For over 25 years, the Digimon franchise has provided us with stories of people and their digital monster pals fighting evil, connecting emotionally, and, in more cases than you’d expect, questioning the intricacies of life. Having a philosophical discussion before you transform from a dragon into a larger, armored dragon — such is the eternal balance of Digimon . However, within these consistent throughlines, Digimon has come in many diverse forms, and newcomers might be wondering where to start for their first go-round in the Digital World. That’s where this guide will come in handy. If you’re, to put it in Digimon terms, still in your “rookie” form when it comes to your relationship with this franchise, use this as a way to get acquainted and pick the proper kickoff point. And if you’re a “champion” level, look here to see if there’s anything you missed. Because trust me, you don’t want to miss anything, especially when you have a beginning as strong as this one. DIGIMON WATCH ORDER Digimon Adventure (1999 Film) Digimon Adventure (1999 TV Series) Digimon Adventure: Our War Game! (2000) Digimon Adventure 02 (2000) Digimon Adventure 02: Hurricane Touchdown!!/Transcendent Evolution! The Golden Digimentals! (2000) Digimon Adventure 3D: Digimon Grand Prix (2000) Digimon: The Movie (2000) Revenge of Diaboromon (2001) Digimon Tamers (2001) Digimon Tamers: Battle of Adventurers (2001) Digimon Tamers: Runaway Locomon (2002) Digimon Frontier (2002) Digimon Frontier: Island of Lost Digimon (2002) Digital Monster X-Evolution (2005) Digimon Savers aka Digimon Data Squad (2006) The Digital World in Imminent Danger! (2006) Ultimate Power! Activate Burst Mode!! (2006) Digimon Xros Wars aka Digimon Fusion (2010) Digimon Adventure tri. (2015) Digimon Universe: App Monsters (2016) Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna (2020) Digimon Adventure: (2020) Digimon: Ghost Game (2021) Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning (2023) Digimon Beatbreak (2025) Digimon Adventure (1999 Film) Directed by anime legend Mamoru Hosoda, the Digimon anime started with a short film that showed how a few of the “chosen children” met their first Digimon and the battle that ensued when it clashed with an enemy Digimon in the streets of Tokyo. Bearing many of the thematic traits that will become mainstays in the series (like a focus on using the coming-of-age story in a way that ties into the continued “evolution” of the monsters themselves), Digimon Adventure is about as good an entry point as one can have. RELATED: How One Of Anime's Greatest Directors Got Their Start With Digimon Digimon Adventure (1999 TV Series) RELATED: Digimon Adventure Felt a Lot Like Making Friends on the Internet The first proper anime series is both a nostalgic millennial powerhouse and an oddly bittersweet look at growing up. Transported mysteriously to the “Digital World,” the “chosen children” not only have to figure out how to return home, but they also have to save the Digimon kingdom from a variety of foes that wish to dominate it. There’s a reason why Digimon Adventure became such an international sensation, and even with a later remake and a whole army of sequels and spinoffs, the original is always worth returning to. Digimon Adventure: Our War Game! (2000) Digimon Adventure: Our War Game! , also directed by Hosoda, occurs after the kids have come home from the Digital World/summer camp. In this Digimon movie, an evil Digimon named Diaboromon threatens to not only ruin online connections throughout the real world, but potentially cause mass nuclear devastation, so the kids and their monsters have to get back in the saddle and stop him. It’s a wonderfully animated flick and a delightful coda to the story of the first anime series. Digimon Adventure 02 (2000) RELATED: Welcome to Jurassic Park: Anime Style With a new crop of kids (and some returning members of the original crew), Digimon Adventure 02 has the Digital World in peril and in need of saving once more. The focus on new means of evolution gives the aesthetics of the series a slight overhaul, but more important is the way Adventure 02 takes the original’s themes of connection and morality up a notch. It’s also the first series to include human antagonists, which adds an interesting layer to the emotional stakes of the show. All in all, Adventure 02 is a sequel done right. Digimon Adventure 02: Hurricane Touchdown!!/Transcendent Evolution! The Golden Digimentals! (2000) Digimon Adventure 02: Hurricane Touchdown!!/Transcendent Evolution! The Golden Digimentals! is a film that takes place during the events of Adventure 02 and features the cast of Adventure 02 being forced to save the abducted cast of Adventure from Wendigomon. It isn’t as memorable as something like Our War Game!! (but let’s be real, there are few things in this world that are), but it is a good time for Adventure 02 devotees. Digimon Adventure 3D: Digimon Grand Prix (2000) This CG short was created for a Japanese theme park and features a race between numerous beloved monster characters from Adventure and Adventure 02 . To date, Digimon Adventure 3D: Digimon Grand Prix lacks an official English release. Digimon: The Movie (2000) This combination of the three prior Digimon films ( Digimon Adventure, Our War Game!! and Hurricane Touchdown!!/Transcendent Evolution! The Golden Digimentals! ) was produced by then- Digimon licensor Saban Entertainment, and it’s both a fun flick and a time capsule. After all, where else are you gonna find a monster-raising movie that includes both “All Star” by Smash Mouth and “Kids in America” by LEN on its soundtrack? Does the plot of Digimon: The Movie hold up? Combining three movies into one means that details often fly by you, but if you don’t take it very seriously, it’s a blast. Revenge of Diaboromon (2001) Running at a lean 29 minutes, Revenge of Diaboromon is little more than an extended adventure sequence. However, for those who want more of the original cast, it’s a fun diversion that offers some pretty cool evolutionary power-ups. It isn’t a crucial watch, but it’s a neat one. Digimon Tamers (2001) RELATED: Pooping Is One Of Digimon's Most Meaningful Aspects Digimon Tamers is often regarded as the best Digimon anime series due to its darker mood and continuous focus on character development in both humans and Digimon alike. That reputation is certainly earned, even if the use of collectible cards as a method of boosting your Digimon may take some getting used to. Tamers is the ultimate word on the franchise’s definition of “monsters” and how that relates to our own humanity, and if there are any series on this list that are likely to make you sob multiple times, it’s this one. Digimon Tamers: Battle of Adventurers (2001) Taking place during another fun summer vacation, Digimon Tamers: Battle of Adventurers offers a primarily escapist adventure with some fun twists throughout. And if you’re worried that it doesn’t have the weight of the anime season it’s based on, just take a look at the, ummm, inspired designs of Mephistomon and Gulfmon. Digimon Tamers: Runaway Locomon (2002) Bearing perhaps the simplest movie plot in the entire series, Digimon Tamers: Runaway Locomon is about just that: a runaway Locomon. Sure, he’s being controlled by a separate evil Digimon, but most of the focus is on stopping this train Digimon from rampaging through the real world. In short, it’s the closest that Digimon has ever gotten to becoming Mad Max , and for that, it’s worth a watch. Digimon Frontier (2002) RELATED: To Gammamon, The Cutest Digimon Who Ever Cuted Digimon Frontier offers a unique spin on the traditional formula. This time, instead of having traditional Digimon partners, the human characters combine with spirits to become warrior Digimon themselves. Using these new forms, they must take down a warped Celestial Digimon and attempt to stop the awakening of a super-powerful dark Digimon. Are they successful? You’ll just have to watch Frontier , which was the last Digimon series produced for a few years, as the franchise went on an extended anime hiatus. Digimon Frontier: Island of Lost Digimon (2002) The combination of people and Digimon in Frontier meant that the heroes were often forced to essentially play referee among the many forms of the Digital World. Digimon Frontier: Island of Lost Digimon , which takes place during the series, has them trying to stop a war between human-esque Digimon and beast Digimon on a big floating island. Digital Monster X-Evolution (2005) Bearing CG animation and with no ties to any anime series, Digital Monster X-Evolution hasn’t garnered the attention devoted to some of the other films (the fact that it’s never had an official English release hasn’t helped). However, if you do find a way to watch it, it’s a fun time, especially since a lack of any human characters means that you’re left empathizing solely with the Digimon involved. It also dives fairly deeply into the wider lore of the Digital World, so hopefully, for the sake of Digimon devotees, it becomes more easily available soon. Digimon Savers aka Digimon Data Squad (2006) RELATED: Your Halloween Anime Watchlist, From Kooky to Spooky In Digimon Savers , Masaru Daimon is your average high school delinquent who just happens to also be a member of the Digital Accident Tactics Squad, a government organization devoted to making sure that creatures from the Digital World don’t invade the real one. However, Masaru’s role becomes a lot more complicated when he learns of various means of deception from both sides. With Agumon by his side, he has to prevent catastrophe in multiple places, and it’s a story that ends up being one of the most underrated in the franchise. The Digital World in Imminent Danger! (2006) For the sake of completion, it’s important to add The Digital World in Imminent Danger! , a short film created for a Japanese theme park. You’re forgiven if you’ve missed it. Ultimate Power! Activate Burst Mode!! (2006) Ultimate Power! Activate Burst Mode!! is a 20-minute short film based around some of the Digimon from Savers as they attempt to rescue their comatose human partners from an evil Digimon. It’s far from integral, but like with Digital Monster X-Evolution , it’s always interesting to see what’s done when the humans don’t play a big role and the Digimon carry the plot. Digimon Xros Wars aka Digimon Fusion (2010) RELATED: A Serious Investigation Of The Pizza Crust Metaphor From Digimon Adventure With 79 episodes and 3 seasons, Digimon Xros Wars is currently the longest Digimon anime. It tells the story of Taiki, his partner Digimon Shoutmon, and their attempts to save the Digital World with the help of their group called the Fusion Fighters. Fusion is one of the main selling points of the anime. Shoutmon and his pals (and his enemies) have the ability to become stronger through combining with other Digimon. This change (among other alterations) to familiar Digimon lore means that Xros Wars has become a fairly divisive series among fans, but at its best, it’s a fun change of Digi-pace. Digimon Adventure tri. (2015) RELATED: Digimon Survive Is Like Playing Through An Anime Episode This series of six films ( or 27 episodes , depending on the version you watch) takes the familiar chosen children from Adventure into the angsty throes of high school. A lot of the same dynamics are there. Taichi and Yamato still manage to be both best friends and rivals, but there’s another layer of emotion that has been granted to them. In a way, Digimon has always been about growing up, and Digimon Adventure tri. hints that there may be some complications in trying to balance saving the real and Digital worlds with one’s upcoming adulthood. Digimon Universe: App Monsters (2016) RELATED: Digimon Ghost Game Uses Horror For An Excellent Debut When Digimon premiered, the internet was treated like an optimistic curiosity. Almost 20 years later, with the debut of App Monsters, the internet has become the central focus, and the titular “App Monsters” spring from apps on it. The protagonist, Haru Shinkai, finds his partner Gatchmon on his smartphone! But if that sounds like a leap from what you love about Digimon , just know that Digimon Universe: App Monsters is among the most underrated entries on this list. Haru and his pals’ quest to stop a massively powerful, evil artificial intelligence called “Leviathan” is legitimately interesting and offers a new fold to the franchise. Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna (2020) Remember those complications about growing up from tri ? Those all come to roost in Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna , the final big journey for the original set of “chosen children” and a heartbreaking, beautiful note to end their story with. The separation of man from ‘mon is a sobering one, but Last Evolution Kizuna sticks to the principles of the franchise without unnecessary sugar-coating. Yes, you might shed a tear or two by the end, but that was inevitable the first time those kids set foot in the Digital World many years earlier. Last Evolution Kizuna is about as fitting a finale as one can ask for. Digimon Adventure: (2020) RELATED: 5 Action Scenes That Represented The Best Of Digimon Adventure 2020 This reboot of Digimon Adventure follows many of the same cues as the 1999 original, especially in the early goings. It’s the same cast of chosen children with the same partner Digimon. However, with a new expanded focus on mythology and a bunch of well-produced fight scenes, Digimon Adventure: manages to stand out from its predecessor. Whether or not you’ll like it more than the first series remains a matter of taste, but if you’re eager for more Digimon and need a quick dose of nostalgia, give it a shot. Digimon: Ghost Game (2021) RELATED: 10 Supernatural Anime That Highlight How Unique the Genre Is Digimon: Ghost Game takes a supernaturally themed approach to the series as countless people on social media ponder the identity of newfound “Hologram ghosts” on social media. As it turns out, they’re not ghosts at all, but Digital Monsters. With his “Digivice V,” middle schooler Hiro Amanokawa is able to view them in a way that the rest of the population can’t. Even if they’re not ghosts, some of them have nefarious plans for mankind, and so Hiro and his partner Gammamon have to stop them. Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning (2023) Image via Prime Video RELATED: Toei Animation Producer Hiromi Seki on the Difference Between Making Digimon Series and Films If Last Evolution Kizuna was driven by pure emotion, Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning (which gives a final bow to the Adventure 02 crew) is about dissecting the purpose of being a “chosen child” and the “contract” that forms between a person and their partner Digimon. That’s not to say that it’s not a tear-jerker, and the focus on Lui Ohwada leads to one of the most memorable character arcs in modern Digimon history Digimon Beatbreak (2025) RELATED: I'm So Happy Digimon Story Time Stranger Exists In the world of Digimon Beatbreak , "e-Pulse” (which is stored in egg-shaped high-tech devices called “Sapotama”) is derived from human energy and transferred into digital form. However, from this blend of the biological and digital come mysterious creatures known as “Digimon.” When Tomoro Tenma meets one called Gekkomon, little does he know that he’s about to be thrown into a world of high-stakes adventure with a group of “cleaners” that help the real world deal with some of its monstrous problems. Though still early in its run, Beatbreak is an exciting series that both pulls from Digimon ’s legacy while taking it in new directions that feel altogether refreshing. 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