TV · in order
Arcane Watch Order
Arcane is just two seasons, and they're meant to be watched straight through in release order — Season 1 (2021) then Season 2 (2024) — to follow the Jinx and Vi story to its end.
Arcane Watch Order — complete list
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Why this order?
Arcane is one of the rare modern franchises with a genuinely simple viewing order: there are only two seasons, and you watch them back to back. Season 1 arrived on Netflix in 2021, Season 2 in 2024, and the story runs in a single continuous timeline. There are no spin-offs, no films, and no side miniseries to slot in — so the "Watch order" below is the whole thing, start to finish.
The watch order is identical to release order here, which is why we list just one path. Each season is built in three "acts" of three episodes, and Netflix originally dropped those acts a week apart, but for a binge you can ignore that structure and simply play episode one of Season 1 and keep going. The acts matter only as natural pause points, not as a reordering choice — there's no alternate "chronological" or "machete" cut to consider, because the series already tells events in order.
A question newcomers always ask: do you need to play League of Legends first? No. Arcane is set in the world of Riot Games' League of Legends, and many of its characters — Jinx, Vi, Caitlyn, Jayce, Viktor, Ekko and more — are playable champions in that game, but the show is fully self-contained and explains its own world. Fans of the game catch extra references and lore nods; newcomers lose nothing. You can start Arcane knowing nothing about Runeterra and it works completely.
What comes after Arcane is the more interesting question. The series itself ends with Season 2 — that arc is complete as told — but the wider world continues in Riot's games, and you do not need any MOBA experience for the story-driven ones. The closest follow-up is CONVERGENCE, a single-player game starring Ekko and set in the same Zaun undercity; Ruined King is the meatier RPG if you want a longer adventure. We map all of them, live and single-player, in our League of Legends games in order guide. Riot has also confirmed more animated projects set in Runeterra, though those will be separate shows rather than new Arcane seasons.
And if it's the painterly Fortiche animation and morally grey storytelling you fell for, the closest neighbours are Castlevania and Blue Eye Samurai for mature animated drama, or The Last of Us for a video-game adaptation that puts character over fan service.
Timeline 2021–2024
Every entry plotted by release year — see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
How many seasons of Arcane are there?
Two. Season 1 premiered in 2021 and Season 2 in 2024, and Season 2 is the final season — the story was designed to end there. There are no films or spin-offs in the series so far.
What order should I watch Arcane in?
Watch Season 1 first, then Season 2. The two seasons tell one continuous story in order, so release order and story order are the same. Just start at Season 1, Episode 1 and keep going.
Do I need to play League of Legends to understand Arcane?
No. Arcane is set in the League of Legends world, but it's fully self-contained and explains everything you need. Knowing the game only adds extra references; it isn't required.
What should I watch or play after Arcane?
Arcane ends with Season 2, but the world continues in Riot's games — and the story-driven ones need no MOBA experience. CONVERGENCE follows Ekko in Zaun (the most Arcane-like), and Ruined King is a full RPG. See our League of Legends games in order guide for the complete list. Riot has also teased more animated shows set in Runeterra.
What are the 'acts' in Arcane?
Each season is split into three acts of three episodes each (nine episodes per season). Netflix originally released the acts a week apart, but you can binge all nine episodes in one go.
Is Arcane finished, or is there more coming?
Arcane itself ends with Season 2. Riot Games has said it plans more animated projects set in the wider Runeterra universe, but those would be separate shows, not additional Arcane seasons.
Where can I watch Arcane?
Both seasons of Arcane stream exclusively on Netflix worldwide.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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