The Arknights anime watch order is important knowledge for anyone planning to dive into Yostar Pictures’ adaptation of the hit mobile RPG.
Following the massive success of a game that boasts millions of active players, the animated series brings the complex world of Terra to life with stunning detail.
Since the anime series closely follows the game’s narrative, following the correct Arknights anime watch order ensures you experience the journey of Amiya and the Doctor exactly as intended.
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Understanding the Arknights anime
Understanding the source material helps set the stage for knowing the ideal Arknights anime watch order.
The anime adaptation is based on a tactical RPG and tower defense mobile game developed by Hypergryph, which first launched in China on May 1, 2019. Following its massive domestic success, the game was released globally on January 16, 2020.
Set in the dystopian world of Terra, the story deals with a society ravaged by a terminal disease called Oripathy and the political unrest that follows, showcasing a dark and complex premise for the animated adaptation.
The studio in charge of the animation is Yostar Pictures, founded by the game publisher, Yostar. They gave a green light to the Arknights anime with the first season, titled Arknights: Prelude to Dawn, which aired on October 28, 2022.
In 2023, a second season was released, titled Perish in Frost, and in 2025, a third season followed, titled Rise from Ember.
Since its creation, the game has breached over US$1 billion in revenue worldwide and has received several prestigious awards. It earned nominations for “Users’ Choice Game” at the Google Play Best of 2020 awards and “Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Mobile Game” at the 2020 Dragon Awards. Its most notable achievement was officially winning the award for one of the “Best Innovative Games of 2020.”
Arknights anime watch order: In what order should I watch Arknights?
The Arknights anime watch order follows a chronological timeline, as each season serves as a direct continuation of the war between Rhodes Island and the Reunion movement.
You’ll need to begin with the very first season, Arknights: Prelude to Dawn. This is an 8-episode TV series that introduces the Doctor, the leader Amiya, and the world of Terra. It sets the stage by adapting the opening chapters of the game’s “Main Theme” and establishing the conflict surrounding the infected.
Following this, check out the spin-off series Arknights: Lee’s Detective Agency. This series is a collection of shorter, more comedic episodes focused on the Lungmen underworld.
The next installment in the Arknights anime order is the second season, Arknights: Perish in Frost. This season picks up immediately where the first left off, raising the stakes as Rhodes Island travels to the frozen city of Lungmen. It focuses heavily on the tragic backstories of the FrostNova and the struggle against the Reunion’s most powerful leaders.
The Arknights anime watch order continues with the third season, Arknights: Rise from Ember. This chapter serves as the climax for the initial Chernobog-Lungmen arc, dealing with the fallout of the war and the true intentions of the movement’s founder. It provides the necessary resolution to the “Act I” storyline found in the source material.
| ARKNIGHTS ANIME ORDER | TITLE | TYPE | RELEASE PERIOD |
| 1 | Arknights: Prelude to Dawn | TV series | October 29, 2022 to December 17, 2022 |
| 2 | Lee’s Detective Agency: A Day in Lungmen | Original net animation | December 23, 2022 to April 22, 2023 |
| 3 | Arknights: Perish in Frost | TV series | October 7, 2023 to November 25, 2023 |
| 4 | Arknights: Rise from Ember | TV series | July 4, 2025 to September 5, 2025 |
