7 Anime Like Cyberpunk Edgerunners You Must See

1. Gantz (2004)

The plot of “Gantz” revolves around two high school students, Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato, and is based on a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiroya Oku. Kei and Masaru wake up in a Tokyo apartment after they die trying to save a drunk homeless guy from a speeding subway train. In one corner of the room is a giant glossy spherical, the titular Gantz, and a few other people are also present.

Upon their demise, Kei and Masaru learn that Gantz has taken control of them. The entity dispatches them on missions, most of which entail the elimination of space invaders. Dark themes and intricate sci-fi features characterize ‘Gantz,’ much like they do in ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

2. Akira (1988)

Like ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners,’ ‘Akira’ is a tale of human perseverance in a broken world. In 1988, Tokyo’s destruction started World War III. By 2019, Neo-Tokyo had been built on the artificial islands in Tokyo Bay. New Tokyo has become the epicenter of crime and violence in the world.

In this turbulent city, Shoutarou Kaneda heads the notorious motorcycle gang known as “the Capsules,” who are in constant conflict with their rival team, “the Clowns.”. When Shoutarou’s friend Tetsuo Shima develops abilities that might just be connected to Tokyo’s destruction three decades ago, a new threat looms over humanity.

3. Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995–1996)

“Neon Genesis Evangelion” is a mecha show. 15 years have passed since the global calamity known as the Second Impact. The protagonist, Shinji Ikari, is recruited by his father to fight in the war against the Angels by piloting the Evangelion mecha machine.

Shinji becomes a part of Nerv, a secret society formed to combat the Angels and safeguard humanity. Like “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners,” “Neon Genesis Evangelion” improves as a sci-fi show by exploring the character’s nuances.

4. 86 (2021–2022)

In ’86’s parallel universe, the Republic of San Magnolia and the Empire of Giad have been at war for nine years. When the Republic introduced the Juggernauts, autonomous units designed to battle against the machines of the empire, it gained the upper hand. People in the Republic think both sides are utilizing independent units, but the 86 (a minority group) of Colorata are actually in control of the Juggernauts.

When the 86 Spearhead’s handler, Major Vladilena “Lena” Milizé, an Alba aristocrat, begins working closely with the unit’s battlefield commander, Shinei Nouzen, things start to shift. The world of ’86’ and ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunner’s is one where social stratification and the exploitation of different groups of people are rampant.

5. Cowboy Bebop (1998–1999)

The bounty-hunting crew of the spacecraft Bebop, led by Spike Spiegel, a former assassin for the Red Dragon Syndicate and the series’ protagonist, is the focus of ‘Cowboy Bebop,’ which is set in the year 2071.

In the ‘Cowboy Bebop universe, Earth is uninhabitable after an accident involving a hyperspace gateway, but humanity has colonized nearly all rocky planets and moons. Similar to the cyberpunk anime series “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners,” “Cowboy Bebop” follows the exploits of a band of bounty hunters and mercenaries.

6. Psycho-Pass (2012-)

The Sibyl System, a sophisticated biomechatronic computer network, is employed to control the populace in the cyberpunk thriller series “Psycho-Pass,” which is set in a future Japan. The system evaluates an individual’s criminal prowess and grants or denies Psycho-Passes accordingly.

Akane Tsunemori narrates the story as she and her squad probe the illicit activities of the cunning and ruthless Shogo Makishima. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Psycho-Pass are set in a dystopian future where humanity’s desire for advancement has led to catastrophic results.

7. Ghost in the Shell (1995)

‘Ghost in the Shell,’ considered one of the most influential anime films of all time, takes place in a futuristic world where humans are significantly enhanced with cybernetic implants, similar to how this is depicted in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.’ The story’s main characters are Major Motoko Kusanagi, a full-body prosthesis augmented-cybernetic human, and her Public Security Section 9 assault team as they battle an unknown hacker who calls himself the Puppet Master.