Luckily, the .Hack show most people have seen, because it aired in North America, is the best place to start! It also acts as a prequel to the video games.

This is an OVA side story of .Hack/Sign told by Mimiru. It's background info on her and Bear.

THE VIDEO GAMES COME AFTER THIS: .hack//Infection, .hack//Mutation, .hack//Outbreak, .hack//Quarantine

AND/OR the following manga, which is an adaptation of the games (with a slightly different re-telling): .hack//XXXX

.hack//Another Birth (Light Novel) is another re-telling of the video games, from the point of Black Rose.

This is a fun little OVA where characters from the past anime/manga/games crossover. Not much story, just fun fluff.

This is a fun little OVA where characters from the past anime/manga/games crossover. Not much story, just fun fluff.

This anime includes references to the video game, but can easily be watched by itself.

.hack//Legend of the Twilight Manga is the adaptation of the anime. They can be seen in any order because they're mostly the same.

This is an important changing point for the .Hack series. The events of this OVA change The World and affects all future series.

With a new cast of characters and a new start for the franchise This show, along with .HACK//CELL, acts as a prequel to the GU video games: Rebirth, Reminisce, and Redemption.

After Roots and the GU games, you should move on to:

.hack//GU+, which follows an alternate version of the events of the G.U. games.

.hack//GU, which is a side story with new characters in the Roots/G.U. universe.

.hack//4koma, which can be read at any point going foward has a mix of characters from the entire franchise.

OVA that includes characters from Roots and G.U. anime/games thus far.

Movie is based on the video games.

Comedic spin-off of the G.U./Roots characters thus far.

The third 'era' of .Hack starts here! Can more or less be watched on it's own, it only vaguely refers to previous seasons and has all new characters.

Another new era! New characters, etc.

A spin-off special for the .hack movie.