For connoisseurs of gritty, dark fantasy storylines filled with gore, Berserk has always been a top recommendation. Although the very first adaptation of the series was released in 1997, the franchise remains unmatched to this day in its portrayal of some of the darkest narratives ever written in anime. So, if that convinces you to give it a try, you might want to go through this watch order guide first, because there are a few things you need to know before diving in.
The anime doesn’t have a conventional watch order, as there are multiple adaptations and movies to watch if you want to experience the entire story. Therefore, from the chronological to the release order, here we’ve explained every possible way one can enjoy the Berserk anime, along with additional information.
What Is the Best Order to Watch the Berserk Anime?
Before we jump into the details of the chronological watch order, for those who want a quick answer and would like to avoid any kind of spoiler, here’s a quick listing of the best order to watch the entirety of Berserk:
- Berserk (1997)
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I – The Egg of the King (2012)
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II – The Battle for Doldrey (2012)
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III – The Advent (2013)
- Berserk (2016)
- Berserk Season 2 (2017)
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – Memorial Edition (2022)
NOTE: This order is recommended if you’re a completionist. Otherwise, the original 1997 Berserk adaptation is generally considered the best, so you can call it a day after finishing it and then proceed to read the manga.
Every Berserk Season & Movie in Chronological Order
Taking into account every Berserk adaptation released to date, there isn’t one definitive chronological order to follow to experience the story. That’s because there are two separate versions of the same narrative, so it ultimately comes down to which animation style you prefer watching first: the classic 90s aesthetic or the rebooted adaptation, which uses a mix of 2D and 3D CGI animation.
1. The Original Berserk Series
The original 1997 Berserk adaptation is still considered one of the best dark fantasy storylines in all anime. Although it doesn’t bring the narrative to a conclusion, many fans praise it as the best adaptation for what it manages to accomplish. The original series ran for 25 episodes and is a direct adaptation of the manga’s Golden Age arc.
- Berserk (1997)
2. The Trilogy Movie Reboot
The reboot version is criticized by the fanbase due to its poor usage of 3D CGI animation. Essentially, the three movies re-adapt the Golden Age arc, serving as a reboot of the original 1997 series. However, its faster pace and the depiction of a bloodier climax during the Eclipse make it a necessary watch. After that, a sequel TV series continues the story, giving you plenty of new content to experience.
Here’s the chronological watch order of the reboot series:
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I – The Egg of the King (2012)
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II – The Battle for Doldrey (2012)
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III – The Advent (2013)
NOTE: Later, in 2022, a compilation of the Golden Age Arc movies was released as a 13-episode TV series, titled Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – Memorial Edition. Since it is essentially a recap of the movie trilogy, we haven’t included it separately in the chronological order. However, this re-edited version does feature a few new scenes, including the popular “Bonfire of Dreams” scene from the original work, along with an updated soundtrack and animation. So, you can watch this version instead of the three movies as well.
3. Berserk (2016)
The TV series adapts the Conviction arc and the first half of the Hawk of the Millennium Empire arc, which are direct sequels to the Golden Age arc. So, it essentially serves as a sequel to both the 1997 Berserk adaptation and the trilogy of Golden Age movies. It follows Guts as the Black Swordsman, who has set out on a mission to get revenge against his former friend, Griffith. The series has two seasons with a total of 24 episodes and is animated by Studio Millepensee and GEMBA.
- Berserk (2016)
- Berserk, season 2 (2017)
The Entire Berserk Anime Franchise in Release Order
Some of you may prefer to watch a series in release order, and honestly, that wouldn’t be a bad idea this time. So, here’s a table highlighting the release dates and current MyAnimeList ratings of every Berserk adaptation:
| TITLE | RELEASE DATE | MAL SCORE (as of August 9, 2026) |
| Berserk | October 8, 1997 | 8.61/10 |
| Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I – The Egg of the King | February 4, 2012 | 7.71/10 |
| Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II – The Battle for Doldrey | June 23, 2012 | 7.87/10 |
| Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III – The Advent | February 1, 2013 | 8.21/10 |
| Berserk | July 1, 2016 | 6.34/10 |
| Berserk Season 2 | April 7, 2017 | 6.58/10 |
| Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – Memorial Edition | October 2, 2022 | 7.92/10 |
Are There Any Fillers in the Berserk Anime?
The overall narrative of Berserk (referring to the manga here) is quite dense. There is no loose dialogue or unnecessary storyboarding, and as a result, even the anime adaptations do not really contain any filler content. While the recap or reboot series can be skipped if you have already watched another version, the content covered in those adaptations is not entirely skippable.
Where to Watch All Berserk Anime Online?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a single platform where you can watch all Berserk adaptations online in the US. The 2016 edition of the Berserk series is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll, along with the Memorial Edition, which covers the three movies. However, the original 1997 Berserk can be a bit difficult to find online. As of now, the only legal way to watch it is through Blu-ray or DVD releases.
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