Ranked · Order debate · Updated June 2026
Release or Chronological? The Franchises Where Order Matters Most
Some franchises shrug at the order question. These don't. From prequels that rewrite their predecessors to time-jumps that hinge on what you don't yet know, here are the sagas where picking release-vs-chronological genuinely changes the story you experience. Choose wrong and you spoil the best twists.
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Frequently asked questions
What's the best order to start Star Wars?
Release order is the classic pick — the original trilogy first preserves the Vader reveal, the single biggest twist in the whole saga. Chronological (Episode I onward) ruins it. Newcomers should watch IV-V-VI, then the prequels, then the sequels.
Should I watch Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul first?
Breaking Bad first. Better Call Saul is a prequel, and watching it second turns Saul's tragic origin into devastating dramatic irony — you already know exactly where Jimmy McGill ends up. Then El Camino slots in after Breaking Bad's finale.
Is release or chronological better for The Witcher?
For the games, release order works fine since they form a loose trilogy. But across the whole franchise — Sapkowski's books, the CD Projekt games, and Netflix's non-linear show — start with the short-story collections to meet Geralt before the timelines diverge.