Tokyo Ghoul has one of the most confusing watch orders in anime: Season 1, √A, :re, two OVAs, and a season that goes completely off the manga. Here's the simple order, what each part is, and the one tip that makes :re make sense.

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Last updated November 3, 2026.

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Tokyo Ghoul watch order

  1. Tokyo Ghoul (Season 1, 2014): 12 episodes
  2. Tokyo Ghoul √A ("Root A", 2015): 12 episodes
  3. Tokyo Ghoul: Jack (OVA, 2015): optional prequel about Arima and Taishi
  4. Tokyo Ghoul: Pinto (OVA, 2015): optional side story about Shuu Tsukiyama
  5. Tokyo Ghoul:re (2018): 12 episodes
  6. Tokyo Ghoul:re 2nd Season (2018): 12 episodes

The two OVAs are side stories that don't change the main plot. Watch them anytime after Season 1, or skip them.

What's the deal with √A?

Root A goes its own way. Instead of following the manga, the second season tells a different, anime-original version of events. That's why so many fans say the anime "skips" parts of the story. Don't skip √A: anime-only viewers need it to follow :re, and it has some of the series' most memorable moments.

The tip that makes :re make sense

Because √A changes the story, :re can feel confusing. If you want the full picture, read the original Tokyo Ghoul manga, volumes 8 to 14, after watching Season 1 or √A. That's the part of the story √A replaced, and it sets up :re properly.

Where to stream Tokyo Ghoul

Crunchyroll carries the whole anime, including the OVAs, in most regions. Other services have carried parts of it over the years, so check what's available in your country.

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Will there be more Tokyo Ghoul?

No new Tokyo Ghoul anime has been announced. The story ended with :re 2nd Season, which covers the end of the manga, although very quickly.

My take

Season 1 is one of the best dark anime openings ever, and Kaneki's story hits hard. Watch it all, but if :re leaves you lost, that's not you, it's the adaptation. The manga fills the gaps.

More watch orders: Attack on Titan · Dragon Ball · Overlord

Sources

  1. Wikipedia: Tokyo Ghoul en.wikipedia.org
  2. Anime In Order: Tokyo Ghoul watch order animeinorder.com
  3. My Anime Pulse: Tokyo Ghoul watch order 2026 myanimepulse.com

Written by the WIZY creator

A lifelong gamer and Warhammer painter from Calgary, Canada, and the maker of the Crusade Journal and the WIZY RPG game. I write about games, hardware, Warhammer and crypto in plain English, and I check every fact against its source.