Main
Asada, Shino
Asada, Shino
Main
Zuberg, Alice
Zuberg, Alice
Main
Eugeo
Eugeo
Main
Kirigaya, Suguha
Kirigaya, Suguha
Main
Konno, Yuuki
Konno, Yuuki
Supporting
Yui
Yui
Supporting
Tsuboi, Ryoutarou
Tsuboi, Ryoutarou
Supporting
Ayano, Keiko
Ayano, Keiko
Supporting

More reviewsReviews

Oct 7, 2014
xNihalx
Recommended
Preliminary (Unknown/? chp)
-This is a SpoilerFree review-

First of all I want to tell you that I'm not an english native so sorry for my poor english and for the eventual errors.

Sword Art Online, the novel behind one of the most discussed anime ever. Someone says "it's the best, omg nothing can be compared to that", someone else says "it's just the worst story ever with the worst character ever".
So that point of view gave me a lot of curiosity, I just wanted to start reading the novels, and after reading all the 14 that are out up until now I feel ready to explain my vision over ...
Read more
Open
Gift
Report
Aug 10, 2012
castor212
Recommended
Preliminary (Unknown/? chp)
Sword Art Online is about a virtual reality MMORPG. It is set on 2022, where humanity has finally for the first time able to completely go inside the game world using virtual reality technology.

At first I didn't really put high expectation to it, since it's genre is quite mainstream, like .hack G.U. or Yureka, but with a tint taste of darkness; Death is real here.

But the more I read it, the more I find myself enjoying the proggress of the story. The writer, Kawahara Reki gives a really realistic system and surrounding of said VR game, and it makes us able to completely drowned ...
Read more
Open
Gift
Report
Aug 14, 2013
arseface
Recommended
Preliminary (56/? chp)
I've read the baka-tsuki version of every main story up to Alicization, which I won't start until the translation is finished. This review is for every non-side up till then, not just the first volume.

The series is very good. Poorly written, but very enjoyable. You can tell the author was younger when he wrote it and each arc is vastly different from the others as he progresses as an author.

Story 7/10
Every arc is different here. Vastly.

First arc Sword Art Online
the story basically serves as a medium with which to explain the world to you. The romance factors are a bit exaggerated since the ...
Read more
Open
Gift
Report

More stacks

Interest Stacks
ChatGPT's 50 Light Novel
by DugBur
50 Entries · 20 Restacks

More recommendations
Recommendations


More news
Recent News

North American Anime & Manga Releases for March

North American Anime & Manga Releases for March

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for March. Week 1: March 7 - 13 Anime Releases Koi to Uso (Love and Lies) Complete Collection Blu-...read more

Mar 10, 12:40 PM by Aiimee | Discuss (1 comment)

North American Anime & Manga Releases for September

North American Anime & Manga Releases for September

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for September. Week 1: September 6 - 12 Anime Releases Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Set 13 Blu-...read more

Sep 6, 2022 11:53 AM by Aiimee | Discuss (1 comment)


More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

Continue the LN after the last season
baltazak - Apr 5		 1 replies by Alexioos95 »»
Apr 5, 8:20 AM
Still feels rushed
Cneq - Nov 14, 2022		 5 replies by Kazu-chan-san »»
Jan 18, 7:37 AM
Poll: Sword Art Online Chapter 2 Discussion
Kiba_Senpai - Nov 27, 2022		 0 replies by Kiba_Senpai »»
Nov 27, 2022 4:20 PM
Poll: Sword Art Online Chapter 62 Discussion
Phaetons_Folly - Sep 22, 2022		 0 replies by Phaetons_Folly »»
Sep 22, 2022 9:33 PM
General Discussion Thread (Spoilers)
ApacheSnow69 - Mar 9, 2021		 9 replies by ApacheSnow69 »»
Aug 21, 2022 10:05 PM

More featured articles
Recent Featured Articles

Special Report from Aniplex Online Fest 2021

Special Report from Aniplex Online Fest 2021

Breaking down the hottest panels at Aniplex Online Fest 2021, featuring Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Grand Order, Sword Art Online, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.

by MAL_editing_team

31,710 views

Everything You Need to Know About Sword Art Online: Progressive

Everything You Need to Know About Sword Art Online: Progressive

The next level of SAO will take us back to where it all began.

by Shymander

52,375 views


MoreTop Anime

  1. 1 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
  2. 2 Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen
  3. 3 Steins;Gate
  4. 4 Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3 Part 2
  5. 5 Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Season - Kanketsu-hen

MoreTop Airing Anime

  1. 1 Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Season - Kanketsu-hen
  2. 2 "Oshi no Ko"
  3. 3 Vinland Saga Season 2
  4. 4 One Piece
  5. 5 Kimetsu no Yaiba: Katanakaji no Sato-hen

MoreMost Popular Characters

  1. 1 Lamperouge, Lelouch
  2. 2 Levi
  3. 3 Monkey D., Luffy
  4. 4 Lawliet, L
  5. 5 Roronoa, Zoro
It’s time to ditch the text file.
Keep track of your anime easily by creating your own list.
Sign Up Login