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How to watch the Fate series? Of course, you will be intimidated by the sheer collection of media the Fate Franchise has to offer. We have come up with 3 watch orders for newcomers who want a taste of the great franchise.
However, Fate/Stay Night was originally released as a visual novel (an interactive story with branching paths), so the story moves depending on the love interest of the player chose near the start of the game resulting in a unique sequence of events, called a “route”.
Depending on the choice of Saber the noble servant, Rin the young mage girl, or Sakura the shy classmate, one of the three routes will transpire. Thus following the same flow of events, Studio Deen and Ufotable have succeeded in showcasing the Fate franchise anime as a whole.
Fate Series Plot:
Fate’s story revolves around the Holy Grail War, an epic battle royale in which mages summon legendary figures from across history to fight for the wish-granting power of the Holy Grail itself.
When it comes to watch order, there are multiple ways you can consume this series! Check it out below!
Table of Contents
Fate Series Watch order overview:
- Studio Release Order: Recommended
- Chronological Order
- The Anime-only Order
3. The Anime-only Fate Series Watch Order
This order is for you if you want to savour the best bits at the last. The reason to put the Fate Zero series at the very end is that fans love the fight scenes and the top notch animation- the sakuga.
Fate/Stay night
Winter 2006
Studio: DEEN
26 episodes
The very first Fate series of 2006 adapted the Saber route. But instead of solely focusing on saber route, it tried to be all inclusive, and added major plot points of Rin and Sakura too.
Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works [Season 1 and Season 2]
Fall 2014 & Spring 2015
Studio: Ufotable
25 episodes
It is based on the ‘Unlimited Blade Works’ route of the game Fate/stay night focusing mainly on Rin Tohsaka, which assumes you’ve already played Fate, with even more plot twists .
Fate/stay night: Heavens Feel [Film 1, Film 2, Film 3]
Fall 2017, Winter 2019 & Summer 2020
Studio: Ufotable
3 movies
It is based on the ‘Heaven’s Feel’ route, the final route, and the darkest one of the game Fate/stay night, which focuses on Sakura.
Fate/Zero [Season 1 & 2]
Fall 2011 & Spring 2012
Studio: Ufotable
25 episodes
This series is the prequel to Fate/Stay Night. The events take place 10 years before the events of Fate/Stay Night.
2. Chronological Order
If you are looking for the straight cut timeline of the events to follow it chronologically how the characters appear, then this watch order will be the best for you.
Fate/Zero [Season 1 & 2]
Fall 2011 & Spring 2012
Studio: Ufotable
25 episodes
This series is the prequel to Fate/Stay Night. The events take place 10 years before the events of Fate/Stay Night.
Fate/stay night
Winter 2006
Studio: DEEN
26 episodes
The very first Fate series of 2006 adapted the Saber route. But instead of solely focusing on saber route, it tried to be all inclusive, and added major plot points of Rin and Sakura too.
Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works [Season 1 and Season 2]
Fall 2014 & Spring 2015
Studio: Ufotable
25 episodes
It is based on the ‘Unlimited Blade Works’ route of the game Fate/stay night focusing mainly on Rin Tohsaka, which assumes you’ve already played Fate, with even more plot twists .
Fate/stay night: Heavens Feel [Film 1, Film 2, Film 3]
Fall 2017, Winter 2019 & Summer 2020
Studio: Ufotable
3 movies
It is based on the ‘Heaven’s Feel’ route, the final route, and the darkest one of the game Fate/stay night, which focuses on Sakura.
1. Studio Release Order: RECOMMENDED
The best way to maximize your Fate series experience is to watch it as the Studios intended.
Fate/stay night
Winter 2006
Studio: DEEN
26 episodes
The very first Fate series of 2006 adapted the Saber route. But instead of solely focusing on saber route, it tried to be all inclusive, and added major plot points of Rin and Sakura too.
Fate/Zero [Season 1 & 2]
Fall 2011 & Spring 2012
Studio: Ufotable
25 episodes
This series is the prequel to Fate/Stay Night. The events take place 10 years before the events of Fate/Stay Night.
Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works [Season 1 and Season 2]
Fall 2014 & Spring 2015
Studio: Ufotable
25 episodes
It is based on the ‘Unlimited Blade Works’ route of the game Fate/stay night focusing mainly on Rin Tohsaka, which assumes you’ve already played Fate, with even more plot twists .
Fate/stay night: Heavens Feel [Film 1, Film 2, Film 3]
Fall 2017, Winter 2019 & Summer 2020
Studio: Ufotable
3 movies
It is based on the ‘Heaven’s Feel’ route, the final route, and the darkest one of the game Fate/stay night, which focuses on Sakura.
BONUS: Fate Series Visual Novel Order
If you are a Fate nerd, and you want to enjoy reading the Visual Novels then we got you covered.
Fate/Stay Night [Realta Nua] Visual Novel
Roughly 60 hours long, but 100% worth it!
Fate/Hollow Ataraxia Visual Novel – FHA Patch
>50 hours long and is the direct sequel to Fate/Stay Night.
Fate/Zero [Season 1 & 2]
This series is the prequel to Fate/Stay Night. The events take place 10 years before the events of Fate/Stay Night.
Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works [Season 1 and Season 2]
It is based on the ‘Unlimited Blade Works’ route of the game Fate/stay night focusing mainly on Rin Tohsaka, which assumes you’ve already played Fate, with even more plot twists .
Fate/stay night: Heavens Feel [Film 1, Film 2, Film 3]
It is based on the ‘Heaven’s Feel’ route, the final route, and the darkest one of the game Fate/stay night, which focuses on Sakura.
Other Media: No Particular Order
Carnival Phantasm (OVA) – Summer 2011
Carnival Phantasm EX Season (OVA) – Fall 2011
Carnival Phantasm: Illya-jou (Special) – Fall 2011
Carnival Phantasm: HibiChika Special – Summer 2012
Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA ILLYA – Summer 2013
Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA ILLYA 2wei! – Summer 2014
Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA ILLYA 2wei! Herz – Summer 2015
Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA ILLYA 3rei!! – Summer 2016
Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA ILLYA Movie: Sekka no Chikai – Summer 2017
Fate/Prototype – Fall 2011
Fate/Grand Order: First Order (Special) – Fall 2016
Fate/Apocrypha – Summer 2017
Fate/Grand Order: Himuro no Tenchi -7-nin no Saikyou Ijin-hen (Special) – Fall 2017
Fate/Grand Order: Moonlight/Lostroom (Special) – Fall 2017
Emiya-san Chi no Kyou no Gohan – Winter 2018
Fate/Extra: Last Encore – Winter 2018
Fate/Extra: Last Encore – Illustrias Tendousetsu – Summer 2018
Lord El-Melloi II Sei no Jikenbo: Rail Zeppelin Grace Note – Hakamori to Neko to Majutsushi (Special) – Fall 2018
Manga de Wakaru! Fate/Grand Order (Special) – Fall 2018
Lord El-Melloi II Sei no Jikenbo: Rail Zeppelin Grace Note – Summer 2019
Fate/Grand Order: Zettai Majuu Sensen Babylonia – Intium Iter (Special) – Summer 2019
Fate/Grand Order: Zettai Majuu Sensen Babylonia – Fall 2019
Phew! Finally, the Fate Franchise is sorted. We also sorted the Monogatari series watch order. It’s definitely easier than this one. Hope we could help you appreciate the Fate series. Keep an eye out for more Guides and “How to watch” articles from Animehunch. Till then, mata ne ^-^
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