Bandai Namco announced Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation 3 on October 28, 2026, during its Gundam Games 40th Anniversary livestream: a free-to-play team-combat game for PS5 and PC with cross-play, opening with mobile suits from the Universal Century and Gundam SEED. If the trailer made you want the shows behind those suits, this is the order to watch them in, with every entry's SenpaiRanks score.
Quick answer
The cleanest Gundam watch order is to start with the Universal Century (UC) in release order: Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) → Zeta Gundam → Char's Counterattack, then the side stories (0080, 08th MS Team), then Gundam Unicorn and Hathaway. The alternate timelines (Wing, SEED, 00, Iron-Blooded Orphans, The Witch from Mercury) are standalone and can be watched any time. According to SenpaiRanks, the highest-rated Gundam anime is Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (7.96), followed by Gundam 00 (7.90) and Gundam Unicorn (7.81). Most of the catalogue is produced by Sunrise (now Bandai Namco Filmworks).
Battle Operation 3 in one paragraph
Per Anime News Network, Battle Operation 3 keeps the series' team combat and adds SP Skills for every unit, a Battle Assist system, a redesigned interface and PS5–PC cross-play. No release date yet. Bandai Namco's other Gundam game, Gundam Rogue Orbit, lands March 5, 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
The Universal Century, in order
1. Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) — 7.48
The 43-episode original: Amuro Ray, Char Aznable and the One Year War. The three compilation films are a shorter way in.
2. Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985) — 7.54
Seven years later, the war becomes a civil war. Darker and scrappier, and still the fan favourite among the early TV series. Gundam ZZ (6.63) follows, but you can skip it.
3. Char's Counterattack (1988) — 7.42
The film that closes the Amuro–Char rivalry.
4. War in the Pocket (0080, 1989) — 7.57
A six-episode OVA told through a kid's eyes. The best short Gundam story there is.
5. The 08th MS Team (1996) — 7.72
A ground-level jungle war, and it plays well with Battle Operation's infantry-scale fights.
6. Gundam Unicorn (2010) — 7.81
Seven big-budget OVAs set after Char's Counterattack. Watch after CCA.
7. Gundam Hathaway (2021) — 7.61
The newest UC chapter, on Netflix. Its sequel, The Sorcery of Nymph Circe, opened in 2026. Full details in our Hathaway where-to-watch guide.
Prequel note: The Origin (2015, 7.96) retells Char's backstory before the 1979 series. It's our top-rated Gundam, but it works best after you've seen the original.
The standalone timelines
Gundam Wing (1995) — 7.41
Gundam SEED (2002) — 7.71
SEED's suits are in Battle Operation 3's launch roster. The 2024 film SEED Freedom (6.92) continues it, and SEED Freedom Zero is coming in 2027.
Gundam 00 (2007) — 7.90
Season 2 scores even higher at 7.93.
Iron-Blooded Orphans (2015) — 7.76
The Witch from Mercury (2022) — 7.55
Our pick for newcomers who want something modern:
GQuuuuuuX (2025) — 6.72
Studio Khara's alternate-history twist on the original. It's more fun once you know the 1979 series.
Where to watch Gundam
In North America, much of the TV catalogue streams on Crunchyroll, Hathaway is on Netflix and GQuuuuuuX is on Prime Video. It varies by region, so each card's show page has the current links. For the rest of the genre, see our best mecha anime ranking and Sunrise studio ranking.
More SenpaiRanks guides: Armored Trooper VOTOMS watch order, best anime films of the 1980s, best anime films of the 1990s, best racing anime.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What order should I watch Gundam in?
A: Start with Mobile Suit Gundam (1979), then Zeta Gundam, Char's Counterattack, the 0080 and 08th MS Team side stories, Unicorn and Hathaway. Wing, SEED, 00, Iron-Blooded Orphans and The Witch from Mercury are standalone.
Q: What is the best Gundam anime?
A: On SenpaiRanks, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin leads at 7.96, ahead of Gundam 00 (7.90 for Season 1, 7.93 for Season 2) and Gundam Unicorn (7.81).
Q: Can I start Gundam with The Witch from Mercury?
A: Yes. It's a separate timeline and needs no prior knowledge.
Q: What is Gundam Battle Operation 3?
A: A free-to-play team-combat game for PS5 and PC with cross-play, announced October 28, 2026. Its mobile suits start with the Universal Century and Gundam SEED.
Q: Where can I stream Gundam?
A: In North America, most TV series are on Crunchyroll, Hathaway is on Netflix and GQuuuuuuX is on Prime Video. Availability varies by region.