It's the year 2022 and a new technology allows for game players to be projected into the games they play.

But when a new game called sword art online, causes 10,000 people to be trapped with the threat of dying in real life if they die in the game, one boy refuses to go out like a coward.

Will, Becoming a "solo player" help him, or will it be his doom.

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Sorry it's such a short description, but this anime got to the main plot during the second episode so I didn't want to give away too much information, for fear of spoilers.