What is the best order to watch Overlord?

The recommended order is: 1. Overlord, 2. Overlord: Ple Ple Pleiades, 3. Overlord: Ple Ple Pleiades - Nazarick Saidai no Kiki, 4. Overlord: The Dark Hero, 5. Overlord II, plus 9 more entries. This follows release order, which works best for most viewers.

Can I skip the Overlord movies and OVAs?

There are 3 movies and 2 OVA/specials in the franchise. Some are recap compilations you can safely skip, while others add canon story content. When in doubt, watch them in the order listed — you won't regret having the full picture.

Should I watch Overlord in release order or chronological order?

For a first watch, release order is almost always the better choice. The creators designed reveals and character introductions around the release schedule. Chronological order is better suited for a rewatch once you know the full story.

Quick Answer

Overlord(TV · 13 eps)
Overlord: Ple Ple Pleiades(Special · 8 eps)
Overlord: Ple Ple Pleiades - Nazarick Saidai no Kiki(OVA · 1 eps)
Overlord: The Dark Hero(Movie · 1 eps)
Overlord II(TV · 13 eps)
Overlord III(TV · 13 eps)
Overlord IV(TV · 13 eps)
...and 7 more below

Total: ~107 episodes / 43h watch time

Overlord Watch Order(2026)

Q: How long does it take to watch all of Overlord?

The entire Overlord franchise is 107 episodes across 14 entries — roughly 43 hours of watch time.

Wondering where to start with Overlord? There are 14 entries total. The order below follows release dates, which is usually the safest way to go for a first watch.

14 entries ~43h total9 series3 movies2 OVA/specials

Full Watch Order (Release Order)

Overlord(you are here)

7.90TV13 eps~5h2015Madhouse

Finished Airing

Overlord: Ple Ple Pleiades

6.70Special8 eps~3h2015Studio PuYUKAI

Finished Airing

Overlord: Ple Ple Pleiades - Nazarick Saidai no Kiki

6.70OVA1 eps~24min2016

Finished Airing

Overlord: The Dark Hero

7.50Movie1 eps~24min2017MADHOUSE

Finished Airing

Overlord II

7.75TV13 eps~5h2018Madhouse

Finished Airing

Overlord III

7.91TV13 eps~5h2018Madhouse

Finished Airing

Overlord IV

8.06TV13 eps~5h2022Madhouse

Finished Airing

Overlord: Ple Ple Pleiades 2

6.83ONA13 eps~5hStudio PuYUKAI

Finished Airing

Overlord: The Maid Tea Party

6.19ONA1 eps~24min

Finished Airing

Overlord: Ple Ple Pleiades 3

6.81ONA13 eps~5hStudio PuYUKAI

Finished Airing

Overlord: Ple Ple Pleiades - Fugitive Clementine

6.64ONA3 eps~1hStudio PuYUKAI

Finished Airing

Overlord: Ple Ple Pleiades 4

6.70ONA13 eps~5hStudio PuYUKAI

Finished Airing

Overlord: The Undead King

7.63Movie1 eps~24minMadhouse

Finished Airing

Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom

7.75Movie1 eps~24minMadhouse

Finished Airing

Tips for First-Timers

What you can skip

The two recap compilation movies of Season 1 and most Ple Ple Pleiades comedy shorts/specials are skippable

Common mistake

Watching the recap movies instead of the full Season 1, or not placing the Holy Kingdom Arc movie between episodes 7 and 8 of Season 4

Short on time?

Season 1, Season 3, and Season 4 plus the Holy Kingdom movie at the intended point

Start Watching Overlord

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best order to watch Overlord?

Release order. Start with Overlord and go down the list. This is how the creators intended the story to unfold — later entries build on what came before, and watching out of order can spoil key reveals.

How long does it take to watch all of Overlord?

About 43 hours total across 107 episodes and 14 entries. At 3-4 episodes per day, that's roughly 31 days.

Can I skip the movies and OVAs?

It depends. Recap movies are always safe to skip — they just compress the TV episodes. Original movies and OVAs range from "fun side stories" to "actually important for the plot." When you're unsure, just watch them where they fall in the list above. Better to have extra context than miss something.

Release order or chronological order?

Go with release order for your first time through. Chronological can be tempting, but shows are written with release order in mind — reveals hit harder and character arcs make more sense. Save chronological for a rewatch if you want a different perspective.

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