Does The Fate Franchise Really Have A Watch Order (And Does It Matter)?

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The Fate series has become known for its complexity. It features incredibly detailed backstory and power systems that can be confusing, and even starting with just one game or show feels like a big commitment, according to longtime fans.

The Fate series has a reputation for being complex, leading many fans to believe there’s a ‘right’ way to experience it – even if it takes a lot of time. The recent anime, Fate/Strange Fake, has brought this idea back to the forefront, but the situation isn’t quite as simple as it seems.

Why Fate Fans Say The Franchise Is So Complicated

It’s clear why the Fate series is known for being so complex. The original Fate/stay night visual novel is quite lengthy, taking around 50 hours to finish, and when you add in all the games and anime, there are more than a dozen different stories within the Fate universe.

The Fate franchise isn’t just long – it’s also known for having a complex magic system and backstory. What makes it even more challenging is that many of the stories assume you already know everything about the franchise, even details from stories that aren’t central to the main plot.

Honestly, one of the biggest frustrations with the Fate anime is that they often have to cut or alter scenes from the original source material just to fit everything into the runtime. Because of this, a lot of longtime Fate fans strongly believe that anyone new to the series has to start with the visual novel. And, well, if you suggest starting anywhere else, you might get a bit of pushback – people tend to think you haven’t really done your homework!

The series Fate/Zero often sparks debate. While it’s a great entry point for new fans and helped popularize the franchise as a whole, long-time fans frequently criticize it for its portrayal of characters who were already established in Fate/stay night. This difference in opinion is a common source of disagreement among fans.

The debate about how accessible the Fate franchise is isn’t new, but it’s been brought back to the forefront with the release of the Fate/Strange Fake anime. While the series is full of references to previous Fate installments, the creators and popular anime commentator Gigguk have both stated it’s designed to be enjoyed even by those unfamiliar with the franchise, which has only intensified the discussion about its overall complexity.

Why The Fate Franchise Isn’t As Complicated As Fans Say

The Fate series has a reputation for being confusing, but it’s not as complicated as many think. The detailed backstory and rules can be intricate, but they mostly serve to enhance the story, and you don’t need to understand everything to enjoy it.

This also applies to stories that include characters or events from other works in the same series. While knowing the broader franchise can add extra enjoyment, it usually only helps explain a few appearances or inside jokes. Ultimately, you should still be able to understand and enjoy an anime even if you’re not familiar with everything else in the series, as long as the main story makes sense.

The same holds true for the Fate/Strange Fake anime. Even though it’s packed with references, the story provides enough explanation for new viewers to understand what’s happening. While newcomers might miss some background details, it won’t ruin their enjoyment of the main plot.

Is There A “Right” Way For Newcomers To Get Into The Fate Franchise?

Many dedicated Fate fans believe that anyone new to the series should begin with the original Fate/stay night visual novel and fully understand the backstory before exploring other stories like Fate/Strange Fake. Disagreeing with this – especially suggesting that starting with Fate/Zero is acceptable – often leads to strong disagreement within the fanbase.

While the Fate series has a reputation for being confusing, that’s often exaggerated. Most people can jump in with any story as long as they follow along closely. Fate/Extra Last Encore, which continues the story of Fate/Extra, is a bit of an outlier, but thankfully, very few entries in the series are that difficult to understand.

I get why Fate fans really want everyone to dive deep into the story – especially now that the official English translation of Fate/stay night is out. But honestly, it’s a lot to take in, and it can be overwhelming for newcomers. What’s even more discouraging is when long-time fans get upset if you don’t already know everything. It ends up pushing people away from getting into the series, which is a shame.

The Fate series can be quite complex, but like many long-running franchises, there’s no single ‘right’ way to start watching. The most important thing is to enjoy the story. Hopefully, the upcoming Fate/Strange Fake anime, scheduled for winter 2026, will help even more people discover and appreciate the series.

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2026-01-05 20:42