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Overlord Watch Order
Watch Overlord's four TV seasons in order, then finish with the 2024 film The Sacred Kingdom, which picks up the story right after Season 4.
Overlord Watch Order: complete list
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Why this order?
Overlord is one of the simplest big isekai series to watch in order, because Madhouse released it in a clean, linear march. The story follows Momonga, a player left logged into a dying MMO who wakes as the skeletal overlord Ainz Ooal Gown, ruling a guild of fanatically loyal NPCs who have become real. Each season expands his conquest of the New World, so the intended path is just chronological release order.
The watch order here is the canonical one: Season 1 (2015), Overlord II and Overlord III (both 2018), Overlord IV (2022), and finally the theatrical film Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom (2024). The film is not a recap or a side story. It directly continues the events that Season 4 set up, adapting the Sacred Kingdom arc of the light novels, so you should save it for last rather than slotting it in earlier.
The one gotcha worth knowing is the pair of compilation movies, Overlord: The Undead King and The Dark Warrior, which re-edit Season 1 into two theatrical recaps. They are entirely optional. If you have already watched Season 1 as a TV series, you can skip both without missing anything new. They mainly exist as a refresher or a faster on-ramp for newcomers who prefer films.
If you enjoy Overlord's power-fantasy spin on isekai, the obvious neighbors are That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, also a tale of an overpowered non-human protagonist building a nation, and Re:Zero, a darker Madhouse-adjacent isekai. The Saga of Tanya the Evil shares the morally gray, strategy-heavy tone. None of them affect Overlord's order, but they scratch the same itch once you reach the end of the New World saga.
How many episodes is Overlord?
Overlord has 52 episodes across the 4 series entries tracked in this guide.
- Overlord (Season 1) 13 episodes 2015
- Overlord II 13 episodes 2018
- Overlord III 13 episodes 2018
- Overlord IV 13 episodes 2022
Timeline 2015-2024
Every entry by release year: rows that share a year are a cluster, and the long droughts are called out on the rail.
- 2015 (Season 1)
- 2018 IIIII
- 4-year gap
- 2022 IV
- 2024 The Sacred Kingdom
Where to play it today
- Crunchyroll
- Hulu
- Blu-ray / DVD (Crunchyroll Store)
Availability changes often and varies by region - links search each platform for Overlord.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I watch Overlord in?
Watch the four TV seasons in release order: Overlord (Season 1), Overlord II, Overlord III, and Overlord IV. Then finish with the 2024 film Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom, which continues the story after Season 4.
How many seasons and episodes of Overlord are there?
There are four TV seasons. Seasons 1 through 3 each have 13 episodes and Season 4 has 13 episodes as well, for 52 in total, plus the theatrical film The Sacred Kingdom.
Is Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom a recap or a new story?
It is a new story. The 2024 film adapts the Sacred Kingdom light novel arc and continues the plot after Season 4, so watch it last rather than as a recap.
Do I need to watch the Overlord compilation movies?
No. The Undead King and The Dark Warrior simply re-edit Season 1 into two films. If you have seen Season 1, you can skip both without missing anything new.
Is there a Season 5 of Overlord?
As of early 2026, no Season 5 has aired. The most recent release is the 2024 film The Sacred Kingdom, with further sequels anticipated by fans but not yet broadcast.
Do I need to read the light novels first?
No. The anime adapts the light novels in order and stands on its own. The novels go further than the anime, but you do not need them to follow the show.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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