Echoes of Aincrad

Several video games based on Sword Art Online, a light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by Abec, have been released on multiple platforms. The story follows Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya after he gets trapped in the eponymous VRMMORPG. Plans to adapt Sword Art Online into a video game were first announced at a stage event at the Dengeki Bunko Autumn Festival in October 2011. The console games span multiple genres and form an alternate timeline, featuring original characters and distinct ways of integrating the source material's storyline.