Do you wish Cyberpunk: Edgerunners lasted longer than 10 captivating episodes? Are you hungry for more stylish sci-fi anime featuring hackers, cyborgs, shady megacorporation’s, and mercenaries?
If Netflix’s gritty, emotional series left you craving more animated stories set in high-tech dystopian worlds, you’re in luck. We’ve compiled 10 cyberpunk-themed anime perfect for fans of Edgerunners. Whether you want more tragedy-fueled plots, electrifying action scenes, mind-bending transhumanist themes, or scrappy outsiders battling corrupt systems, these hand-picked suggestions will feed your appetite.
10. Gantz
Gantz is an extremely unique anime that presents an innovative take on life after death. The protagonist, Kei Kurono, suddenly dies after an accident and finds himself transported to a room with a mysterious black ball.
Along with him are several others who had died just moments before, Our characters soon find out that they have been roped into a game of life and death where they are assigned to killing supernatural creatures. By doing this, they can even earn the right to go back to their ordinary lives.
Gantz is a dark, gory and mature series similar to Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and features a lot of tragedies. The protagonist is complex and grows in both strength and mentality as this exhilarating series keeps progressing.
9. No Guns Life
Made by the impeccable Madhouse studios, No Guns Life is a very fun story that managed to go under the radar when it was airing. It takes us to a world where cyborg soldiers with robotic parts live among common people.
Juuzou Inui is one such person who has a gun for a head and has no memories of his life before serving as a soldier. While living his daily life, he runs into a robotic man who hands him a child. With several dangerous parties chasing after this kid, Juuzou will have to investigate several secrets and see just how far the deceit runs in his city.
Both Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and No Guns Life take place in a futuristic yet dystopian society where extended machines give strength to a person. While Cyberpunk might give you a better emotional connection with its characters, No Guns Life is still a very fun watch.
8. Devilman: Crybaby
Devilman: Crybaby is one of the weirdest and craziest anime one can experience. It revolves around Akira, a weak boy who ends up merging with a Devil and becoming a “Devilman”. With this dynamic new change, he gains access to a lot of power and decides to use it to help humanity and his loved ones.
At the same time, his friend, Ryou, who was assisting him, has his own grand plans that could change the structure of the entire world.
Devilman: Crybaby has a very unique animation style, lots of gore and hype moments and keeps us at the edge of our seats with its twists. It dives into several adult themes and features enough loss to make every fan depressed. For those who enjoyed Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and wish to try an experimental “Avant Garde” anime, this is the one for you.
7. Black Lagoon
Black Lagoons is a thrilling anime dealing with the world of crime. It follows a regular salaryman named Rokurou who is held hostage by a criminal group named the Lagoon Company. After being abandoned by his managers, he decides to make a surprising decision and join his captors’ group.
Through this, Rokurou goes into the dark world of crime filled with cheating, extortion, betrayal and worse. While trying to assist those around him and not become a burden, he also struggles to hold onto his own humanity.
Black Lagoon also features a badass female character and a male character who is initially timid but goes on to become a dependable individual. With a plot that features heavy action and several likable characters, fans will find Black Lagoon to be a series that stays in their mind for a long time.
6. Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song
Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song is one of the most underappreciated anime ever made and is an unforgettable journey from start to end.
It tells the story of a songstress AI named Vivy who spends her days trying to bring happiness to other people. While hoping to get on the big stage and allow others to hear her songs, her life changes when an AI from the future appears before her.
Telling her of the tragic incidents that are set to happen and the events that trigger them, Vivy is tasked with preventing tragedies from ever occurring to ensure that the relationship between humans and AI remains peaceful.
Things hardly ever go according to plan, however, and Vivy’s path is filled with hurdles and difficult choices. With stunning animation, a lot of emotion and explosive fights, this is one anime everyone needs to watch.
5. Dorohedoro
Dorohedoro is a gritty series set in a brutal and unforgiving world. Made by Mappa Studios, the series takes place in a setting known as the Hole, a disorderly district that is used as a testing ground by magicians.
These magic users, who have supreme power, are hardly ever challenged and commit several acts of atrocities in the pursuit of their goals. The protagonist, Kaiman, is a man who has the appearance of a reptile and is one of the few to challenge the authority of the magic users.
Cursed by his appearance, he is on a relentless quest to find the person who can turn his life back to normal. To achieve his objectives, Kaiman will have to go through a bloodbath and unimaginable struggles.
Contrary to its dark story, Dorehodoro often takes a lighter approach to its tone. This is not to say that it shies away from horror as there is more than enough gore in the story to make viewers squeamish.
4. Texhnolyze
Texhnolyze is an original anime by Madhouse that gives us an unapologetically honest look into a dystopian society filled with human suffering and malice.
Set in a city known as Lux, it covers the operations of various gangs and individuals as they hope to gain power. With a unique substance that allows people to replace body parts with cybernetic appendages, this secluded city’s work has a huge impact on the world.
Our main character, Ichise, is a man who was mutilated and ended up getting the cybernetic transplants on his body. Being equipped with the very thing he hated, he is on a quest to exact revenge while also finding himself involved in a huge crisis that could greatly change this entire operation.
Texhnolyze has several psychological themes and also deals with class and political struggles. While it might not be as electrifying as Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, the two share several common aspects that fans will enjoy.
3. Akudama Drive
Akudama Drive is one of the most fun anime you can watch and is pure explosive action for all 12 episodes.
The series features a cast of criminals who are brought together by a mysterious entity and tasked with freeing another criminal who is due for execution. With these contrasting personalities working together in this technologically advanced world, we are in for a lot of chaos and bloodshed.
While Akudama Drive might not necessarily have the depth that fans enjoyed from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, its setting, genre and fluid animation are very similar to the latter. The characters might just be following several overused tropes, but they are still a joy to watch on screen.
2. Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is a classic science fiction anime that has gained a huge following over the years. Despite technology making significant progress, crime is still rampant in the world of Cowboy Bebop.
The protagonist, Spike Spiegel and his group travel throughout the space in a bid to capture criminals and earn their living.
Despite seeming colorful, however, Spike is filled with darkness in his past. When old enemies come back to chase him, he will have to choose between moving forward or diving back into old wounds and going on a quest for revenge.
Cowboy Bebop has smooth designs, amazing characters and a story that has aged flawlessly over the years. While it might not be as edgy as Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, there is a good chance that fans will enjoy this a lot.
1. Psycho – Pass
Psycho – Pass has been lauded by many to be one of the best original anime ever made and there is a good reason for it. Set in a futuristic society, law and order are upheld through a system known as Sibyl that can assess the threat level of each person rather than waiting for crimes to be committed.
The main characters, a young and bright new detective and a veteran officer get roped into a web of secrets where they find that the technology they so deeply trust is filled with mysteries of its own and does not strictly work for justice.
Adding to this, they will have to work in order to uphold the peace in their surroundings when an enemy wishes to destroy this system and is able to escape its eyes and avoid being identified as a threat.
The first season of Psycho – Pass is a masterpiece in every sense of the word and is a brilliant psychological thriller that has you completely engaged.
With an amazing soundtrack, brilliantly written characters and an incredibly complex plot, this is one anime everyone needs to watch at least once in their lives.
