Your Essential Yu-Gi-Oh! Watch Order (Including Movies)
Before you build your ultimate deck and activate your Duel Disk, it’s time to set the stage! This guide is your definitive resource for navigating the expansive Yu-Gi-Oh! anime universe, ensuring you catch every series and film in the correct sequence. While we won’t be diving into the latest competitive card game metas, we’re here to help you fully immerse yourself in the anime sagas that forged a global empire, all based on the brilliant manga by the late, great Kazuki Takahashi.
Yu-Gi-Oh! (1998 Anime – 27 episodes)
Affectionately dubbed "Season 0" by devoted fans, this 1998 anime was the very first adaptation of Kazuki Takahashi’s original manga. Released exclusively in Japan, it introduces Yugi Muto, a shy but game-loving young boy. After successfully solving the enigmatic Millennium Puzzle, Yugi finds himself sharing his body with an ancient gambling spirit. This mysterious entity uses "Dark Games" to mete out justice, subjecting wrongdoers to unsettling penalties should they lose. While never officially released internationally, many global fans cherish this series as a darker, more intense take on the foundational Yu-Gi-Oh! lore.
Yu-Gi-Oh! (1999 Film)
This short animated film serves as a direct follow-up to the 1998 anime. Here, Yugi and his mysterious alter ego, Yami Yugi, step in to assist a young boy named Shogo Aoyama. Shogo becomes the target of the egomaniacal game company CEO Seto Kaiba after acquiring an incredibly rare Duel Monsters card, leading to a clash that only the King of Games can resolve.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (224 episodes)
This is the Yu-Gi-Oh! series that captured the hearts of millions worldwide, truly launching the franchise into superstardom. It’s recommended to watch this after the 1998 anime and 1999 film to understand the characters’ foundational stories.
Duelist Kingdom (Episodes 1-42)
The journey begins with the iconic Duelist Kingdom tournament. When Maximillion J. Pegasus uses his Millennium Eye to steal his grandfather’s soul, Yugi and his friends journey to Duelist Kingdom. To reclaim his grandpa’s soul, Yugi/Yami Yugi must compete in Pegasus’s Duel Monsters tournament. Also vying for a win is Seto Kaiba, desperate to rescue his younger brother’s soul from Pegasus’s clutches. Amidst the intense duels, Yugi and Yami Yugi slowly uncover the profound mystery surrounding Yami Yugi’s origins as an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, intrinsically linked to the very creation of Duel Monsters.
Domino City Battles (Episodes 43-49)
Following their victory at Duelist Kingdom, Yugi and his friends return to Domino City for a brief respite. However, peace is short-lived as they encounter a myriad of threats and eccentric new characters. These include the nefarious Big Five, KaibaCorp’s Board of Directors, and Ryuji Otogi, a brilliant aspiring game creator with his own agenda.
Battle City (Episodes 50-97)
Seto Kaiba hosts his own grand tournament, "Battle City," featuring cutting-edge new dueling technology. While many duelists join to showcase their skills, Kaiba’s true motive is to gather the legendary Egyptian God Cards – monster cards of immeasurable power that share ancient ties with Yami Yugi himself. Yugi and his loyal friend Joey Wheeler also compete, finding themselves up against the enigmatic Marik Ishtar and his ruthless Rare Hunters, who seek to collect the God Cards and seize global dominion.
Virtual World (Episodes 98-121)
En route to the Battle City Finals, Yugi and his companions find themselves ensnared within a dangerous virtual reality. Here, the Big Five, now under the command of a mysterious young boy named Noah, attempt to defeat Yugi and his friends in duels, hoping to claim their bodies and escape into the real world.
Battle City Finals (Episodes 122-144)
The Battle City tournament reaches its dramatic climax. The finalists, including Yugi/Yami Yugi, Kaiba, Joey, and Marik (now possessed by the sinister spirit of his Millennium Rod), engage in a series of breathtaking duels that will determine the fate of the Egyptian God Cards and potentially the world itself.
Pyramid of Light (2004 Film)
This original theatrical film sees Yugi face off against an ancient evil spirit named Anubis. After escaping his Egyptian imprisonment, Anubis emerges with a plan to dominate the world, challenging Yugi to a duel of unprecedented stakes.
Waking the Dragons (Episodes 145-184)
After their triumph in the Battle City tournament and securing the Egyptian God Cards, Yugi and his friends attempt to delve deeper into Yami Yugi’s mysterious past. Their peace is shattered when a malevolent organization, led by the formidable Dartz, steals the God Cards. Utilizing a devastating new card known as the Seal of Orichalcos, which claims the soul of any duelist who loses against it, Dartz poses an existential threat. To combat this new darkness, Yugi, Kaiba, and Joey must harness the power of legendary dragon cards.
KC Grand Championship (Episodes 185-198)
Having traveled the world to defeat Dartz, Yugi and his friends find themselves stranded. Seizing the opportunity, Kaiba extends an invitation to his brand-new tournament, the KC Grand Championship, offering them tickets home in exchange for their participation. This arc serves as a more lighthearted interlude before the final saga.
Dawn of the Duel (Episodes 199-224)
In the climactic final arc of the series, Yugi and his friends finally journey to Egypt to uncover the complete truth behind Yami Yugi’s origins. Their quest culminates in a final confrontation with Bakura, their long-time friend who has become possessed by the malevolent spirit of his Millennium Ring. This epic journey transports Yami Yugi 5,000 years into his past, where he uncovers his true identity as a pharaoh and the tragic story behind the very creation of Duel Monsters.
The Dark Side of Dimensions (2016 Film)
Set six months after Yami Yugi’s departure to the afterlife, this film finds Yugi and his friends preparing for high school graduation and contemplating their futures. Meanwhile, Seto Kaiba is relentlessly working to reconstruct the Millennium Puzzle, driven by an obsessive desire to duel the pharaoh once more. Concurrently, a mysterious individual named Diva emerges, seeking revenge against both Yugi and Kaiba for a past transgression, leading to a new, high-stakes duel.
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (180 episodes)
The first spin-off in the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime saga takes us to Duel Academy! Yu-Gi-Oh! GX follows a new generation of duelists attending this prestigious institution, founded by Seto Kaiba himself, with the goal of becoming the best. The academy is divided into three dorms named after the Egyptian God Cards: the elite Obelisk Blue, the scholarly Ra Yellow, and the underdog Slifer Red. Our protagonist, Jaden Yuki, is a passionate but lazy student assigned to Slifer Red. With his "Elemental Hero" deck, he often outmaneuvers higher-ranking students and even professors. Jaden possesses a unique ability to see "Duel Spirits," most notably his Winged Kuriboh, a gift from none other than Yugi Muto. Expect hijinks and mystical mayhem as Jaden strives to graduate and become the next King of Games.
Season 1 (Episodes 1-52)
In the early days of his time at Duel Academy, Jaden quickly makes friends across all dorms. Despite his poor grades and academic disinterest, his undeniable passion and prodigal talent for Duel Monsters earn him widespread recognition. During this season, he becomes one of the "Keykeepers," entrusted with safeguarding the powerful Sacred Beast cards.
Season 2 (Episodes 53-104)
Jaden encounters a fierce new rival in Aster Phoenix, a vengeful duelist whose "Destiny Hero" cards challenge Jaden’s "Elemental Heroes." Aster is connected to the sinister Society of Light, an organization led by the enigmatic Sartorius, which aims to brainwash the student body and conquer the world. Jaden must harness the power of his new "Neo-Spacian" deck to thwart Sartorius’s plans and save humanity.
Season 3 (Episodes 105-156)
Transfer students from various Duel Academy branches arrive, including Johan Andersen and his unique "Crystal Beast" deck. Johan and Jaden quickly become close friends and intense rivals, bonded by their shared ability to see Duel Spirits. However, their dueling skills are pushed to the limit as the formidable Supreme King begins to emerge, threatening both Jaden’s world and the realm of the Duel Spirits. These harrowing battles not only take a heavy toll on the Duel Academy students but also force Jaden to confront the darkest aspects of his own psyche.
Season 4 (Episodes 157-180)
With graduation looming, the students of Duel Academy face uncertain futures. Having accepted the Supreme King as a part of himself, Jaden transforms into a more intense and serious duelist, losing some of the joy he once found in the game, opting for swift, ruthless victories. Meanwhile, a malevolent entity known as Darkness preys on students’ negative emotions, dragging them into the World of Darkness. Jaden and his friends must make one last heroic effort to save their world while forging their individual paths beyond Duel Academy.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds (154 episodes)
Jump into the distant, dystopian future of Neo Domino City in Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds. A catastrophic event called Zero Reverse has divided the city into two distinct halves: the opulent, elite cityscape and the impoverished, junk-strewn district of Satellite. While class disparity permeates every aspect of life, Duel Monsters remains paramount. The game has evolved into "Riding Duels," where duelists take to the streets on D-Wheels – futuristic motorcycles equipped with Duel Disks – for high-octane competitions. At the heart of this cyberpunk world is Yusei Fudo, a skilled Riding Duelist from Satellite who uses his mechanical prowess and dueling skills to challenge the oppressive society. Yet, he is destined to uncover his true identity as a Signer and his connection to a mysterious dragon deity. This series also introduces the exciting new Synchro Summoning mechanic.
Season 1 (Episodes 1-26)
After painstakingly assembling a new D-Wheel from scraps, Yusei attempts to escape Satellite, driven by a desire for revenge against his former ally, Jack Atlas. The two once ran in the same gang in Satellite, struggling to survive together. However, Jack betrayed Yusei and their crew, stealing both his D-Wheel and Yusei’s cherished Stardust Dragon card. As Yusei seeks to reclaim his dragon, he, Jack, and other chosen duelists begin to uncover their destiny as "Signers" – individuals marked by parts of a powerful dragon and linked to an ancient civilization.
Season 2 (Episodes 27-64)
As the profound truth behind the Signers and the Zero Reverse disaster begins to unravel, Rex Goodwin and his sinister army of Dark Signers emerge, threatening to plunge the world into chaos. Yusei and the other Signers – including Jack, the psychic Akiza Izinski, the gifted young Luna, Yusei’s gang member Crow Hogan, and later Luna’s twin brother Leo – must unite and wield the power of their dragon cards to stop Rex from executing his malevolent plans.
Season 3 (Episodes 65-92)
Following the defeat of the Dark Signers, Neo Domino City undergoes a significant reformation, finally reuniting Satellite with the rest of the prosperous city. But as the Signers prepare for the prestigious World Racing Grand Prix, the enigmatic Emperors of Iliaster emerge from the shadows, poised to enact their own sinister plot that intertwines with the city’s future.
Bonds Beyond Time (2010 Film)
This epic crossover film takes place during the events of Season 3 of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds. In a monumental team-up, Yusei Fudo travels through time and joins forces with both Jaden Yuki from Yu-Gi-Oh! GX and the original King of Games, Yugi Muto, to stop a formidable entity named Paradox from erasing Duel Monsters from history itself.
Season 4 (Episodes 93-134)
With the World Racing Grand Prix officially underway, the Emperors of Iliaster intensify their operations. Yusei and his team strive for victory while simultaneously attempting to thwart the Emperors’ schemes. However, shocking revelations about the future force them to question everything they thought they knew about Synchro Summoning and Duel Monsters.
Season 5 (Episodes 135-154)
As the Emperors of Iliaster enter the final, critical phase of their plan, Yusei and the other Signers put absolutely everything on the line. They must make one last, desperate effort to save the world and forge a hopeful new future for Neo Domino City, culminating in a series of breathtaking duels that decide their fate.
Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL (73 episodes)
Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL transports us to the futuristic Heartland City, where Yuma Tsukumo dreams of becoming a Duel Monsters champion, despite his dueling skills initially leaving much to be desired. During a battle with his rival Shark, Yuma encounters a mysterious, ethereal spirit named Astral who helps him secure a win. Astral reveals he has lost all his memories, which have manifested as 99 "Numbers" – powerful Xyz Monster cards capable of possessing their duelists. To restore Astral’s memories, he and Yuma form an unlikely team to collect these Numbers and save the duelists who wield them.
Season 1: Number Hunter (Episodes 1-25)
Yuma and Astral embark on their quest to hunt down the scattered Numbers. Along the way, Yuma gains a formidable new rival in Kite Tenjo, a "Number Hunter" who collects the cards for his own purposes and can extract the souls of Numbers-wielding duelists. Yuma also begins to learn about the different dimensions of Astral World and Barian World, and how their impending convergence could spell disaster for Earth.
Season 2: World Duel Carnival (Episodes 26-49)
The hunt for Astral’s memories and the remaining Numbers continues amidst the thrilling World Duel Carnival. As the competition intensifies, Yuma and Astral must master their newfound "ZEXAL" power to emerge victorious and fend off various evildoers who are also seeking the Numbers for their own nefarious ends.
Season 3: World Duel Carnival Finals (Episodes 50-73)
With the unwavering support of Astral and his friends, Yuma manages to reach the World Duel Carnival finals. As the bonds between Yuma and his allies strengthen, the battle for the Numbers rages on, bringing them closer to the ultimate truth behind Astral’s past and the fate of their worlds.
Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL II (73 episodes)
Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL II is a direct and thrilling continuation of the events from Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL. Here, Yuma and Astral face even greater threats and unlock new powers as their relentless quest for the Numbers presses forward, deepening the mystery surrounding their intertwined destinies.
Barian Invasion (Episodes 74-98)
Rulers from the enigmatic Barian World begin to make their move, launching an invasion to conquer Yuma’s world. With over half of the Numbers already collected, Yuma and Astral must now confront powerful Barian duelists wielding fearsome "Barian" cards and devastating "Chaos Xyz Monsters."
Mythrian Number War (Episodes 99-123)
The ancient Barian God, Don Thousand, begins to enact his complex schemes, attempting to escape his imprisonment by gathering the seven mythical "Mythrian Number" cards. Astral and Yuma do everything in their power to stop him, all while gradually uncovering the profound and unsettling truth behind the Barians’ very existence.
Barian Emperor Onslaught (Episodes 124-146)
The ultimate battle against the formidable Barian Emperors commences. As Don Thousand and his Emperors seek to warp and merge all three worlds into a single, dark reality, Yuma and Astral must forge an even stronger bond and push their powers beyond their limits to defeat them once and for all, saving all dimensions.
Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V (148 episodes)
In Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V, groundbreaking advancements in Solid Vision technology have transformed Duel Disk hologram projections, making Duel Monsters feel incredibly real. This innovation gives rise to "Action Duels," a thrilling new form of dueling where professional Entertainment Duelists incorporate spectacular stunts, dazzling spectacles, and death-defying acrobatics into their matches. Yuya Sakaki, an aspiring Entertainment Duelist, aims to follow in the footsteps of his father, who mysteriously vanished years ago. During one of his duels, Yuya inadvertently creates a revolutionary new summoning technique: "Pendulum Summoning," sending ripples across various dimensions. Eventually, Yuya and his friends must travel through these dimensions, encountering familiar faces from past Yu-Gi-Oh! series as they race to stop powerful forces that threaten the fabric of reality itself.
Season 1 (Episodes 1-49)
As Yuya strives to master his new Pendulum Summoning technique, he captures the attention of the powerful Leo Corporation and its elite Duelist president, Leo Akaba. Meanwhile, visitors from other Dueling dimensions arrive, bringing a reality-spanning conflict to Yuya’s world. Among them are Yuto, a brooding young Xyz Summoner; Yugo, a reckless Synchro Summoning Ride Duelist; and Yuri, a sadistic Fusion Summoner from the Fusion Dimension, which seeks to dominate all other worlds. Strangely, all three newcomers bear an uncanny resemblance to Yuya. Simultaneously, Yuya’s friend, Zuzu Boyle, encounters Serena, a girl who looks just like her and also hails from the Fusion Dimension.
Season 2 (Episodes 50-99)
Yuya and his friends embark on a perilous journey of dimension-hopping to rescue Zuzu, who was accidentally warped away from their home. Their first stop is the Synchro Dimension, a world where high-speed "Ride Duels" still reign supreme. As Yuya battles the formidable Obelisk Force in his search for Zuzu, he encounters legendary duelists like Jack Atlas and Crow Hogan, who put his Ride Dueling skills to the ultimate test.
Season 3 (Episodes 100-148)
The desperate fight to save reality leads Yuya and his friends to the Xyz Dimension, a world already ravaged by the relentless forces of the Fusion Dimension, where its inhabitants duel simply to survive. As Yuya and Zuzu uncover the profound truth behind their own existences and those of their doppelgangers, the ultimate fate of Duel Monsters and all realities rests squarely upon their shoulders, culminating in an epic showdown.
Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS (120 episodes)
In the distant future of Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS’ Den City, Duel Monsters has fully embraced the virtual realm. Duels now take place in an immersive virtual reality space known as LINK VRAINS, where duelists can create and embody their own unique avatars. When a notorious hacker organization called the Knights of Hanoi threatens the safety and stability of LINK VRAINS, a young hacker named Yusaku Fujiki takes them on under the guise of "Playmaker." Utilizing the brand-new "Link Summoning" mechanic and aided by the mysterious "Ignis" AI program, Ai, Playmaker confronts the Knights of Hanoi in high-stakes cybernetic Speed Duels.
Season 1 (Episodes 1-46)
As Yusaku, as Playmaker, battles various members of the Knights of Hanoi, he begins to uncover the true origins of Ai as a being from the digital dimension known as Cyberse World. He receives assistance from two popular "Charisma Duelists," Blue Angel and Go Onizuka, as they collectively learn more about the Knights’ agenda and the powerful SOL Technologies, the creators of LINK VRAINS.
Season 2 (Episodes 47-103)
Several months after successfully defeating the Knights of Hanoi, Yusaku begins to encounter other duelists who also possess Ignis partners, much like Ai. These include Takeru Homura, who duels under the moniker "Soulburner" and is allied with the Ignis Flame. The two Speed Duelists soon find themselves embroiled in an escalating war between humanity and the Ignis, the latter of whom are now led by the formidable AI Bohman and the Light Ignis, Lightning.
Season 3 (Episodes 104-120)
Bohman’s defeat, though victorious for humanity, comes with a heavy sacrifice as several Ignis give their lives in the process. Following Bohman’s downfall, Ai takes on a new human form and sets out to seize control of SOL Technologies for his own enigmatic gains. Yusaku must now confront and battle his former ally as Ai’s quest for revenge puts all of humanity in grave danger, forcing an emotional and high-stakes confrontation.
Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS (92 episodes)
Elementary school student Yuga Ohdo loves two things more than anything: Duel Monsters and inventing. Using a Duel Disk of his own design, Yuga boldly reinvents the game by implementing his own innovative ruleset. After triumphing over a master Duel Monsters AI, he introduces the world to "Rush Duels," a fast-paced format that allows players to engage in quicker, more dynamic duels with more monsters, cards, and combos at their disposal. Yuga sets out to revitalize the world of Duel Monsters with his exciting new creation.
Season 1 (Episodes 1-52)
Yuga faces off against a variety of duelists, many of whom are initially resistant to his radical Rush Duels. Meanwhile, the powerful and mysterious Goha Corporation closely monitors his actions, hinting at a larger narrative at play behind the scenes.
Season 2 (Episodes 53-92)
As the world begins to embrace and delight in Rush Duels, Yuga and his friends soon find themselves compelled to confront the formidable Goha Six Siblings, who stand as powerful obstacles to Yuga’s vision for the future of Dueling.
Yu-Gi-Oh! GO RUSH!! (151 episodes)
Taking place prior to the events of Sevens, this prequel series follows twin siblings Yuhi and Yuamu Ohdo, who jointly run an eccentric odd-job business called UTS. Their lives take an extraordinary turn when they encounter an alien being named Yudias. Yudias arrives on Earth with a crucial mission: to learn about Rush Duels, hoping to use this knowledge to bring an end to the ongoing conflict plaguing his home planet.
Season 1 (Episodes 1-51)
Yudias, Yuhi, and Yuamu confront Zuwijo Zwil Velgear, Yudias’s former superior officer. Zuwijo intends to use Rush Duels to force an immediate end to the war on their planet, but his methods threaten true peace, setting him against our protagonists who seek a more harmonious resolution.
Season 2 (Episodes 52-102)
The main protagonists find themselves embroiled in a bewildering time-traveling adventure. They learn about the paradoxical origins of Rush Duels, thanks to the unexpected appearance of a familiar face from the past – or rather, from the future – adding layers of complexity to their understanding of the game.
Season 3 (Episodes 103-151)
Yudias and Yuhi find themselves at odds with Yuamu, who now leads the ominous Dark Matter Empire. Her objective is to set the stage for the existence of her descendant, Yuga Ohdo. As the past, present, and future collide in a grand cosmic conflict, Yudias and Yuhi strive for a timeline where all characters can find happiness and their futures are secure.