The Fate series stands out as a beloved and intricate anime franchise, renowned for its complexity and vast array of spin-offs across various media such as anime, manga, games, and light novels. Once you grasp the origins of the series, navigating its different seasons becomes much more manageable.

With over 20 distinct anime projects, the Fate series is definitely worth diving into. Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer, our comprehensive Fate anime watch order guide will help you get started. For more anime recommendations, don't forget to check out our list of the best anime of all time.

Jump to:

• Which Fate anime to watch first
• Fate/stay night watch order
• Fate/Grand Order watch order
• Fate anime spinoffs

What Is Fate?

The entire Fate franchise originated from a visual novel titled Fate/stay night, released in 2004 by Type-Moon, a studio founded by Kinoko Nasu and Takashi Takeuchi. Nasu penned the narrative, while Takeuchi handled the art. Both continue to play these roles in most Type-Moon projects, although the company has grown significantly since its inception.

Fate/stay night features three distinct routes: Fate, Unlimited Blade Works, and Heaven's Feel. Each route offers unique battles, character dynamics, and plot developments. Though they all start with Shirou Emiya being drawn into the Holy Grail War, the subsequent events diverge dramatically. Consequently, three separate anime series were created, each named after its corresponding route, making it straightforward to identify which part of the story you're watching.

Over time, the Fate series has expanded into numerous spin-offs and subseries. With each having a unique name, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the variety of available content. Fortunately, there's a logical watch order that introduces you to the core concepts and themes of the series.

Which Fate Anime Should You Watch First?

Be aware that starting here will reveal some plot points from the Unlimited Blade Works and Heaven's Feel adaptations. However, due to the interconnected nature of the series, spoilers are inevitable no matter your starting point. We recommend beginning with Fate/stay night as it sets the stage for the entire series.

How to Watch the Fate Anime

All Fate anime series are available for streaming on Crunchyroll with a free trial. For those who prefer physical collections, many of the main series and spin-off movies can be purchased in Blu-ray format.

See it at Amazon

See it at Crunchyroll

See it at Crunchyroll

See it at Crunchyroll

See it at Amazon

The Best Fate/stay night Series Watch Order

1. Fate/stay night (2006)

Start your journey with the 2006 Fate/stay night anime produced by Studio Deen. This series introduces you to the world of Fate, explaining the concepts of Masters, Servants, and the Holy Grail War. It follows Shirou Emiya as he becomes embroiled in a battle that leads him to compete in the Holy Grail War, where the winner can have any wish granted.

2. Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (2014-2015)

Next, dive into Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, which follows the second route of the visual novel, focusing on Rin Tohsaka, a classmate of Shirou. As their paths converge, they race to claim the Holy Grail. This series spans two seasons, comprising 25 episodes in total. Note that while there's a movie covering this route, the series provides a more thorough adaptation.

3. Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel] I. presage flower

The first movie in the Heaven's Feel trilogy, Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel] I. presage flower, adapts the third and final route of the visual novel. It follows Shirou as his tranquil life is disrupted by the onset of the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City, with Sakura Matou at the center of the conflict.

4. Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel] II. lost butterfly

Continue with the second movie, Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel] II. lost butterfly, released in 2019. This film explores significant changes from the previous routes, with Shirou choosing his battle's purpose and the mysterious disappearance of Masters and Servants.

5. Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel] III. spring song

Conclude the Heaven's Feel trilogy with Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel] III. spring song. This final movie offers some of the most visually stunning battles in the series and provides a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy with strong narrative moments from each main character.

6. Fate/Zero

Finally, watch Fate/Zero, a prequel to Fate/stay night, based on the light novel by Gen Urobochi. Although it's a prequel, watching it after the main series helps avoid spoilers for Unlimited Blade Works. Fate/Zero follows Kiritsugu Emiya during the 4th Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City, exploring themes of ideology and the lengths one will go to achieve their dreams.

How to Watch Fate Anime Spinoffs

Fate Spinoff Watch Order

You can watch the following spinoff series in any order you prefer:

• Today's Menu for the Emiya Family
• Lord El-Melloi II Case Files
• Fate/Prototype
• Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn
• Fate/Apocrypha
• Fate/EXTRA Last Encore
• Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA☆ILLYA
• Carnival Phantasm

Fate/Grand Order Watch Order

To fully appreciate the Fate/Grand Order anime series, it's helpful to understand its source material, a mobile game available for iOS and Android devices. The game follows the Chaldea Security Organization's efforts to prevent humanity's extinction by addressing Singularity events using a blend of magic and science.

Part 1 of the game's story features eight Singularities, each representing a unique Holy Grail War set in different time periods. The anime adaptations cover only these eight Singularities, so we'll focus on those. Here's the recommended watch order for the Fate/Grand Order anime:

1. Fate/Grand Order: First Order

Start with Fate/Grand Order: First Order, the prologue to the series. It follows Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash Kyrielight as they travel to Fuyuki City in 2004 to investigate the cause of the Singularity and prevent humanity's extinction.

2. Fate/Grand Order: Camelot - Wandering; Agateram

Next, watch Fate/Grand Order: Camelot - Wandering; Agateram, the first of two movies covering the 6th Singularity. Set in Jerusalem during 1273 A.D., Ritsuka and Mash ally with the wandering knight Bedivere to navigate a war-torn land.

3. Fate/Grand Order: Camelot - Paladin; Agateram

Continue with Fate/Grand Order: Camelot - Paladin; Agateram, which concludes the 6th Singularity. This movie features intense battles and resolves Bedivere's story, enriching your understanding of Ritsuka and Mash's journey.

4. Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia

Move on to Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia, a fan-favorite arc set in Uruk. Ritsuka and Mash tackle the sudden appearance of three goddesses and numerous Demonic Beasts, encountering familiar faces from Fate/stay night, including Gilgamesh.

5. Fate/Grand Order Final Singularity - Grand Temple of Time: Solomon

Conclude with Fate/Grand Order Final Singularity - Grand Temple of Time: Solomon. This movie marks the end of the Chaldea Security Organization's quest to save humanity, culminating in a battle against Solomon, the King of Mages. It wraps up the Observer on Timeless Temple storyline with a fitting conclusion.

What's Next for the Fate Anime?

The Fate series continues to expand with new spin-offs and adaptations. The latest addition, Fate/strange Fake, premiered its first episode on December 31 during the Fate Project New Year's Eve TV Special and is now streaming on Crunchyroll. The rest of the first season is expected to be released in 2025.

Type-MOON is also developing several projects, including a sequel to Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya - Licht Nameless Girl. Beyond the Fate universe, Type-MOON is working on a movie adaptation of its 2012 visual novel Witch on the Holy Night, which received a second teaser trailer last year.