The cyberpunk genre is having a bit of a moment, and sci-fi fans are pretty excited about that fact. Cyberpunk generally portrays high technology in contrast to societal dysfunction and dystopias. Take the beloved Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime, which blasted in and told a harrowing but high-octane story that now lives rent-free in everyone’s heads. Unfortunately, those same fans are going to be in for a bit of a wait between now and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2. On the bright side, there are plenty of sci-fi anime to keep everyone entertained. No matter what your favorite sci-fi subgenres or themes are, anime has a long history of creating something for everyone.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners dropped in 2022, but a planned sequel was only just announced at Anime Expo 2025, where ComicBook was in attendance. This is exciting news for many, as even though it’s going to be a standalone sequel, fans are going to be transported back into the world they fell in love with. However, it feels likely that the wait for this series will be just as long as the wait for the announcement, so settle down, pick up a bowl of popcorn, and binge-watch a new sci-fi series in the meantime.
10) Megalo box
Megalo box is set in the 21st century in a city called the Administrative Area. People can live here without official citizenship status, but Junk Dog can explain how that makes life so much harder. Junk Dog is an underground fighter. He lives and breathes boxing, but he can’t chase his dreams of climbing the ranks because of his status.
In this world, boxing has a unique edge, as powered exoskeletons have been added to the mix. To add to these already high stakes, a new boxing competition is on the horizon: Megalonia. Junk Dog wants nothing more than to enter, if only so he can beat the top dog, Yūri. Viewers who love powered exos, boxing, and sports will appreciate this tale, while sci-fi fans will fall in love with the world around the boxing ring.
9) Blame!
Blame! seamlessly merges cyberpunk and post-apocalyptic storytelling, telling a story about humanity having lost all control of technology. They once created a massive city, a sprawling habitat that spanned much of the Solar System. Unfortunately, they have since lost control over it, so the city itself is trying to destroy all the humans within. Not an ideal situation, to say the least.
Enter Killy, a wanderer with a terrifyingly massive gun. He has not only survived the city but also successfully traveled throughout. Killy only does so in hopes of finding somebody with the Net Terminal Gene; translation, he’s looking for a person who holds the key to take back control of the city. His success would mean potentially saving the human race. Blame! is a haunting cyberpunk tale that takes the city focus to a whole new level, adding layers and perspective to the story, although even its recent Polygon Pictures tale is but a taste of the fantastic Tsutomu Nihei manga it adapts.
8) Tokyo 24th Ward
In this world, there’s an artificial island just off the coast that hosts the 24th Ward. This place is kept safe and peaceful, thanks to the Hazard Cast (a team that predicts accidents and helps victims). Despite how talented they are, they cannot prevent every disaster from occurring. This is life we’re talking about.
This is something that three friends know all too well. Ran Akagi, Kouki Suidou, and Shuuta Aoi, collectively called RBG, survived a horrible tragedy together. Sadly, Suidou’s sister did not survive this fire, and he deals with survivor’s guilt and worse because of it. This event, as tragic as it may be, kicks starts a strange series of events, beginning with a series of phone calls to the RBG trio. Tokyo 24th Ward leans heavily on compelling characters to drive the story forward, helping viewers explore the complex themes alongside the protagonists.
7) Serial Experiments Lain
Serial Experiments Lain is an experimental anime that explores reality, communication, and identity, among other concepts. It incorporates many themes, including cyberpunk and conspiracy theories, to create a compelling narrative.
The story follows Lain Iwakura, a young girl who stumbles upon a cyberspace, which, as one might imagine, is even more dangerous than it would appear at a glance. Unaware of the potential risks, Lain begins experimenting with the digital world. Unsurprisingly, this throws Lain down a rabbit hole. Lain’s journey perfectly captures some concerns about society’s overdependence on technology, opening the door for many interesting conversations.
6) Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is an incredibly famous anime, so even casual fans have likely heard the name, at least in passing. The story is set in a far-flung future (2071), in which people have taken to the stars, but things have not exactly gotten a whole lot better for humanity. Enter a bounty-hunting crew living aboard the Bebop.
Led by Spike Spiegel, the crew all have their own reasons for joining up, even the adorable corgi, Ein. This team is primed to get involved in all sorts of mayhem and mishaps, and that’s before taking their collective backstories into account. Cowboy Bebop is a heavy-hitting and iconic series, perfectly fitting that Space Western meets neo-noir vibe. More recently, the series was adapted into a live-action series, but we suggest starting with the anime first.
5) Bubblegum Crisis
Bubblegum Crisis is not a new series, hailing from the late 80s and early 90s, but it’s still a must-watch for cyberpunk fans old and new. The story revolves around the Knight Sabers, an all-female group of mercenaries who famously wear powered exoskeletons to save the day. Their battles range from dealing with everyday threats to rogue robots (Boomers) and pretty much everything in between.
It’s safe to say that Bubblegum Crisis is soaked in the cyberpunk aesthetic of the era, so it is a pretty nostalgic binge-watching experience. In addition to having a retro cyberpunk feel, the story is surprisingly feminist at times, all while the main crew consistently handles the rising threat of Boomers. Bubblegum Crisis was popular enough to get a few sequel series, including Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040which is also worth watching, while you’re at it.
4) Battle Angel Alita
Thanks to the live-action adaptation, Battle Angel Alita is probably a much more familiar title these days. Battle Angel Alita is set in a post-apocalyptic future and follows one cyborg who has tragically lost all of her memories, with one exception. Following the thread of that singular memory, Alita becomes a Hunter Warrior (aka bounty hunter), which she leans on to try and recover the rest of her memories.
Battle Angel Alita is a classic and a must-watch for sci-fi and cyberpunk fans. Interestingly, the live-action is pretty one-for-one, so viewers can opt to watch that (though we recommend watching both). Battle Angel Alita continued in manga form, so there’s plenty of reading to follow up with.
3) Psycho-Pass
Psycho-Pass is set in a futuristic world in which a company has “perfected” the monitoring of citizens’ brains to watch for criminal potential. Known as the Sibyl System, this technology is used to govern Japan, complete with the help of the Public Safety Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Division. Central to the story are the Enforcers, with Akane Tsunemori, an idealistic rookie who has high hopes for the world. Naturally, she’s been partnered with a veteran who has a darker look at the world.
If you’re reading this description and thinking it’s a modern and anime-styled take on Minority Report, you’re not wrong. That’s a pretty common joke among fans, but Psycho-Pass still hits hard. Psycho-Pass famously tries to explore many complex themes, from society’s impact on the youth to dystopian threads and beyond. The series has a few spin-offs and films, all of which are worth following up on if you fall down the Psycho-Pass rabbit hole.
2) Ergo Proxy
Ergo Proxy is set in a world where humans and androids supposedly live peacefully side by side. The story itself is set in Romdo, a city completely sealed off, complete with rigid social systems, isolation, and worse. Naturally, people have come to rely heavily on their companion bots, aka AutoReivs. Unfortunately for those people, these bots have started to get free will (courtesy of a virus), and that means things are not going according to plan.
At the center of this mystery and mess is Inspector Re-L Mayer, assigned to investigate the cause, only to discover the many layers lying just beneath the surface. Ergo Proxy is a heavily philosophical series, notable for its abstract and cyber-noir style. It explores concepts of God, identity, and even our existence as a whole. In addition to a plot heavily influenced by Gnosticism, Ergo Proxy’s artwork is highly praised, combining 2D digital cel animation and 3D computer modeling, plus some digital special effects for good measure.
1) Ghost in the Shell
Ghost in the Shell is another famous series, and it’s a must-watch for sci-fi and cyberpunk fans. The story revolves around the Public Security Section 9 crew, a team designed to handle cybercrime and other related terrorism cases. At the helm of the team is the famous Major Motoko Kusanagi. Fans have been treated to numerous adaptations of the Young Magazine classic, including genre-defining feature-length films, excellent anime like Stand Alone Complex, and even a new adaptation on the way from Slug studio Science SARU.
In this world, people have the ability to transfer their consciousness to other bodies or devices. This is quickly made apparent with one of the team’s first cases of the series. Other famous events include The Laughing Man. While the Ghost in the Shell franchise has even been turned into a big-budget American film, we strongly suggest starting with the anime to get the full, superior experience.
Are there any Sci-Fi anime you personally recommend watching while we wait for more Cyberpunk: Edgerunners? Let us know in the comments below!
