Fate series watch order

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On our [watch order wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/wiki/watch_order) you can find suggested orders for a ton of shows (hopefully including the one you're looking for), as well as information that will help you decide on what to watch for the more complicated series *<cough>* Fate *<cough>*.

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[Here's the /r/fatestaynight guide.](https://www.reddit.com/r/fatestaynight/comments/df8rvo/rfatestaynights_official_viewing_order_guide_v2/) The TL;DR is there is no perfect way because the very start of the original source material was made into an anime of questionable quality/accuracy so a lot of the fan base wants to ignore it, but that leads to the broader debate on where to start instead.

If you have the time and aren't opposed to another medium I'd say the *best* way to get into the franchise would be to [read the visual novel](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2396980/Fatestay_night_REMASTERED/) and then pretty much everything else is a spinoff of that which can be approached in nearly any order.

Fate/zero > Fate stay night > fate unlimited blade works> fate heavens wheel

Main story:

* Fate/stay night (2006) **(DISCLAIMER: primarily follows the Fate Route, but incorporates some elements from the other two. I like it enough to recommend it, so I will. But even aside from that, it's still part 1 of the main story so it should be seen anyway. If you don't want to watch it, the other alternative is to experience the Fate Route as it is in the Visual Novel, whether by playing it yourself or watching a walkthrough.)**
* Unlimited Blade Works (2014)
* Heaven's Feel Trilogy

Prequel:

* Fate/Zero **(DISCLAIMER: if you just want to watch one great show and then dip from the franchise, it's a perfectly fine standalone (not gonna gatekeep). However, don't start with it if you plan to commit)**

Spinoffs:

* Carnival Phantasm **(needs some knowledge from Tsukihime as well, but there's no anime of that 😎)**
* Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya
* Fate/Apocrypha
* Today's Menu for the Emiya Family **(jokingly referred to as "Fate/Cooking")**
* Fate/Extra: Last Encore
* Lord El-Melloi II Case Files: Rail Zeppelin Grace Note **(needs Fate/Zero for context)**
* Fate/Grand Order:
- First Order **(Prologue)**
- Divine Realm of the Round Table - Camelot **(6th Singularity)**
- Absolute Demonic Front - Babylonia **(7th Singularity)**
- The Grand Temple of Time - Solomon **(Final Singularity & End of Part 1)**
- Moonlight/Lostroom **(prelude/setup for Part 2)**
- Fate/Grand Carnival **(the Grand Order version of Carnival Phantasm)**
* Fate/strange Fake

Play the game. If you don't want to, just start anywhere. Any dissatisfaction you have from that is your own fault for not listening.

**Fate Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works**
\- [Unlimited Blade Works Episode 0](https://myanimelist.net/anime/27821/Fate_stay_night__Unlimited_Blade_Works_Prologue)
\- [Unlimited Blade Works Season 1](https://myanimelist.net/anime/22297/Fate_stay_night__Unlimited_Blade_Works)
\- [Unlimited Blade Works Season 2](https://myanimelist.net/anime/28701/Fate_stay_night__Unlimited_Blade_Works_2nd_Season)

**Fate Stay Night Heavens Feel Movie Trilogy**
\- [First](https://myanimelist.net/anime/25537/Fate_stay_night_Movie__Heavens_Feel_-_I_Presage_Flower)
\- [Second](https://myanimelist.net/anime/33049/Fate_stay_night_Movie__Heavens_Feel_-_II_Lost_Butterfly)
\- [Third](https://myanimelist.net/anime/33050/Fate_stay_night_Movie__Heavens_Feel_-_III_Spring_Song)

**Fate Zero** this is actually a prequel to Fate/Stay Night, but is meant to be watched after as it's a prequel **sequel**. This is pretty much the end of the *main* fate series so everything after this is watchable generally whenever.

\- [Season 1](https://myanimelist.net/anime/10087/Fate_Zero)
\- [Season 2](https://myanimelist.net/anime/11741/Fate_Zero_2nd_Season)

**Today's Menu for the Emiya Family** (cute short 13min episodes with really nice art style from Ufotable. Features the Fate Stay Night cast. Last like 3-4 minutes of each episode is about a food recipe) Not a mandatory watch.
\- [Season 1](https://www.myanimelist.net/anime/37033)

**Lord El Melloi II** Best watched after Fate Zero.

\- [Episode 0](https://myanimelist.net/anime/38936)
\- [Season 1](https://myanimelist.net/anime/38959)
\- [Movie: Magic Lantern](https://myanimelist.net/anime/49361)

**Fate Apocrypha** Usually the first spinoff I recommend after El Melloi.

\- [Season 1](https://myanimelist.net/anime/34662)

**Fate Extra** - This anime is a loose adaptation of the Fate Extra game. It adapts a route that does not actually happen in it. Not the greatest adaptation, but a unique one. It's animated by Studio SHAFT, having a very Madoka-iy look. Like Fate (Season 1 is the first batch of episodes, the last 3 came out later due to production issues)

\- [Season 1](https://myanimelist.net/anime/33047)
\- [Last 3 Episodes](https://myanimelist.net/anime/37651)
Also the game is receiving a remake coming out next year. [Trailer here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJNxMqkgThs) (note it was delayed to 2026) I'd personally suggest seeing it after playing the game at this stage since it's so close.

**Fate Grand Order** An adaptation of the Fate/Grand Order gacha game. It's not the best but it generally serves its purpose. Some of it will be way better than the others. First Order is the prologue of the game, and then skips 5 arcs to Camelot so it's gonna be a bit of a jarring jump. Just keep that in mind and you'll be fine. Not totally 1:1 but if you've played the Persona games think of FGO as palaces on a world level.

\- [First Order](https://myanimelist.net/anime/34321)
\- [Camelot Movie 1](https://myanimelist.net/anime/38085)
\- [Camelot Movie 2](https://myanimelist.net/anime/38086)
\- [Babylonia Episode 0](https://myanimelist.net/anime/40206)
\- [Babylonia Season 1](https://myanimelist.net/anime/38084)
\- [Solomon Movie](https://myanimelist.net/anime/41497)
\-- [Moonlight Lostroom](https://myanimelist.net/anime/36915) (can honestly skip this ova. it is insanely confusing if you haven't played FGO.)


**Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya**
(this anime is ultra controversial, there are elementary school girls tongue kissing in it. A shame because it's **actually** a really good story. You can skip if you'd like. There's two really great characters that make an appearance in it that unfortunately don't have any other current anime appearances. They will show up in Carnival Phantasm at the bottom of this list, which is a gag anime.)

\- [Season 1: Prisma Illya](https://myanimelist.net/anime/14829)
\-- [Season 1 Shorts](https://myanimelist.net/anime/19109)
\-- [Season 1 OVA: Dance at the Sports Festival](https://myanimelist.net/anime/18851)
\- [Season 2: 2Wei!](https://myanimelist.net/anime/20509)
\-- [Season 2 Shorts](https://myanimelist.net/anime/25011)
\-- [Season 2 OVA: Hot Spring Inn](https://myanimelist.net/anime/26057)
\- [Season 3: 2Wei Herz!](https://myanimelist.net/anime/27525)
\-- [Season 3 Shorts](https://myanimelist.net/anime/31056)
\- [Season 4: 3rei!!](https://myanimelist.net/anime/31706)
\-- [Season 4 Shorts](https://myanimelist.net/anime/33456)
\- [Movie 1: Vow in the Snow](https://myanimelist.net/anime/34100)
\-- [Movie 1 OVA Sakuras Room](https://myanimelist.net/anime/36833)
\- [Movie 2: Licht Nameless Girl](https://myanimelist.net/anime/42030)
\- [Movie 3: Zoku-hen](https://myanimelist.net/anime/49703/Fate_kaleid_liner_Prisma%E2%98%86Illya_Zoku-hen) (release date unknown, probably the final movei?)

(For Fate Illya you can skip the OVAs and shorts. While there is some comedy that ISNT attached to lolicon bait, pretty much all of it is. The only one I wouldn't skip is Movie 1 OVA Sakuras Room)

**Fate Strange Fake** Fate Strange Fake is a love letter to the Fate series from Ryohgo Narita, author most famous for Baccano and Durarara (both excellent series with excellent anime adaptations). Strange Fake is going to start airing January 3rd 2026. If you're wondering why I put it down here, it's because it contains references big and small to pretty much everything above. You can technically watch it after Apocrypha, or El Melloi or even Zero, but you'd be missing some really cool references. It's a story that's greatly enhanced by knowledge, as much of it as possible.

\- [Episode 0: Whispers of Dawn](https://www.myanimelist.net/anime/53127) (this will most likely be aired alongside episode 1 on Jan 3rd if I'm hearing correctly)

\- [Season 1](https://myanimelist.net/anime/55830/Fate_strange_Fake) (starting January 3rd 2026)

**Kara no Kyoukai: The Garden of Sinners**
Garden of Sinners is Nasu's first work, and these movies are PHENOMENAL. Animated by ufotable. You'll be immensely surprised how beautiful the animation is given they were releasing from 2007 to 2013. They're ordered in release order, Should be noted the stories themselves are chronologically all over the place but it's intended.

\--[Manners Movies](https://myanimelist.net/anime/23697) (these stop motion shorts played in theaters to tell the audience to mind their manners. Very cute. I suggest interweaving them with each movie.)


\- [Movie 1: Overlooking View](https://myanimelist.net/anime/2593)
\- [Movie 2: Murder Speculation Part 1](https://myanimelist.net/anime/3782)
\- [Movie 3: Remaining Sense of Pain](https://myanimelist.net/anime/3783)
\- [Movie 4: The Hollow Shrine](https://myanimelist.net/anime/4280)
\- [Movie 5: Paradox Spiral](https://myanimelist.net/anime/4282)
\- [Movie 6: Oblivion Recording](https://myanimelist.net/anime/5204)
\-- [Movies 1-6 Recap: Gate of Seventh Heaven](https://myanimelist.net/anime/6624) (recaps the movies if confused, can skip if not. Pretty good though.)
\- [Movie 7: Murder Speculation Part 2](https://myanimelist.net/anime/5205)
\- [Movie 8: Epilogue](https://myanimelist.net/anime/6954)
\- [Movie 9: Future Gospel](https://myanimelist.net/anime/14807)
\- [Future Gospel: Extra Chorus](https://myanimelist.net/anime/22763)

**Mahoyo/Witch on the Holy Night** (Technically prequel to Tsukihime, leads me to believe Ufotable will do a Tsukihime anime adaptation afterwards)

\- [Movie](https://myanimelist.net/anime/50668) (not out yet, but this is most probably where I'd put it.)
[Here's a trailer.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML10KNGEif8)

**Carnival Phantasm** - Time for the treats. Funny gag section of pretty much all of the Fate content you just watched. So many memes. Includes Tsukihime characters, but don't worry about it. Tsukihime will for sure get an anime adaptation at some point (totally not coping)

\- [Season 1: Carnival Phantasm](https://myanimelist.net/anime/10012)
\- [Season 1 OVA: Carnival Phantasm EX](https://myanimelist.net/anime/12187)
\- [Carnival Phantasm: HibiChika Special](https://myanimelist.net/anime/15927)
\- [Fate Prototype](https://myanimelist.net/anime/12565) This is the original draft of Fate Stay Night, animated in a short 12 minute episode.
\- [Fate Kaleid: Illya Prisma Phantasm!](https://myanimelist.net/anime/38897)
\- [Learning with Manga: FGO!](https://myanimelist.net/anime/38958)
\- [Fate Grand Carnival](https://myanimelist.net/anime/44248)

You could if you wanted to watch Fate 2006 at this point, as there's literally nothing else to watch but I'd play the VN for Fate route or wait hopefully for a ufotable adaptation.

Other things that might interest you (all steam links)

Games:

[Fate Stay Night Remastered](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2396980/Fatestay_night_REMASTERED/) - The remaster of the OG visual novel. Strongly recommend playing.

[Fate Hollow Ataraxia Remastered](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2396990/Fatehollow_ataraxia_REMASTERED/) - The Sequel to Fate Stay Night.

[Witch on the Holy Night](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2052410/WITCH_ON_THE_HOLY_NIGHT/) - Witch on the Holy Night visual novel. Getting an anime movie from ufotable as mentioned earlier.

Tsukihime - Visual novel of Tsukihime, not currently on steam but the remake is on switch and ps4.

[Fate Samurai Remnant](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1902690/FateSamurai_Remnant/) - Action RPG set in the Edo period. I have not yet played it myself but it has very positive reviews.

[Fate Extella](https://store.steampowered.com/app/511680/FateEXTELLA/) - Action RPG. Sequel to Fate Extra. Would recommend waiting for the Fate Extra Record game coming out in 2026 before playing.

[Fate Extella Link](https://store.steampowered.com/app/622220/FateEXTELLA_LINK/) - Sequel to Fate Extella

Copy and pasted from the last Fate Watch Order thread which was literally yesterday:

Why post a new thread when this has been discussed (and answered) dozens of times?

FFS the search function exists. Use it.

Whatever you do, keep Grand Order for the end. That said:


Fate/Zero
Fate/Stay Night
Unlimited Blade Works (the 2015 version)
Heaven's Feel Trilogy


You can watch whatever you want after that. Many people will say that you shouldn't start at Zero because it's not completely canon because it wasn't written by Kinoko Nasu (Fate creator), but i think watching Zero first makes you enjoy Stay Night even more.
There are also people who says that you shouldn't watch Stay Night because it's bad, but you must do it, and that's the only option (unless you play the VN of course) since there is no remake and the manga version is a 💩, besides, it really isn't THAT bad.

There's really no watch order. Most of it is standalone alternate universes. There's a core of Fate/Zero, Unlimited Blade Works, and Heaven's Feel, which can be ideally watched in that order, or UBW/HF/Zero, but even that core isn't necessary. That provides you a strong basis going into any other Fate series, but most of them are designed to be watched entirely standalone anyway. The only thing you couldn't really pick up as a first timer is Heaven's Feel and FGO Solomon (FGO as a sub-series does has its own chronological order, if not strict watch order).

Strange Fake in particular is intended to be watchable by new viewers.