Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a story about David Martinez, a street kid trying to survive in a body modification and technology-obsessed megapolis called Night City. The show debuted to great critical acclaim, so if you're wondering if there are more anime like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, we got you covered!
Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song
Bridging the gap between hope and science, Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song showcases NiaLand, an AI theme park where the world’s first autonomous humanoid, Vivy, works as a cast member.
Vivy is passionate about singing and she gets on stage every day to entertain the patrons. However, she is not a popular attraction at NiaLand.
But that doesn’t stop her from singing her heart out in hopes of taking her emotional performances to the main stage of the park.
One day, an AI named Matsumoto appears before her. Matsumoto tells her that they must join forces to stop the war between AI and humans.
The anime’s stunning and vibrant visuals paired with AI obsession make it a must-watch for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners fans.
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Akira
Akira came out in 1988 and was considered way ahead of its time. Termed as one of the best sci-fi and post-apocalyptic anime movies, Akira is fast-paced and packed with action for Cyberpunk and sci-fi aficionados.
The story starts when the Japanese government drops an atomic bomb on Tokyo in 1988 after ESP experiments on children go south.
More than three decades later, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, attempts to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project.
He fights against corrupt politicians, a powerful military commander, and incompetent scientists until one day, Tetsuo’s supernatural abilities manifest.
The final battle happens in Tokyo Olympiad as the experiment’s secrets are exposed.
Related: When Does Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Take Place Compared to 2077?
Gantz
Falling into the psychological, sci-fi, and supernatural genre, Gantz is a gritty anime that Cyberpunk fans can put on their must-watch list.
Kei Kurono is a selfish high school student who doesn’t care about the world. However, one day, he was compelled to help his childhood friend, Katou Masaru, rescue a man who fell on the subway track.
Unfortunately, Kei and Katou died after being run over by a passing train. But they are not dead when they instantly teleport to an apartment with others who recently passed away.
The duo realizes that their lives are now controlled by a mystical black ball called Gantz. Moreover, Kei and the rest are forced to play a game full of horror and danger.
Gurren Lagann
Gurren Lagann, also known as Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann in Japanese, is a mecha anime series that follows two friends coming out of an underground village to explore a different world.
The anime takes place in the future where the Spiral King, Lordgenome, is ruling planet Earth. The king forces humans to live in isolated underground villages.
Simon, a digger in the village, is close to his best friend Kamina. The eccentric character, Kamina, wants Simon to join his gang called Team Gurren.
One day, while digging, Simon finds an unidentified object that later turns out to be an activation key to an old artifact of war. The pair calls it "Lagann".
The duo wields this new weapon and fights against an ambush from the surface with the assistance of Yoko Littner, who is an angry redhead with a big gun.
After the battle, the sky becomes clear encouraging Simon and Kamina to embark on a new adventure to the wastelands of the surface.
Gurren Lagann showcases Simon, Kamina, and Yoko battling against humanoid creatures who harass the remaining humans in their robots called the Gunmen.
The trio gives their best to fight against these dangerous and otherworldly creatures.
Psycho-Pass
Fitting right into the Cyberpunk genre, Psycho-Pass gives a dystopian view of a futuristic Japan.
In the 22nd century, Japan enforced the Sibyl System to ensure law and order in the country.
The Sibyl System is a means to determine the threat level of a citizen by monitoring their mental state.
The Inspectors are tasked to uphold this system and often use lethal force against anyone harboring even the slightest criminal intent.
Inspectors work in tandem with Enforcers, and one such Enforcer is Akane Tsunemori, a young woman with an earnest desire to ensure that justice is served.
Soon, Akane learns that the system is extremely flawed and now she wonders what justice means in this post-apocalyptic Japan.
Read More: The Best Sci-Fi Anime with a Female Lead
86
A military and mecha anime with elements of romance and dystopia, 86 is set in the Republic of San Magnolia which is at war with the Giadian Empire.
The Republic claims there have been zero casualties in the ongoing conflict. However, it is far from the truth because a group of brave fighters is battling against the Empire’s Legion in the Eighty-Six faction taking all the hits for the Republic.
Known as the Spearhead squadron, the fighters in Eighty-Six are handled by Vladilena Milize.
Leading the squad is a young man named Shinei Nouzen who is infamous for being the only survivor of every squad he has been in.
Shinei lives with the grim reality of his past while striving to remember all of his fallen comrades.
Just like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, the plot of 86 shines as it shows the dark reality of a machine-obsessed society.
Read More: Do David and Lucy End up Together in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners?
Neon Genesis Evangelion
An absolute classic mecha anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion’s story kickstarts 15 years after the Second Impact, a worldwide cataclysm that not only destroyed Antarctica but also resulted in the deaths of half of planet Earth’s human population.
Now, the world is staring at a brand-new threat in the form of ghastly celestial beings called Angels who invade Tokyo-3.
Humans attempt to use the most advanced weaponry they possess yet fail to counter the Angels.
Their only hope now is NERV, an organization headed by Gendou Ikari.
NERV uses massive humanoid robots called Evangelions to fight against the Angels.
Evangelions are armed with absolute modern-day weapon systems and shielding barriers called Absolute Terror Fields.
Similar to Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Neon Genesis Evangelion explores the dark themes of a world plagued by greed and an ill-balanced socio-political system.