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how to watch tokyo ghoul in order

To watch Tokyo Ghoul in order, most guides recommend going by the anime’s release order :
Tokyo Ghoul (Season 1) → Tokyo Ghoul √A (Season 2) → Tokyo Ghoul [JACK] (OVA) → Tokyo Ghoul [PINTO] (OVA) → Tokyo Ghoul:re (Season 3) → Tokyo Ghoul:re (Final Season / Season 4).

Best Watch Order (Quick Scoop)

For a first-time viewer, release order keeps the intended mystery and emotional pacing.

  1. Tokyo Ghoul (Season 1) – 12 episodes.
  1. Tokyo Ghoul √A (Season 2) – 12 episodes.
  1. Tokyo Ghoul [JACK] – OVA prequel focusing on Arima and the CCG.
  1. Tokyo Ghoul [PINTO] – OVA prequel about Tsukiyama and Hori.
  1. Tokyo Ghoul:re (Season 3) – time-skip, introduces Haise Sasaki.
  1. Tokyo Ghoul:re (Final Season / Season 4) – wraps up the anime storyline.

Many fans also note that the manga tells a more complete, coherent version of the story, so some people watch Season 1 then switch to the manga.

Chronological Order (Optional Rewatch)

If you already know the story and want events in in-universe order, some guides suggest:

  • Tokyo Ghoul [JACK] (OVA) – earliest in the timeline.
  • Tokyo Ghoul [PINTO] (OVA) – prequel events before Season 1.
  • Tokyo Ghoul (Season 1).
  • Tokyo Ghoul √A (Season 2).
  • Tokyo Ghoul:re (Season 3 and Final Season).

This order can spoil certain character reveals if used on a first watch, which is why it is usually recommended only for rewatches.

Extra Notes, Forums, And “Latest News”

Recent fan discussions still heavily debate the “best” way to experience Tokyo Ghoul , with a lot of people suggesting:

  • “Watch Season 1, then read the manga for the full story, then optionally watch :re if you’re curious how the anime handles it.”
  • Dedicated Tokyo Ghoul communities maintain viewing and reading order FAQs that line up with the release-based anime order above.

Some newer watch guides (updated in 2026) highlight that no new mainline anime seasons have been added; the standard watch order for the TV series and OVAs remains the same as listed here.

Simple HTML Table Version (Release Order)

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>#</th>
      <th>Type</th>
      <th>Title</th>
      <th>Notes</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>1</td>
      <td>TV</td>
      <td>Tokyo Ghoul (Season 1)</td>
      <td>Main story introduction to Ken Kaneki.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>2</td>
      <td>TV</td>
      <td>Tokyo Ghoul √A (Season 2)</td>
      <td>Direct continuation of Season 1.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>3</td>
      <td>OVA</td>
      <td>Tokyo Ghoul [JACK]</td>
      <td>Prequel focused on Arima and CCG.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>4</td>
      <td>OVA</td>
      <td>Tokyo Ghoul [PINTO]</td>
      <td>Prequel about Tsukiyama.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>5</td>
      <td>TV</td>
      <td>Tokyo Ghoul:re (Season 3)</td>
      <td>Time skip; introduces Haise Sasaki.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>6</td>
      <td>TV</td>
      <td>Tokyo Ghoul:re (Final Season)</td>
      <td>Concludes the anime storyline.</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

TL;DR: For how to watch Tokyo Ghoul in order , use release order for your first run, and save chronological experiments plus manga deep dives for later.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.