Genshiken: Viewing/Watch Order

This is the original series, which is available on DVD. It centers around a college's oktaku club in Japan taking in several new members and the characters bonding in different ways over their interests (or lack thereof).

(OPTIONAL) This 3-episode OVA is available on Vols. 1-3 of the original "Genshiken" series DVDs. This presents three full episodes of the anime that the characters in "Genshiken" are obsessed with, titled "Kujibiki Unbalance".

(OPTIONAL) Before "Genshiken 2" was made, the creators actually made a complete series based on the fictional anime in "Genshiken", which is available on DVD.

This 3-episode OVA is available on Vols. 1-3 of the "Kujibiki Unbalance" DVDs (and is also on the "Genshiken OVA Collection" bonus disc that comes with both the "Genshiken DX" and "Genshiken: Complete Collection (7-disc)" DVD sets).

The OVA episodes are actually titled Episodes 13-15 in their beginning credits, making them a true extension of the first season. The story bridges the gap between "Genshiken" and "Genshiken 2" and explains several of the events that happened between the series. There is some fairly important character-building in these, so I'd recommend watching them, if you can.

This is a direct sequel to the first season of "Genshiken", taking place after the "Genshiken OVA", and it's available on DVD. It features the club's efforts to get involved with selling dojinshi at the Comic Fest.

(OPTIONAL) The "Genshiken 2" Vol. 3 DVD features a short OVA special titled "Ramen Tenshi Pretty Menma", based on the hentai computer game that the club members play in the series.

This one-shot OVA takes place between "Genshiken 2" and "Genshiken Nidaime", when the club goes on a trip together to celebrate the New Year. It addresses several of the character-specific changes that took place between the two series which were never really fully explained in "Genshiken Nidaime".

I'd consider this as required as the "Genshiken OVA" is: You could skip it and understand the series without an issue, but this does flesh out some of the relationships and provide some extra character-building.

(Unfortunately, it's only available on the Japanese Blu-ray of the show.)

This is officially titled "Genshiken Second Season" in North America, although it's technically the third season...which is likely just a mistranslation of the more accurate title "Genshiken: Second Generation", which is even used in the English subtitles of the show.

This is a sequel to "Genshiken 2", which is available for streaming on Crunchyroll & VRV in North America, in addition to being released as a limited edition Blu-ray.

(OPTIONAL) These are four short 3-minute specials which are basically "extra scenes" that were excluded from the show. You'd want to watch this after finishing "Genshiken Nidaime" to fully understand the context of the specials.

While they do offer a few bits of new details regarding the backstory of a few of the characters, there's really nothing presented in these extra scenes that is necessary or insightful about any of the characters. I'd consider it optional for most viewers...but it's still a short/fun watch for fans and completionists.

(Unfortunately, they're only available on the Japanese Blu-ray of the show.)