SAO Games Compared
How Echoes of Aincrad compares to the other modern Sword Art Online games — Last Recollection, Alicization Lycoris, Fatal Bullet and Hollow Realization. Setting, genre and where the new one fits.
Echoes of Aincrad is the latest in a long line of Sword Art Online games — and the first to go right back to the death game on the early floors of Aincrad. Here's how it sits next to the recent entries.
SAO: Echoes of Aincrad
This game2026The newest entry and the first to return all the way to the start of the anime — the death game on the early floors of Aincrad. Real-time sword-skill combat, a character you create yourself, and an optional permadeath “Death Game” mode.
SAO: Last Recollection
2023A large-cast send-off spanning the War of Underworld, built around big party battles. Story-forward and heavy on fan service, pulling in nearly the whole series roster.
SAO: Alicization Lycoris
2020Adapts the Alicization arc (the Underworld) with large open fields and party-based real-time combat. The closest predecessor to Echoes in scope and combat feel.
SAO: Fatal Bullet
2018Set in the Gun Gale Online world — gunplay instead of swords, with a created protagonist and deep gear customization. The biggest mechanical departure in the series.
SAO: Hollow Realization
2016A “what-if” return to Aincrad on a new floating castle, loved for its co-op and companion systems. Tonally the closest earlier game to Echoes' Aincrad setting.
Coming from the anime rather than the games? The FAQ covers how Echoes relates to the original series, and the characters page maps the returning cast.