12 Shows Like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners You Should Watch Next

Despite not receiving much fanfare prior to its release on Netflix, "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" has quickly established itself as one of the biggest hits of the streamer's 2022 catalog. Animated by Studio Trigger, best known for the anime series "Kill la Kill," the show explores the "Cyberpunk" universe created by roleplaying game designer Mike Pondsmith and more recently popularized in the video game "Cyberpunk 2077."

Like the original tabletop RPG and the video game from CD Projekt Red, "Edgerunners" explores the fictitious urban dystopia of Night City, a cyberized metropolis where the leaders are corrupt, the police can't be trusted, and dangerous corporations rule the streets. The animated series primarily follows David Martinez, a young man whose life is thrown into chaos following a violent incident. Distraught and desperate, he turns to crime, eventually getting in deep with some of Night City's biggest and most dangerous players.

"Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" is arguably more style than substance, but that only speaks to just how effective the style is. The cybertronic world of Night City and its augmented inhabitants are brought to life in stunning, gorgeous, and occasionally grotesque ways by the artists at Studio Trigger, creating an experience that's sure to leave viewers wanting more. If you've already run through the 10 episodes of Season 1, here are some great shows like "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" that you should check out next.

These days, the lines between cyberpunk, steampunk, and fantasy can get a little blurry. Netflix's "Arcane" is a show that strives to blend them even further, meshing elements of each subgenre to create a world that feels both intimately familiar and strikingly unique. Like "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners," "Arcane" is based on a video game — the international sensation "League of Legends." However, you don't need to have played the game to fully enjoy the show's gritty and stylish story.

Set in the city of Piltover, "Arcane" primarily follows two sisters — Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Powder, aka Jinx (Ella Purnell) — as they struggle to survive in the crime-ridden undercity. While Piltover's elite grow richer thanks to technological advancements that mix science with magic, the undercity languishes under the tyrannical fist of drug lord and political extremist Silco (Jason Spisak). Sparks of rebellion form in various corners of the city, and rising tension forces fighters from all walks of life to choose their sides.

Simply in terms of its tropes, "Arcane" could be a palette-swapped version of "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners." From the urban class divide and the street-rat narrative to the illicit technologies at the core of it all, the two shows clearly have a lot in common. However, the most compelling link between the two is arguably their visuals. Like "Edgerunners," Arcane is aesthetically staggering, doing things in the realm of animation that few shows have even attempted. For the look alone, it's worth a watch.

At face value, the gothic horror fantasy genre might not seem like it has a lot in common with cyberpunk. While the latter centers on technology and envisions where humanity might go in the future, the former is more about the supernatural and turns its eyes to the past. Despite those apparent differences, however, Netflix's "Castlevania" has a lot in common with "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners," and not just because they're both on the same platform and based on video games.

Though its world is one of vampires and swords instead of hackers and guns, "Castlevania" shares a lot of its aesthetic DNA with "Edgerunners." Both series are bloody and brutal, with a heightened focus on shock value and style in their animation. Narratively, they're also quite similar. "Castlevania" follows the trio of monster hunter Trevor Belmont (Richard Armitage), mage Sypha Belnades (Alejandra Reynoso), and dhampir Alucard (James Callis) in their battle against Dracula, who sets out to wipe humanity off the face of the Earth after his human wife is burned at the stake by religious leaders.

Like Night City, the 15th-century Wallachia shown in the series is a place of desperation — one where people must fight to survive and where very few can be trusted. Much of "Castlevania" is spent following the villains, so there's plenty of moral greyness as well. It's stark, stylish, and incredibly well-written. If you want a show like "Edgerunners" but a change in genre, this is the show for you.

"The Legend of Korra" isn't cyberpunk, and it's certainly less violent than "Edgerunners," but it still has a lot that fans of the Netflix show will love. The sequel series to the critically-acclaimed "Avatar: The Last Airbender," "Korra" throws its predecessor's fantasy world into the future. A lot of the show focuses on how technological advancements impact life in a world where spirituality and supernatural abilities are the driving force.

Korra is the Avatar, a constantly-reincarnating being with the unique power to "bend" all four elements. But in an era with cars, airships, and mecha suits, she struggles to find her place as the world's spiritual leader. Just as "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" takes place in the dense world of Night City, "The Legend of Korra" Season 1 is set almost entirely within Republic City, an international hub of innovation and progress. Unfortunately, it's also a place seeded with political upheaval, inequality, and dangerous triads who run the streets.

While the later seasons of "Korra" move away from Republic City, the central theme of turmoil in an age of innovation remains at the forefront of the story. And if you like the visual flair and stylish action of "Edgerunners," you'll love the stunning animation from Studio Mir in "Korra." The frequent martial arts battles are a highpoint, but the story and characters are excellent as well. And while you should watch "Avatar" simply because it's so good, you don't need to have seen it to enjoy "Korra."

With modern technology continuing to advance at such a rapid rate, you don't need to journey that far into the future to find riveting stories of hackers and mega-corporations. "Mr. Robot" is a show that knows that well, as it explores an only-mildly-fictionalized version of the real world where battles are fought in cyberspace. The show follows Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), a cybersecurity engineer who's drafted into a cell of anarchist hackers and tasked with taking down a powerful company with vile intentions. Of course, things aren't exactly what they seem, neither with the mystery man who recruits Elliot — the eponymous "Mr. Robot" (Christian Slater) — nor with the sinister E Corp.

"Mr. Robot" may lack the aesthetic impact of the cyberpunk genre, but its story of hackers, digital secrets, and corporate control is ripped straight from the same stuff as "Edgerunners." Malek and Slater are particularly great, but the whole cast is compelling to watch, especially as the mystery of the show's cyber world begins to unveil itself. If your eyes are tired from all the neon lights of traditional cyberpunk, then the Emmy Award-winning "Mr. Robot" should be a refreshing change of pace.

Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" is arguably one of the most important films in Hollywood history. While not well-received at the time, it quickly became a cult classic and spawned countless imitators, popularizing the idea of humanoid androids and the neon-lit, smog-filled metropolises that now litter other sci-fi stories. Given how huge cyberpunk has been in the world of animation, and anime in particular, it's only fitting that we'd eventually get a proper series set in the "Blade Runner" universe. "Blade Runner: Black Lotus" is that series.

Produced by Adult Swim and anime platform Crunchyroll, "Black Lotus" takes viewers back to the cyber dystopia of replicants and crime seen in the films. While it's not quite as original as its namesake, deferring to a number of well-worn tropes, the visuals, tone, and familiarity of the show should be more than enough to keep fans entertained. The story follows a replicant named Elle who embarks on a quest for vengeance after suffering a bout of amnesia.

Whether you're a diehard fan of the original movie or just a lover of cyberpunk in general, "Blade Runner: Black Lotus" is worth a try. Any excuse to return to the world Scott crafted in 1982 is a good one, and "Black Lotus" is occasionally great.

If pure cyberpunk anime is what you seek, look no further than the 2003 series "Texhnolyze." Set in the dystopic subterranean metropolis of Lux, the show tells the story of various people caught in a battle for the city's soul. As you might expect from the genre, Lux plays home to various groups all vying for power and wealth. These include rebel cells, corrupt corporate crime lords, and street rats fighting for a piece of the action. Violence is rampant but resources are scarce, leaving the regular people of the city to battle over the scraps.

At the center of the story is Ichise, a prize fighter whose career is cut short when a violent encounter leaves him missing two limbs. Thanks to the intervention of a fellow citizen conducting experiments on cybernetic augmentation, Ichise rises again as a cyborg and sets out to make his home a safer place. Of course, that puts him at odds with a number of dangerous groups, but it wouldn't be cyberpunk if the odds weren't stacked against our hero. A gritty, visceral, and unexpectedly moving anime, "Texhnolyze" is a great example of cyberpunk done right. And at just 22 episodes, it's a quick and easy watch after you finish up "Edgerunners."