Proof that the remaining 10% is worth having your HP drop to zero here:
These are recommendations made by Tropers for Sword Art Online Fanfics, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add a fanfic of your own to the list, but remember to use the template found here.
Do warn when a fanfic may head into romantic or non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.
You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting Conversation in the Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page.
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General Fics
- Silica Art Online
by DasGibbers- Recommended by Deegeetal
- Status: Dead
- Synopsis: With the exception of a short few days, Silica's two year story was never told. What did Silica do during those long two years? As they say, "Everyone is the hero of their own story."
- Comments: Not many stories focus on the more normal people who got trapped in SAO, and even less have side characters as a leading role. This fic manages to do well with both, showing the adventures of a twelve year old who finds herself trapped in a death game, and how she deals with everything that that entails.
- The Wrong School by theb3arjew
- Recommended by Karmanga, Robinton
- Status: Dormant
- Synopsis: A few years after completing Sword Art Online, Kazuto Kirigaya is doing his best to be a normal college student. He wants to put the fighting and heroics behind him, but when violence erupts at his school, putting Asuna at risk, Kirito vows that the offenders will regret ever even thinking about attacking HIS school.
- Comments: The author just started it, but this story already looks like something special. There's no over-the-top shipping, a dark tone, and a unique portrayal of a realistically emotionally damaged Kirito. Plus, the image of Kazuto, Klein, and Agil playing drinking games is just too damn awesome. On the downside, author has seemingly inconsistent writing, and although the recent stuff is better, this chapter is abnormally above average for him. He might not keep up this level of writing.
- Fairy Dance of Death by Catsy (Trope Page)
- Recommended by Mysterius, Tsukishijin, blueespeon, lampyridae, DalekInvasion, Flairina, Berix
- Status: Dormant; last updated January 2020
- Synopsis: What if Akihiko Kayaba had created the Death Game of Alfheim Online rather than the floating castle of Aincrad—a world in which the nine player races are explicitly in competition to escape the game, and player killing was not a crime but rather a predictable by-product of human nature and tribalism in the face of mutually exclusive goals? AU reboot of the SAO universe.
- The Prince of Swords by ToumaFF
- Recommended by MrTerrorist, Robinton
- Synopsis: Kazuto was always exceptionally talented, but limited by his own idea of kindness. Having been corrected at an early age, he excels through life without much of a purpose. Now trapped in a rather gruesome death game of his own choice, he will attempt to break though it as Kirito, the famed Prince of Swords. Kirito/Multi
- Status: Dormant (Updated January 14, 2019)
- Comments: So what would happen if Kirito was never a loner and was taught to care about others? You will have this fanfic. Kirito is not only nice guy, but he isn't shy with the ladies and treats them well, has leadership skills and leads a badass of a guild composed of his Battle Harem! Highly recommended.
- Robinton: On the whole, I liked it. Of particular note: the flashback to the first time Kirito met Sinon was a definite CMOH - one of the few times I've ever seen Kirito act as the Counselor and Sidekick.
- Fairy Dance Alternate by Knowledgeseeker66
- Recommended by blueespeon
- Status: Dormant
- Synopsis: What if it was Kirito's mind that was trapped by Sugou Nobuyuki rather than Asuna's? How differently would the events of the Fairy Dance arc play out? Will Asuna and Kirito still be able to earn their happy ending or will there be a more tragic outcome?
- Pairings: Kirito/Asuna
- Comments: Some torture and threat of rape; nothing that hasn't occurred in canon, but here it's to a somewhat higher degree.
- TVTropes Page
- Swords of the Living Dead by nanaya88
- Recommended by blueespeon, Treguard, lampyridae, Flairina
- Status: Dormant
- Synopsis: Rather than a castle floating in the sky, Kayaba Akihiko has created a world where the dead refuse to stay put in their graves. Players fight to reclaim Aincrad, a massive city spanning 100 districts, from the grasp of the undead. But when they find themselves trapped in this nightmarish world, zombie-hunting ceases to be all fun and games. Welcome to SLD. Follows Kirito and Sinon.
- The Other Blacksmith by AKAAkira
- Recommended by lampyridae, Kazeto, Flairina, Robinton
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: If Sinon had been in SAO…then Kirito would've gotten multiple complaints on a scamming blacksmith, and in attempting to resolve this, bite off more than he can chew.
- Aincrad Retold by Agent 94
- Recommended by RiptideZ
- Status: Ongoing (updated Aug 2021)
- Synopsis: “Dangerous dungeons and creatures, ancient grudges and secrets, everlasting war and chaos in the castle of Aincrad. The fake reality, now the prison of 15000 unfortunate souls due to the dreams of a madman. How far must they struggle, what would they destroy and who would they sacrifice to earn their freedom? Features dungeon crawling, guild politics and international players.”
- Set in an alternate take upon the events of Sword Art Online, Aincrad Retold bumps the Death Game’s player count up to 15000 players and changes the setting to a semi-international stage. The author shows a notable and almost unparalleled understanding of medieval combat and strategy, the gaming industry, the dark atmosphere of SAO, character interaction, and world building that keeps you invested in the world and having a fun time. Instead of keeping to SAO’s standard fantasy-action formula, Aincrad Retold pulls readers into a more realistic take of the world of Sword Art Online. Most notable of the story is the author’s understanding of medieval combat, a realistic interpretation of the cast, and his focus on fixing issues found in the SAO story.
- The Kirita Chronicles by Knowledgeseeker66
- Recommended by blueespeon, DalekInvasion, Psyga315
- Status: Ongoing
- Synopsis: What would have happened if certain characters' genders were altered while others remained the same? How differently would certain events play out & affect the development of certain relationships? Who will live & who will die? See how the alterations of certain characters' genders & histories will cause ripples throughout the story.
- TVTropes Page
- Kadyn and Camilla Saga by Catsy
- Recommended by TypeProton
- Synopsis: Adventures of a husband-and-wife team through the game, told from Kadyn's first-person perspective. Currently consists of 3 works:
- Status: Complete
- Comments: A well-written set of stories showing the world through the eyes of ordinary players. Unambitious in terms of scale, but expands heavily into more mundane aspects of LN's universe, as well as the lives and thoughts of various characters (both canon and original) in it. Though the author has been wanting to rewrite Troubles Shared as this was the author's early take on SAO.
- Castle Carnation, by addtheletters
- Recommended by Flairina
- Status: Dormant
- Synopsis: Kayaba's dream was altered, polluted due to events beyond his control. It's not how he envisioned it, but Aincrad is complete. His game is complete. Will the players of this game survive a twisted journey of flowers, blood, and guns?
- Comments: Like Fairy Dance of Death and Swords of the Living Dead featured above, this fanfic takes SAO's initial setting, twists it, and by doing so makes the story new and intriguing all over again. If you enjoyed those, you will not regret reading this one.
- SAO - The Century Voyage by Johnny Wycliffe
- Recommended by Flairina
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Kirito is a young man who is about to receive an update to his software. Unfortunately for him, his update is flawed, and he gets a glimpse of a world he wasn't meant to see... Ours. AU adventure.
- Comments: Takes the "we could just be brains in jars for all we know" idea and runs with it by semi inverting canon. Everyone from SAO was "born" inside the game- and they didn't have a clue. Features some nice twists and a couple very interesting "world" mechanics.
- The Dual Blade Wielder by CloudyLightning
- Recommended by Faliara
- Synopsis: After a car accident that left him frail, he could only wish and dream of being able to walk further than ten meters. Thanks to a game developer, he was given a VRMMORPG that granted his wish. Sword Art Online.
- Status: Dormant
- Comments: This. This is exactly the kind of story I want to see in the archives, OOC be damned. Why aren't there more stories like this?
- Game Over by Frog-kun
- Recommended by lampyridae
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: There's always been something fragile about euthanasia. She doesn't realize it until it's her brother's plug she's pulling. Kirito, Suguha, and a world where two years is too long to wait. No OCs.
- Link to Reality by Queen of Corners
- GLF-of-GGO by AKAAkira
- Recommended by Shiakou
- Synopsis: Klein's first impressions of Gun Gale Online are quite different from what he expected. There were a lot of flowers, for one thing.
- Comments: Fact One: Most players in GGO think of Kirito as a girl. Fact Two: Most of the GGO arc takes place in public matches where a player's actions are watched by viewers. Fact Three: Japan has a sizable Yuri fandom. Result: A very meta exploration of shipping and fanboys.
- Status: One-shot/Complete
- Rebuild of Sword Art Online by Zerban Da Great
- Recommended by Feranard
- Synopsis: To quote various users: "Kirito has a personality, Klein is the patron saint of bros, the boss fights are described using actual battlefield tactics and description, Sachi is not a pushover, Kayaba has an unequivocal motivation, etc."
- Status: Dead, the author hasn't posted in months and has moved on to bigger and better things.
- Comments: It is gritty, it is dark, and it is beautiful. Do not get thrown off by the syntax from the first chapter, it only serves to set up the verisimilitude, or realism, of the fic.
- Path of Blades by SachiShimazu
- Recommended by: Psyga315
- Status: Dormant
- Synopsis: Taking place during a retelling of the SAO Arc, the story chronicles the Crows of Saika as they try to survive through the Death Game, making friends along the way. This is a Self-Insert Fic, though done in a unique style akin to stories like Mass Vexations and RWBY: Reckoning (though not to the extent where they're aware of the fiction they're in). Its summary alone shows a sense of humor, though keeping with the drama that SAO presents, especially regarding a certain guild Doomed by Canon.
- Tags: Self-Insert Fic
- In Hope of Defense by MrSparky6277
- Recommended by: Exo AMSR
- Status: Dormant
- Synopsis: The death game, or at least that's what people call it. Aiden was trying to open his girlfriend, Lucy, up to the world of gaming outside of casual gaming. Now he's stuck her in a world that she isn't equipped for. Aiden will take it upon himself to not only defend Lucy, but to clear the game as well, but has this beta tester's luck ran out?
- Tags: OC, Non-Canon
- Comments: The author does a good job of writing an interesting story. The characters are relatable and the story is easy to understand. While there are some grammar and spelling errors, the story is still worth reading. The author also connects with his readers and is always a joy to talk to.
- Nightblade by KnightEstoc
- Recommended by: Lucama, Berix
- Synopsis: "Kirito? Asuna? They've got it made - fighting skills, popularity, notoriety... the list goes on and on. And who's that, in the back of the frame, just slightly out of focus? Why, that's me, of course. I've got intelligence, and that's about it. Surviving the Death Game's gonna be tough." Kirito/Asuna
- Status: Multific
- Parts 1-3: Complete
- Part 4:
- Book 1: Complete
- Book 2: Complete
- Book 3: Forthcoming.
- Tags: OC
- You Dummy by omegafire17
- Recommended by SuperWIKI1
- Status: Completed
- Pairing: KiritoxAsuna
- Synopsis: Having barely survived a near-death experience, Kirito and Asuna are shaken, and have decided to spend the night together at her house. However, what happens when it turns out they had entirely different ideas about what that meant? A very interesting night.
- Comments: A speculative story about what happened between Kirito and Asuna after the latter strips herself in anime episode 10, thus disregarding the LN and manganote . Surprisingly romantic without being overly crude with the language, keeping Kirito's "insane" habit of technobabble, it could easily serve as any fan's headcanon of what happened that night (for LN adherents, simply alter a few bits in your head).
- Shared Strength, by KnightEstoc
- Recommended by: Prometheus117, Robinton
- Synopsis: They say a true friend is someone you can rely on when everything seems hopeless, and for Shino, that person was Kazuto Kirigaya, her best - and only - friend. But Shino didn't want to rely on Kazuto as much as she did, so when beta testing opened for a new game called Sword Art Online, she submitted an application...
- Status: Complete
- Pairing: KiritoxSinon
- Comments: A 'for want of a nail' fic in which Shino/Sinon of GGO was present during the original Aincrad arc, though the setup goes beyond that by having her encounter Kazuto/Kirito in the real world and, through circumstances, having him become her Only Friend. As one might expect, her presence instantly starts changing things aside from Kirito now having a partner by his side such as Sachi surviving the deaths of the Moonlight Black Cats guild and Asuna joining them as a permanent party member rather than joining the Knights of Blood. Well-done character interactions all around combined with awesome fight scenes make one wish Shino really was around during this time.
- TV Tropes Page
- Swordsaint by SeerKing
- Recommended by: CybranGeneralSturm
- Synopsis: Dual Blades and Holy Sword...these two [Unique Skills] made their wielders stronger than their peers...imagine what the wielder of a third one could accomplish?
- Status: In-progress
- Pairing: KiritoxAsuna
- Monochrome Duet by Solid Shark
- Recommended by: Prometheus117, Catsy
- Synopsis: After the brutal 25th Floor Boss Raid, Asuna has left Kirito's side to join the Knights of Blood. With his partner gone, Kirito resigns himself to returning to the life of a solo player-until a familiar face from the lower floors unexpectedly reenters his life. The strangely-human NPC Kizmel, despite her quest being over, has returned to his side... Kirito/Kizmel.
- Tags: Romance, Adventure
- Status: Ongoing
- Pairing: KiritoxKizmel
- Comments: An extremely uncommon pairing, but one that works very well. Both Kirito and Kizmel have some real chemistry that slowly evolves from friendship to an extremely close bond, though this seems to be a slow-burn romance story. The character interactions are well-written, and familiar faces such as Argo, Asuna, Sachi, and to a lesser extent Agil and Klein add much more to the text. There is also an interesting subplot culminating around how Kizmel's growing awareness is leading her to understand just what Aincrad and who the players are, including her own role as an NPC.
- Requiem Universus by SaintInfernalNeos
- Recommended by: Alciel 9(Apex 85 on ffnet), Pikanet128
- Synopsis: The might to create stars. The energy to burn planets. The ability to warp reality to his very Will. All of this Power...was NOT meant for Kirigaya Kazuto. He was just a boy who had been trapped inside a Death Game. Now, free and confused, he has to deal with having the powers of some sort of Space God. Also, the True Owner of said powers is pissed, and really wants them back...
- Tags: Humor, Sci-Fi
- Status: Dead (author has dropped the story and placed it up for adoption)
- Pairing: KiritoxSuguha
- Comments: From the same writer who wrote One Punch Gamer below. An AU starting with the Aincrad arc ending early in one of the most unexpected ways possible. The premise and beginning are borderline crack but it soon develops into a very intriguing and humorous piece with decent character interactions later.
- Lusus Naturae by SaintInfernalNeos
- Recommended by: Alciel 9(Apex 85 on ffnet), Pikanet128
- Synopsis: [Latin: Freak of Nature] When Kirigaya Minetaka and Midori found a strange 'pod' in the mountains, they knew they should have walked away. When a confused and weird-eyed little kid came out, the feeling was only doubled so. But...he seemed harmless, and he made their daughter laugh, so really, bringing him home couldn't hurt, right? After all, what's the worst that could happen?
- Tags: Humor, Horror, AU, Crack
- Status: Complete
- Comments: Another by SaintInfernalNeos with all the craziness you'd expect after reading his other works listed here. Hell, he has even admits that its his weirdest story yet and claims its the weirdest Kirito and SAO story period,which should tell you something. Fortunately, its the good kind of crazy that you just can't stop reading regardless, or perhaps BECAUSE of, how weird the premise of Kirito as an Eldritch Abomination could be. Decent humour with touching scenes.
- SAO: The Eroge by SaintInfernalNeos
- Recommended by: Pikanet128
- Synopsis: Lots of people wish their lives could become a videogame...thing is, though, few actually bother specifying WHICH type of game. Kirigaya Kazuto is about to realize it's not as obvious as it should be when he wakes up one morning with the 'power' to raise 'Flags', unlock 'Routes' and gain 'Affection Points'. Will his Sanity survive what's about to come his way?
- Tags: Parody, Romance, AU, Crack
- Status: Ongoing
- Comments: Another by SaintInfernalNeos Writen for 2018's April Fools Day. This Time Its a Parody of all the 'Gamer Fics' out there. It has gain the Quickest Popularity of Any of the Prologues to Saints Stories.
- Stand Together And Smile by KnightEstoc
- Recommended by Hammiam
- Synopsis: Chance meetings can sometimes change a life. But who would have thought that just by meeting a cute girl at the train station, Kazuto's life would change this much?
- Tags: Romance, Humor, Harem
- Status: Complete
- Comments: 'For want of a nail' fic that starts with Kirito meeting and befriending Asuna during each other's childhood, leading to them and Sugu joining the death game as a group. Causing Kirito to pick up a proper harem.
- Unyielding by Ikell
- Recommended by Deegeetal
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Kirigaya "Kirito" Kazuto had every intention of playing Sword Art Online as a solo player. When he unexpectedly makes friends on launch day, the resulting bonds and friendships will forever change the fate of Aincrad as the lone wolf becomes a pack leader. To survive and escape the Death Game, Kirito and his friends will need to be unbreakable. Steadfast. Unyielding.
- Comments: An excellently written story with likable original characters that blend into the main cast, one of which is a Self-Insert of the author that becomes an entire character of its own, and a well-done take on a guild leader Kirito and the adventures he has with his friends and fellow adventurers.
- wandering in reverse by kaminoko_x
- Recommended by Lyra_Dhani, VictorioMWolff-Haddock
- Status: Ongoing
- Synopsis: Survivors come home like strangers in a strange land. Or: SAO players wake up, readjust, learn to cope.
- Stee1 and Sw0rds by Crysina
- Recommended by Legoboy0109
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Witness the rise of Stee 1 & Sw0rds, a guild out there to help people in the mad virtual world. Tag along with a group of survivors that try to do their best to stay together and pull through this nightmare. A dream game turned into a gnarly prison. An OC centered story with canon character appearances."
- Comments: Buckle up, because this isn't your usual self insert SAO Fan Fic, the characters here are mostly OCs and the writer doesn't have any reservations on killing them off or doing terrible things to them, but it isn't all gloom and doom. The characters all get their heartwarming moments too and it has a good ending. Clocking in at just under 500K words this is a long one and definitely worth a read if you enjoy thinking about what the story could have been like for a completely different group of players in SAO.
- drag my feet on the tile by Pomfry
- Recommended by Lyra_Dhani
- Status: Dormant; last updated November 2020
- Synopsis: After SAO is beaten, Asuna wakes up in the hospital. Kazuto does not.
- Settling Accounts by JR31VICTOR
- Recommended by: VictorioMWolff-Haddock
- Status: Completed
- Synopsis: Following the end of the second "Bullet of Bullets," a tournament in GGO...a third body is found. In response, Kirigaya Kazuto, better known as "Kirito" is sent to stop the bleeding. However, with increased pressure from his higher-ups, and the thought of another body appearing, the Virtual Division leader decides to send the Black Swordsman 'extra' help...from across the Pacific.
- Tags: OC
1 Review Crossovers
- Monstrous Compendium Online by Vathara
- Recommended by Jedi Master Draco, Robinton
- Crossover with: Dungeons & Dragons (specifically the Eberron setting).
- Synopsis: Canon, Kayaba spoke of a vision; of a castle in the sky. In another world, that castle is real.... The players of SAO have just signed up for a job interview. Plotting dragon style. Some dragons need to be slain.
- Comments: An absolutely brilliant SAO rewrite that turns the some generic fantasy realm of Aincrad into one based on specific material. The characters are all wonderfully written, the plot is compelling, and Kaiyaba has a true motivation for what he is doing. You don't even need to be a fan of Dungeons & Dragons to enjoy this delightful tale of swordplay and magic.
- Status: Completed.
- Fate Revelation Online by Daniel-Gudman (Trope Page)
- Recommended by Leid
- Crossover with: Fate/stay night
- Status: Ongoing
- Synopsis: Ilya likes to play video games, and in the time she has remaining, Shirou is more than willing to play the new VR game with her. But when they are trapped inside the game, [Sword Art Online], they determine something even more distressing: Kayaba Akihiko is definitely a Magus.
- Comments: What when you apply Nasuverse into the Sword Art Online story? You get this excellent story, featuring the cast of both series as they try to survive.
- Status: In progress.
- Zero Art Online by Racke
- Recommended by CryptIXeeper, Robinton
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: A cross-over between Zero no Tsukaima and Sword Art Online, Louise gets bodily reverse-summoned into Sword Art Online, just as Kayaba's Forced Teleportation gathers all 10,000 players for his announcement. The Death Game is on. The story is short, but well worth the read.
- Pairing: Louise/Klein (Nothing happens aside from a kiss, and that takes place when she's 18.)
- Halkegenia Online by Triggerhappy (Trope Page)
- Recommended by HK87, Savoie, lampyridae, aightaight, SayuriUliana, Mithrl
- Status: Complete
- Crossover with The Familiar of Zero
- Synopsis: Louise got her wish to summon the most impressive familiar in her class when she ripped the entire Alfheim setting out of cyberspace and dumped it over Tristain. There's a giant tree looming over the academy, 61,000 "elves" who don't know why they're suddenly able to feel pain, monsters running amok in the countryside, and one particular black swordsman with an awful sense of deja vu. But what's become of Asuna, and what will the local schemers make of these new arrivals?
- Comments: The story's epic scope, well-thought-out setting, refusal to adhere to canon railroading, and its weekly update schedule resulting in being one of the longest SAO & Zn T fanfics ever written, make this a much recommended read.
- Fae is Foul by Flere821
- Recommended by: KyuubiNoPuma
- Crossover with The Familiar of Zero
- Status: Dormant since 24 December 2017
- Synopsis: "The VRMMO Alfheim Online is summoned into Halkeginia, beyond anyone's expectations. Kirito, among others, have to work towards resolving conflicts of various kinds within and between these two worlds."
- Comments: Inspired by Halkegenia Online and Fairy Dance of Death. A Fae is Foul tv tropes page is available for those that wish to complete its construction.
- Sword Ed Online by monkeycyborgninja
- Recommended by: ErikHowlett
- Crossover with: Ed, Edd n Eddy
- Status: Dormant
- Synopsis: "This wasn't just another scam gone wrong, it was a full-blown disaster! Follow the Eds as they are flung into the virtual world of Sword Art Online, and struggle to survive this horrid death game. Will they live long enough to see the game's end, or die trying?"
- Comments: When Ed wins a contest from the back of a manga, and subsequently receives a copy of SAO and a set of NerveGear, Eddy immediately jumps at the chance to scam the Cul-de-sac kids out of their money with "Ed's Cyber Cafe- Featuring Sword Art Online." However, after some peer pressure, the Eds enter the world of SAO first as Richmond (Eddy), Einstein (Double-D), and Lothar (Ed), only to find they are now trapped in the game. While the idea comes off a bit odd, the author does a great job of showing how this experience is changing the Eds and forcing them to mature as people to try and survive the Death Game. Interestingly enough, the first of the trio to get this treatment is Eddy. With their imprisonment being mostly his fault, Eddy recognizes the pain his greed has caused them, resolving to clear the game and save his friends. This fic sadly doesn't have the recognition it deserves, even though its writing and characterization is great. It's only three chapters long so far, but definitely worth the read.
- Cirno Online by Fortunam
- Recommended by ultimomant
- Crossover with: Touhou Project
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Cirno was playing at the lake when she noticed Daiyousei was missing. She searched her house for any signs of her best friend and failed to find some until a gap yokai told her that she's playing a game and she wants Cirno to play it too. What would become of Cirno in the world of Aincrad and pure sword fighting with the confusing aid of Yukari?
- Comments: What's great is Cirno's character development from a ditz who only cares about finding her lost friend to a seasoned warrior ready to fight for her guild mates.
- Change of Fate by Vathara
- Recommended by: Angelform, The 17th Immortal, Robinton
- Crossover with: Star Wars
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: "On the planet of Corellia, Kayaba released Old Republic Online... just before the Clone Wars..."
- Comments: The story covers the aftermath of the ORO incident (canon SAO), with the 6,000 survivors waking up in the Corellian Jedi temple, just in time for Order 66. As usual for Vathara, it has a good blend of action and character exploration.
- Waking to Another Sky by Vathara
- Recommended by: Xuan Tian Shang Ti, Robinton
- Crossover with: Stargate SG-1
- Status: Dormant since April 2017
- Synopsis: "Daniel wanted to ease the wider world into the idea of What's Out There. Hammond wanted a way to teach soldiers to duck when the purple-tentacled cat-octopus-thing went for them. The NID... wanted something a little more ambitious. When dealing with Kayaba... be careful what you ask for."
- Comments: There's some timeline editing to make the settings work better together, roughly, the game started in what would be late 1998 of the original Stargate timeline (second season). A very good read that is heartily recommended.
- Jagged Alliance Online by Gideon020
- Recommended by: HashiriyaR32
- Crossover with: Jagged Alliance
- Status: Dormant
- Synopsis: Argus caught the attention of the entire world when they announced that their first FullDive] MMORPG would be a remake of Jagged Alliance 2. 1 million players are now trapped inside a virtual and greatly expanded Arulco, unable to log out until they liberate this banana republic from the iron fist of Queen Deidranna.
- Comments: One of the least likely, yet interesting SAO crossovers as of late. The author so far has done a great job of putting down what would happen if this game did get re-made and the large number of changes and expansions it will need.
- Soul Ablaze by Victory3114
- Recommended by Flairina
- Crossover with: Pokémon
- Status: Dormant
- Synopsis: Our life can be found in our souls. Our entire consciousness, our thoughts, our feelings. There is a soul in everyone, be it human or Pokemon. And when you fight alongside your partners, your souls will resonate through the link, and burn brighter. They will be set ablaze, and with this power, this bond, this game of death will be cleared. Poke SAO X-over! Multi-POV.
- Comments: A very well-done crossover, featuring a world where the old Pokemon games were unpopular, but beloved enough by Kayaba Akihiko that he finally made what the real world has been begging for for years: a Pokemon MMO. Everyone's initial partner Pokemon matches them well, and their existence prevents anyone from just ruminating on their thoughts all alone like some stories do, making the narrative and dialogue flow quite well. Moves somewhat slowly, but you might not even notice since there's always enough excitement to keep you reading anyways.
- Highschool SAO by gabriel blessing
- Recommended by Shadow Arisato, The 17th Immortal, Robinton
- Crossover with: High School D×D
- Status: Long one-shot; completed
- Synopsis: Rias Gremory wasn't certain what to expect when she found herself in a hospital hearing the wish of a boy dressed all in black. She definitely was surprised by what the price of his wish would be.
- Comments: A very long one-shot that's around 38,000 words, but it's really worth the read. It's an Alternate Universe Fic in which Kirito asks Rias to get Asuna out of ALO before he actually went into the VRMMORPG like he did in canon. But there is a price he has to pay, and he's willing to do anything if Asuna can be saved. gabriel blessing created this in an attempt to show that one could create a fic about either series without adding OCs that are self-inserts or overpowered.
- XCOM Online by Sasahara 17
- Recommended by: Stratagemini, The 17th Immortal, Blazing Guns
- Crossover with: XCOM: Enemy Unknown
- Status: Dead because the author has decided to focus on his other stories.
- Synopsis: What if, instead of Aincrad, Kayaba partnered with 2K Games to revive an old franchise as the first VRMMO, X-Com? Now, Kirito and Company must make it through a death game that claimed 3,000 lives (out of 10,000) in the first month alone. Note: Has elements from original XCOM and New COM along with the Enemy Within expansion.
- Pairing(s): Kirito/Asuna
- Tags: XCOM
- ...Fucking Tinkers by Violetshadows
- Recommended by: Phant0m 5, Leid, Robinton
- Crossover with: Worm
- Status: Dormant; thread last updated January 2017
- Synopsis: Taylor Hebert, post-Scion, wakes up alone in a virtual world with the name Khepri on her HUD. Assuming this is the work of a Tinker, possibly to replace the Birdcage, she wanders around aimlessly until she is teleported into Aincard proper. Just in time for Kayaba's speech.
- Comments: Some of the best parts of this fanfic come from the interaction between Khepri and the rest of the SAO players. The difference between the mindset of a modern citizen of SAO-Earth and a hardened cape of Earth Bet is so sharp that the closest comparison they have is labeling Khepri as part of the Yakuza.
- Souls Art Online by Shadenight123
- Recommended by: Leid
- Crossover with: Dark Souls
- Status: Complete with 60 chapters and epilogue.
- Synopsis: The game this time is an MMO take on the first Dark Souls game, seen through Kirito's eyes as the first days pass, he helps newbies and somehow becomes the head of a guild. Dark Souls is living up to the name as monsters become tougher, racism fractures players between the 'undead' and 'alive' sides and the game itself appears to be aiming to screw people over, whether it's from making particular mobs live up to their lore or devise dastardly traps for people to wander into.
- One Punch-Gamer by SaintInfernalNeos
- Recommended by notabot, Prometheus117, Robinton, Pikanet128
- Crossover with: One-Punch Man
- Status: Finished (Sequel ongoing; Side-stories collection Dormant)
- Synopsis: He KNEW this was some sort of karmic joke. He shouldn't have laughed at other's seemingly 'silly' problem, even if said other was an anime character. Now, he was forced to accept that yes, ending everything with one punch could get frustrating, especially for a Gamer. Then again, when trapped inside a game where Death is very much real, that can only be a good thing...right?
- Comments:
- notabot: One of the best crossovers I have read recently. It actually made me glad to have watched SAO in the first place since this fic is so good.
- Prometheus117: Five days before the official launch of Sword Art Online, Kazuto(Kirito) and his younger sister Suguha spot One Punch Man on the TV and proceed to watch and enjoy every episode of it, resulting in the siblings connecting more than they have in years. But then Kirito plays Sword Art Online and proceeds to get stuck in it along with ten thousand other players. Which, by the act of an incomprehensible being known only as Fate, glitches the system to give Kirito the power and garb (though not baldness) of Saitama. The story then proceeds to combine awesomeness, funny, and heartwarming as Kirito goes on through the world of Aincrad and beyond with his newfound abilities and allies as he illuminates in more ways than one his Hero, all while finding his own path to heroism. Proof that even something with as much of a Broken Base as SAO can be made instantly awesome with the application of a little punching.
- Sequel - Chains of Fate
- Side-stories collection - UHA Chronicles
- Shinnen:New Year by Ford1114 and Kanius
- Recommended by tikum31
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Years have passed since he wielded the Guilty Crown. The young man, his wife, and their other friend meet new people to have a New Year Nightfest, alongside many sub-plots in a playground that is Manhattan. However, when an ancient conspiracy makes its reemergence, the heroes and villains put aside their differences to stop them, while the young man must reunite his Guilty World.
- Crossover with: Guilty Crown, Guilty Crown: The Lost Kingdoms, YuYuGiDigiMoon, Digimon Fusion Kai, Kanius Production Abridged, various anime and fictional works in popular culture
- Comments: This is a mega-crossover taking place after Guilty Crown. At times it’s hard to follow with so many characters, but the plot and concepts are interesting enough for readers to keep going, and focuses on Shu’s main perspective in getting involved to confront his past demons. The SAO characters are based on the Guilty Crown Lost Kingdoms versions that they are a main part of this story such as Kirito and Asuna team up with Shu & Ayase. Enemies like Oberon, Laughing Coffin, and Skull Reaper have sided with the main antagonist group.
- Bloodborne Online by Racke
- Recommended by Robinton
- Crossover with: Bloodborne
- Status: Finished (One-shot)
- Synopsis: Kayaba had had a dream once. It'd been childish and innocent, and with jaded eyes he did everything in his power to warp and destroy it. And so the Nightmare begins.
- Comments:
- Robinton: The more things change, the more they stay the same - a castle of swords may have become a city of nightmare, and Sachi may not have died, but Kirito's still a lonely warrior with a detective bent and a "saving people thing". And Kayaba's still occasionally merciful to true heroes.
- OverGamer by SaintInfernalNeos
- Recommended by Alciel 9
- Crossover with: Overlord
- Status: Dormant; last updated January 2018
- Synopsis: Four years ago, 10-years-old Kirigaya Kazuto ran away from home after finding out he was adopted, never to be seen again. Now, the world finds itself threatened by the Evil Minion Hordes of the Overlord 'Kirito'...who doesn't seem as Dark or Evil as he claims to be. But well, you all know what they say: "Evil ALWAYS finds a way..."
- Comments:
- Alciel 9: Yet another story born from the mad genius SaintInfernalNeos, with all that entails. Madness, hilarity, and a slightly stressed and demented Kazuto ending up an Evil Overlord with all the same addictive craziness you'd expect from the man.
- The Moon's Flash Princess by NephChampion
- Recommended by Milarqui
- Book 1: Surviving Aincrad (Complete)
- Book 2: Waltz of the Unseelie Court (Complete)
- Book 3: Black Sniper (Ongoing)
- Book 1: Surviving Aincrad
- Crossover with: Sailor Moon
- Status: Ongoing
- Synopsis: Asuna used to be a normal girl. But that was before she was trapped in the Death Game Sword Art Online. She, along with the mysterious Beta Tester Kirito must stick together to not just clear the game but pick up the pieces of their broken lives after the game is finally beaten. And then, when they find a talking cat and are attacked, their complicated love life just gets even worse.
- Comments: The story begins much like Progressive, with Kirito finding Asuna in the first floor's labyrinth just before she faints, but quickly diverges with the two of them establishing a deep connection, prompting an unbreakable fellowship that teases at much more. However, it turns out that the true purpose of SAO was not to trap the players, that the Death Game is in fact not Akihiko Kayaba's fault, and that there is far more to Asuna and Kirito than either of them knows.
- Recommended by Milarqui
- Devil Arts Online by Greatazuredragon
- Recommended by Milarqui
- Crossover with: High School D×D
- Status: Dormant; last updated December 2018
- Synopsis: Kirito manages to reach Asuna just as she wakes up from being disconnected from Alfheim Online, but his happiness becomes dashed when Sugou attacks him and Asuna takes the hit for him, sending her into a coma. When he accidentally summons a devil named Rias Gremory, he asks her to save her. The price she asks: for him to join her Peerage.
- Comments: Directly inspired the above mentioned Highschool SAO. After joining Rias' Peerage, he begins to get involved in the events involving it, such as the Rating Game, but the events surrounding SAO also begin to affect Kuou Academy, such as Argo being a Devil King and has brought Klein, Silica and Lisbeth (and later follows with Suguha and Sinon) into her Peerage or the former members of Laughing Coffin becoming Stray Devils.
- Devils of Aincrad by Punitor567
- Recommended by Milarqui
- Crossover with: High School D×D
- Status: Dormant; last updated June 2019
- Synopsis: It was a unanimous opinion that Kayaba Akihiko, creator of the revolutionary NerveGear was a certified madman. What other reason would there be to trap ten thousand unknowing people of varying ages in an artificial world where they would live in fear of death every waking moment? What most of the world didn't know, was that Kayaba Akihiko was not exactly human.
- Comments: What could have happened if devils were more involved in the game than believed? When devils, both present and future, end up stuck in the Death Game, it does not only affect matters for young people, but also at the highest of levels. Features Asuna as a devil, Issei as one of the best martial artists in the game and undergoing Character Development, Argo slowly falling in love with Issei and joining Rias' Peerage and a lot more.
- Dungeon Oratoria Online by asdf1asdf1
- Recommended by Paleb05
- Crossover with: Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
- Status: Ongoing
- Synopsis: DOO is the first game to be created in a long awaited category, a VRMMORPG. Follow Kirito and co as they seek to clear out the depths of the dungeon located beneath the city Orario. However, this game is no mere entertainment, it's a real world, where death in the dungeon means death for your body. The only way they can escape the game is to clear the bottom floor of the dungeon.
- Comments: What seems to be just a simple "What if SAO was a DanMachi-type game" story, becomes interesting once it becomes clear that the player was sent to the actual world of DanMachi, with all the problems that can arise from that.
- The Blue Rose Sword Hero by Gadget boy
- Recommended by VictorioMWolff-Haddock
- Crossover with: The Rising of the Shield Hero
- Status: Ongoing
- Synopsis: Eugeo met his end when he sacrificed himself to seriously injure the Administrator that had brought so much suffering in Underworld. But as Eugeo reunited with the Alice of his youth and started to fade away to the afterlife, he got Summoned to Melromarc to be this World's new Legendary Sword Hero. "Remember Kirito's words... stay cool."
- Comments: An interesting take of a hero replacement. And its pretty clear that this Eugeo has undergo some character development.
- Damian Wayne vs. Sword Art Online by OtakuLad
- Recommended by VictorioMWolff-Haddock
- Crossover with: Batman
- Status: Hiatus
- Synopsis: When thirteen-year-old Damian Wayne manages to get his hands on an elusive copy of the Sword Art Online game just hours before its official launch, Batman is soon facing overwhelming odds to save his young son from Akihiko Kayaba’s deadly trap where a character’s death becomes that player’s tragic reality…
- Comments: A true nail-biter, especially with the revelation that Kayaba may just be a peon to a bigger evil behind the scene...
- A Place in my Dreams by SeerKing
- Recommended by VictorioMWolff-Haddock
- Crossover with: Campione!
- Status: Ongoing
- Synopsis: Slaying Kayaba Akihiko on the 75th Floor was more significant than one Kirigaya Kazuto anticipated. It elevated him to a position beyond humanity, one that had graced the world for ages. He was now a Campione, a God Slayer. For all his enemies, there would be a place for them in Kirito's dreams...
- Comments: Not only getting status as a Campione, Kirito's in-game skills got carried over to the real world.
- Sword Art Kingdom by Jacob Pendra-Huth
- Recommended by Francis X.
- Crossover with: Kingdom Hearts, and various other video game and anime franchises.
- Status (Kirito & Asuna Story):
- Sword Art Kingdom - Complete
- Sword Art Kingdom II: Dimensional Bonds - Complete
- Sword Art Kingdom: Falling Fantasy - Complete
- Sword Art Kingdom: Final Mix - Ongoing
- Sword Art Kingdom III - Ongoing
- Sword Art Kingdom
- Status (Philia Story):
- Sword Art Kingdom: Heart's Origin - Complete
- SAK: Path of Memories - Completed
- SAK: Treasured Memories - Ongoing
- Sword Art Kingdom: Heart's Origin
- Synopsis:
- Kingdom Sword Art Kingdom: When Kirito and Asuna take on a mysterious quest to fight a new monster, they took in more that they bargained for. They ended up not only going to a different dimension, but also aiding a trio of good friends on their quest. Join this exciting adventure full of humor, romance and action.
- Sword Art Kingdom II: Dimensional Bonds: A new threat is coming about, and Sora, Kirito and Asuna are ready for the job. They are sent to Kirito and Asuna's dimension, where they have to find the Keyholes of Bonds, stop the flow of Heartless and Unversed, and stop the enemy from reaching Kingdom Hearts. It's up to Sora, Kirito, Asuna, Donald, Goofy and Yui to save the dimensions.
- Sword Art Kingdom: Falling Fantasy: The Mark of Mastery has begun for Kirito, Asuna and Leafa, where they must unlock the seven Sleeping Keyholes. However, trouble follows them into their trials, making their test more of a challenge. The Organization already got Leafa in their sights, and are attempting to bring down Kirito and Asuna, too. It is up to the two to get to the bottom of this, and save Leafa.
- Sword Art Kingdom: Final Mix: These stories happen within 'Sword Art Kingdom' and 'Sword Art Kingdom II: Dimensional Bonds'. They have little to no effect to the main stories whatsoever, though they might be important in the stories onward. This mainly involves the characters of Sora, Kirito, Asuna, Yui, Leafa, Riku, Kairi, and many other characters from the stories.
- Sword Art Kingdom III: The final series of the Xehanort/Younsol arc, with Sora, Asuna, Kirito, & their companions banding together against Organization XVI, as well as another threat that is gathering darkness. With two dimensions on the line, the heroes must seek out not just the Guardians of Light, but the Lost Princesses of Heart, in order to fight back the darkness... no matter the cost.
- Sword Art Kingdom: Heart's Origin: A prologue to the first Sword Art Kingdom, and taking place at the beginning of Kingdom Hearts. This tells of a forgotten friend of Sora, Donald, Goofy and Jiminy; a girl named Philia. As she was freed from SAO, she ended up in Traverse Town, instead, with no memory of her past. In order to discover it, she joins Sora and the gang on their journey to stop the darkness.
- SAK: Path of Memories: Following the story of 'Sword Art Kingdom: Heart's Origin', Sora, Philia and friends end up discovering Castle Oblivion, where Sora believes he will find someone important to him. However, what they discover is that they start to lose more of their memories, except for Philia, whose bond with her friends is slowly being severed by one of those who guided them to the castle.
- SAK: Treasured Memories: Taking place during SAKII: Dimensional Bonds. Over a year has passed since Philia left Sora in Castle Oblivion, and she ends up getting stumbling into the other dimension, where she gets saved and tasked by Mistress Gretinal to find who is responsible for a new breed of Heartless. New friends, new worlds, and for Philia, new memories to seek out.
- Pairing(s): Kirito/Asuna, also a bit of Sora/Kairi, but the romance gets heavier in later stories.
- Comments: Great writing all around, this writer clearly sees the light and darkness (haha) of both series, and brings out the best in this great crossover that adds new elements while keeping true to the games and the story left behind in the SAO anime. And this is just the first in a whole new awesome series!
