Show cover for Sword Art Online

The Best Episodes of Sword Art Online Season 3

Every episode of Sword Art Online Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Sword Art Online Season 3!

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...

Genres:AnimationSci-Fi & FantasyAction & Adventure

Season 3 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Sword Art Online" season 3 is "Underworld", rated 7.9/10 from 551 user votes. It was directed by Tsuyoshi Tobita, Manabu Ono and written by Yukito Kizawa. "Underworld" aired on 10/7/2018 and is rated 0.3 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Demon Tree".

  • Underworld
    7.9/10 551 votes

    #1 - Underworld

    Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 10/7/2018

    Kirito, along with his childhood friend, Eugeo, has been tasked with cutting down a colossal tree called the Gigas Cedar. They’re swinging their ax when their friend Alice arrives with lunch. As they eat, the three friends decide to go to a fabled cave.

    Director: Tsuyoshi Tobita, Manabu Ono

    Writer: Yukito Kizawa

  • The Demon Tree
    7.6/10 380 votes

    #2 - The Demon Tree

    Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 10/14/2018

    Kirito wakes up to find himself inside a mysterious world evoking a fantasy game. His memory fuzzy, he tries to log out, but is unable to return to the real world. After wandering aimlessly, he finds himself underneath a colossal tree.

    Director: Takashi Sakuma

    Writer: Yukito Kizawa

  • The End Mountains
    7.7/10 364 votes

    #3 - The End Mountains

    Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 10/21/2018

    Kirito makes up his mind to journey to Centoria. Since he'll need Eugeo's help, he also decides to fell the Gigas Cedar. Meanwhile, Alice's little sister, Selka is worried about Eugeo, and opens up to Kirito about her concerns.

    Director: Shunsuke Ishikawa

    Writer: Ko Nekota

  • Departure
    8.1/10 375 votes

    #4 - Departure

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 10/28/2018

    Kirito and Eugeo realize Selka has taken off to the End Mountains alone, and decide to chase after her. As they enter the cave, they encounter goblins, presumably from the Dark Territory, and must engage in a battle.

    Director: Michiru Itabisashi

    Writer: Ko Nekota

  • Ocean Turtle
    7.3/10 342 votes

    #5 - Ocean Turtle

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 11/4/2018

    In the real world, Kazuto Kirigaya lies unconscious. At Kikuoka’s request, Kazuto is moved to a well-equipped hospital, but when Asuna and Suguha try to visit, they’re turned away. Suspicious, Asuna and the others split up to find out more about Rath.

    Director: Koji Kobayashi

    Writer: Yukito Kizawa

  • Project Alicization
    7.4/10 394 votes

    #6 - Project Alicization

    Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 11/11/2018

    Asuna infiltrates Rath, the research lab in the Ocean Turtle, where she relentlessly grills Kikuoka about Kazuto's whereabouts. Kikuoka reveals that behind the development of the Soul Translator is a mind-blowing objective of epic scale.

    Director: Hiroki Hirano

    Writer: Yukito Kizawa

  • Swordcraft Academy
    7.7/10 332 votes

    #7 - Swordcraft Academy

    Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 11/18/2018

    Two years have gone by since Kirito and Eugeo left Rulid Village. In the capital city, Centoria, both boys have attained their goal of being admitted to the North Centoria Imperial Swordcraft Academy.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Ko Nekota

  • Swordsman's Pride
    7.7/10 332 votes

    #8 - Swordsman's Pride

    Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 11/25/2018

    Kirito finds himself in a duel against the Elite Disciple Volo Levantein, using real swords. As the curious crowd looks on, Kirito is encouraged by Sortiliena, and the duel begins.

    Director: Shigeki Kawai

    Writer: Yukito Kizawa

  • Nobleman's Responsibilities
    7.4/10 326 votes

    #9 - Nobleman's Responsibilities

    Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 12/2/2018

    Now an Elite Disciple along with Kirito, Eugeo struggles with the question of what he should infuse in his sword so he can become stronger. When he's taunted by First-Seat Elite Disciple Raios and Second-Seat Humbert, Eugeo decides to accept Humbert's request for a duel.

    Director: Michiru Itabisashi

    Writer: Muneo Nakamoto, Yukito Kizawa

  • Taboo Index
    8.7/10 503 votes

    #10 - Taboo Index

    Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 12/9/2018

    Ronie and Tiese are late getting to the dorm. Kirito rushes out in search of them, but no sooner has he gone than Frenica appears. She tells Eugeo about how she's suffered at Humbert's hands, and that Tiese and Ronie went to confront him about it.

    Director: Shunsuke Nakashige

    Writer: Muneo Nakamoto

  • Central Cathedral
    7.4/10 322 votes

    #11 - Central Cathedral

    Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 12/16/2018

    Kirito and Eugeo are now considered criminals for having violated the Taboo Index and are thrown into the underground prison in the Central Cathedral. Meanwhile, on the Ocean Turtle in the real world, Asuna is watching over Kazuto as he's being treated.

    Director: Satoshi Saga

    Writer: Muneo Nakamoto

  • The Sage of the Library
    7.9/10 327 votes

    #12 - The Sage of the Library

    Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 12/23/2018

    Kirito and Eugeo escape from their cell, only to find their way blocked by Eldrie Synthesis Thirty-One, under orders from Alice to lie in wait for them. Kirito and Eugeo struggle against him until Eugeo realizes that he's seen Eldrie somewhere before.

    Director: Tsuyoshi Tobita

    Writer: Muneo Nakamoto, Yukito Kizawa

  • Ruler and Mediator
    7.3/10 322 votes

    #13 - Ruler and Mediator

    Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 1/6/2019

    Kirito and Eugeo have been rescued by the young girl, Cardinal, who has secluded herself inside the Central Cathedral’s Great Library. Cardinal explains to Kirito how the Axiom Church and the Taboo Index came to be, starting with Administrator’s past.

    Director: Hiroshi Kimura

    Writer: Muneo Nakamoto, Yukito Kizawa

  • The Crimson Knight
    7.8/10 328 votes

    #14 - The Crimson Knight

    Season 3 Episode 14 - Aired 1/13/2019

    After being entrusted with the fate of the world by the Cardinal, Kirito and Eugeo head to the top floor of the Central Cathedral. On the way, they find their confiscated swords among a vast pile of weapons in an arsenal, only to be greeted with a hail of arrows by the Integrity Knight, Deusolbert Synthesis Seven.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Muneo Nakamoto

  • The Relentless Knight
    8.2/10 336 votes

    #15 - The Relentless Knight

    Season 3 Episode 15 - Aired 1/20/2019

    Kirito and Eugeo are on their way up the stairs of the Central Cathedral when they encounter two girls named Linel and Fizel. As they stand, wondering what two children are doing there, they let their guard down and...

    Director: Daige Tokuda, Hirotaka Tokuda

    Writer: Muneo Nakamoto

  • The Osmanthus Knight
    8.1/10 330 votes

    #16 - The Osmanthus Knight

    Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 1/27/2019

    Though riddled with wounds, Kirito manages to activate his Perfect Weapon Control art. Continuing on their way to the top floor of the Central Cathedral, Kirito and Eugeo find themselves standing before a strange-looking floating platform.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Muneo Nakamoto

  • Truce
    7.8/10 318 votes

    #17 - Truce

    Season 3 Episode 17 - Aired 2/3/2019

    When Kirito and Alice both unleash the Perfect Weapon Control art in the Cloudtop Garden, the impact rips a hole into the seemingly impregnable Central Cathedral wall, which sends them both flying outside.

    Director: Michiru Itabisashi

    Writer: Yukito Kizawa

  • The Legendary Hero
    8.1/10 329 votes

    #18 - The Legendary Hero

    Season 3 Episode 18 - Aired 2/10/2019

    Eugeo reaches the ninetieth floor of the Central Cathedral, which turns out to be a vast bathing area. The perplexed Eugeo encounters Bercouli Synthesis One soaking in the bath. Meanwhile, Kirito and Alice are still climbing the Central Cathedral wall.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Yukito Kizawa

  • The Seal of the Right Eye
    5.9/10 241 votes

    #19 - The Seal of the Right Eye

    Season 3 Episode 19 - Aired 2/24/2019

    Seeing Alice’s reaction when he mentioned the name Selka, Kirito decides to tell her the truth about the Integrity Knights. Meanwhile, after being knocked unconscious during his battle with Bercouli, Eugeo awakes on the top floor of the cathedral.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Yukito Kizawa

  • Synthesis
    7.9/10 326 votes

    #20 - Synthesis

    Season 3 Episode 20 - Aired 3/3/2019

    Kirito and Alice reach the communal bath on the nintieth floor. There, they find the Integrity Knight Commander, Bercouli, who's been turned to stone by Chudelkin. Alice breaks down in tears upon seeing her mentor's tragic plight, but then...

    Director: Takuma Suzuki, Satoshi Saga

    Writer: Yukito Kizawa

  • The 32nd Knight
    7.4/10 311 votes

    #21 - The 32nd Knight

    Season 3 Episode 21 - Aired 3/10/2019

    Standing in Kirito and Alice's way is Eugeo, who's undergone the Synthesis Ritual and become an Integrity Knight. Kirito is rattled, until Alice admonishes him into resolving to fight Eugeo with everything he's got.

    Director: Shunsuke Nakashige

    Writer: Yukito Kizawa

  • Titan of the Sword
    7.9/10 324 votes

    #22 - Titan of the Sword

    Season 3 Episode 22 - Aired 3/17/2019

    On the top floor of the Central Cathedral, Kirito, Eugeo, and Alice finally face Administrator. But Chudelkin uses the sacred arts to transform himself into a giant clown and attacks.

    Director: Hiroshi Kimura

    Writer: Muneo Nakamoto

  • Administrator
    7.7/10 323 votes

    #23 - Administrator

    Season 3 Episode 23 - Aired 3/24/2019

    Cardinal appears on the top floor of Central Cathedral for a showdown with her bitter foe of the last two hundred years. She moves to achieve her objective of deleting Administrator, only to see the fallen sword golem rise up again.

    Director: Michiru Itabisashi, Hirotaka Tokuda

    Writer: Yukito Kizawa

  • My Hero
    7.6/10 327 votes

    #24 - My Hero

    Season 3 Episode 24 - Aired 3/31/2019

    Carrying the hopes of Cardinal, Eugeo, and Alice in his heart, Kirito stands yet again and visualizes the Black Swordsman, the top player who cleared SAO. For the sake of everyone he’s encountered in this world, Kirito, faces off with Administrator.

    Director: Takashi Sakuma, Manabu Ono

    Writer: Yukito Kizawa