When the first season of Sword Art Online aired back in 2012 it proved to be immensely popular. The character designs were undoubtedly one of the anime's standout elements. Causing a massive surge of Sword Art Online cosplays sweeping across the community. Nowadays, whenever someone is visiting an anime convention there's a 100% guarantee they'll see at least one Kirito or Asuna walking around.

RELATED: 10 Best Sword Art Online Cosplays That Look Exactly Like The Characters

But it's actually understandable. Sword Art Online features some of the most intricately designed, visually stunning outfits in anime. The outfits are a dazzling mixture of fantasy and sci-fi and they've gotten noticeably better with each season. The third season, Sword Art Online Alicization has really lifted the bar on amazing outfit design.

10 Flowing Fabrics

The main antagonist of the first story arc of Sword Art Online Alicization is known for her long fabric attire and light purple hair that cascades down to her feet. Cosplayer tsuruha1000yen absolutely nails Quinella's appearance. The color of the wig and dress match perfectly together. Not only that, tsuruha1000yen also took the time and effort to color her eyebrows to match Quinella's distinct violet eyebrows.

The bicycles in the background don't really fit with the cosplay. But when it comes to posing, she gets it down just right. Her choice of pose is elegant and it truly captures the royal demeanor of Quinella.

9 Look Up Yui

Moving on from the villain we have Kirito and Asuna's foster daughter. This cosplay from saturns_cosplay looks so much like the character that, when seen, it instantly sparks memories back to the Alfheim Arc. Aside from the lack of wings, saturns_cosplay just gets so many aspects of  Yui's character right. Of course, it's obvious to point out the wonderfully light purple dress. Underneath the light, it absolutely radiates. This cosplayer didn't skimp on attention to detail as she didn't forget to include the flower hairpiece, the neck accessory and those pointed ears. The expression on her face as she's looking up just evokes Yui's childish personality.

8 The Black Swordsman

Kirito has worn numerous outfits as the series progresses. One part that has always remained consistent, regardless of outfit, is the black color scheme. This cosplay by カッキー looks so much like Kirito that it might actually be Kirito himself, but transported into our world. Everything about the outfit is amazingly accurate from the black outfit lined with white edges to the pitch-black Night Sky Sword.

RELATED: Sword Art Online: 10 Kirito Cosplays That Look Just Like The Anime

Even the pose is faithful to the character. How カッキー has got his hand on the sword's handle, ready for battle. It resembles exactly how Kirito does it in the anime.

7 The Blue Swordsman

That pose is just pure awesomeness! There's just so much to admire about ulysioncosplay's work here. He looks strikingly identical to Eugeo. The costume, while a tad lighter than it's anime counterpart, perfectly replicates the outfit's distinct blue color scheme. This may sound a bit off, but we just have to commend those shoes as well. Those black dress shoes fit so well with the cosplay.

Now, what would Eugeo be without his trusty weapon, the crystal clear Blue Rose sword? Of course, as an avid Sword Art Online fan ulysioncosplay wouldn't forget about including the sword. And the end result can be summarized in one word, epic.

6 The Ber(cou)ley Warrior

So...much....blue. Honestly, what is with Sword Art Online's characters and the color blue? Anyway in this shot タナケ  looks like the striking image of Bercouli, the proud leader of the Integrity Knights. タナケ's stern, fierce look embodies Bercouli's overconfident attitude and the glare in his eyes is basically saying "come get some". It's made even more intimidating when he's holding the Time-Piercing sword, Bercouli's signature weapon. This looks like a warrior we'd loyally follow into battle.

Anime characters can be instantly recognized by their spiky hair and タナケ has done an impressive job with the wig. Not only that but he also ensured the hair, eyebrows, and eyes all bared the same color too.

5 Praise The Goddess Of Creation!

Here she is, the first lady of Sword Art Online herself. Obviously, as the female protagonist, Asuna was guaranteed to have a place on this list. Otherwise, it would be incomplete without her. After becoming Stacia, the Goddess of Creation, Asuna underwent a wardrobe upgrade. Santana Maynard absolutely shines in this shot.

RELATED: Sword Art Online: 5 Asuna Outfits We Loved (& 5 She Should Never Wear)

She adopts the Goddesses's appearance so flawlessly that it's hard to tell the difference between her and Stacia. The only noticeable disparity is that the hair doesn't reach all the way down to her ankles like in the anime. But the amazing attention to detail she instilled into her cosplay more than compensate for it. The bright light glistening on her is a nice, subtle nod to Stacia's debut in the anime.

4 Are You Two brothers?

Whenever someone sees Eugeo it's guaranteed the first thought that comes to mind is: "a blonde Kirito?". It's honestly hard not to deny that they do look strikingly similar. They could even be mistaken as brothers. These gender-bent cosplays by Layla and Blue Hurricane look so faithful to the anime. The color scheme of both outfits precisely matches Kirito and Eugeo's outfits when they were kids.

The choice of scenery is a perfect choice for these cosplays as Sword Art Online: Alicization begins by introducing Kirito and Eugeo in the forest. It's a thoughtful homage to the beginning of this thrilling new season.

3 Alice In Underworld

Of course, we can't forget about Alice. Cosplayer Leo has done a remarkable job here! Everything from the blue and white to the bright yellow hair. She even added a picnic basket and a cute little hat. Leo faithfully displays Alice's cheerful carefree personality before her capture at the hands of the Integrity Knights. A time before she was taken away.

The sunny forest background works amazingly well with Leo's cosplay. We just have to commend Mich's (IG: @conway_cosplay) impressive photography work. His cosplay experience and photography skills shine as bright as Leo's smile.

2 Sir Eugeo, The Cool

We have yet another gender-bent cosplay. Only this one is cooler than Gray Fullbuster's ice-make magic! Eugeo befittingly dons the armor of the Integrity Knights once he joined their ranks. If Sword Art Online creator, Reki Kawahara, made Eugeo into a female this is exactly what he would look like. Cosplayer MU.MU also previously dressed as Eugeo before he became an Integrity Knight and as a child.

The stunning background graphics are worth their own praise. The graphics look so realistic that it looks like MU.MU is actually standing in the digital world of the Underworld. The armor plating shines so majestically it's hard to believe it's really plastic.

1 Sir Alice, The Gold (& Bold)

Was there any doubt Alice's integrity knight would be on this list? Alice's eye-dazzling golden armour has become the most Instagram-worthy cosplay from Sword Art Online. While there are so many outstanding Alice Zuberg cosplays already, we just have to give special praise to this one by Cindy Monika.

Alice's golden armour is such a vital part of her character and Cindy Monika has done it justice. The flowing blue cape, the fantasy background and of course those shining gold armour plates. How Cindy Monika holds her sword while posing wholly resonates Alice's warrior spirit.

NEXT: Sword Art Online: 10 Alice Cosplay That Look Just Like The Anime