Product Info

Studio

Studio Trigger, CD Projekt Red

Genre

Action, Animation, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Rated

TV-MA

Release Date (NA)

Oct 20, 2026

Purchase From

Home » Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 (Review)

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 is the next installment of the Cyberpunk 2077 animated series that provides a more story-building series with more characters to follow but doesn’t share the same level of memorable moments as the first.

A Cast of Cyber Misfits

Edgerunners 2 is set in the same universe as the 2023 anime series Edgerunners and the video game Cyberpunk 2077, but with a new cast of characters and a return to the familiar city of Night City. Weak, also known as King who was once known as a cyberpunk legend. A revenge-seeking nomad named D. Twelve-year old boy named Roman who has a high interest in recording footage on camcorders and creating documentary footage. A teenage girl named Talia who’s interested in modifying her body with cyberware. Further into the season, we are introduced to a spunky digital entity character named Capri that’ll turn the plot in different directions.

With both seasons taking place in the same universe, expect terminology like cyberware, corporate names, and familiar names thrown into the mix through the series. You don’t need to watch the first Edgerunners nor play the video game to follow Edgerunners 2 but having some background helps with the dialogue and the world-building.

With Studio Trigger returning to animate the series, you can expect the same quality of its artistic presentation. Giving that ‘90s vibe of cyberpunk and grunge style. The visual effects are beautifully done and detailed work. It’s purrtastic! For example, the visual effect of Roman’s camcorder giving it that 4:3 ratio and low-quality animation through the camera lens gave a great visual presentation. It’s amusing how many characters are interested in Roman’s camcorder.

It took some time but further into the series, I began to appreciate each character’s roles. Roman being mostly-human is shown to be a trustworthy sidekick that finds himself in bizarre situations. Talia’s unique visuals of her cyberware parts makes her an interesting character to keep an eye on. Weak’s downgraded body places him low on the totem pole in terms of visual body power but his intelligence as an edgerunner (mercenary) holds value through the series. D visually looks like a normal human being but carries quite a punch with his altered body but doesn’t showcase a drive to acquire cyberware upgrades like Talia does and instead uses power for his revenge tour. Capri’s visuals are stunning with her edgy designs, vibrant colors, and personality, making her one of the most intriguing characters to follow in the series.

With more characters involved, time is split more between them as they tackle their own problems unfold in Night City. Following D and Roman together for a solid number of episodes showcases the ups and down moments as you follow D’s thirst for vengeance of his clan wiped out. Roman is like the most grounded character that keeps the human element with the other misfits. Weak is portrayed like an overprotected guardian but quite knowledgeable on how the streets work. Talia is a rebellious teenager always looking for a way to get out of parental control. As for Capri, she brings the spark and mysterious vibe. It’s a variety of different scenarios that at first doesn’t seem like they would all come together at some point but it does thanks to corporate and human greed.

Two Different Views

Following a larger cast does create a slower story-building to build-up these characters that take up a few episodes then begins to pick up the pace with more action-driven scenes. Viewers are tested for their patience. After that, the story builds up once more and pieces of action come in until the climax where things become more out of hand in Night City.

Overall, Edgerunners 2 is a more grounded story that involves more human drama, character development, and psychological exploration whereas the first Edgerunners is more thriller, explosions, sexual content, destruction, and memorable characters. A simple comparison between the two seasons, Edgrunners is like watching a Michael Bay film whereas Edgerunners 2 is to a Martin Scorsese film. It shouldn’t come at a surprise the two seasons are done by two different directors. Hiroyuki Imaishi directed season one, who’s worked on fast-paced, energetic animated series like Gurren Lagaan and Kill la Kill. Season two directed by Kai Ikarashi, known for working on SSSS.Gridman and Little Witch Academia. Ikarashi did lend his talent with the original Edgerunners so he has familiarity with the overall series which quite frankly helps Edgerunners 2 to become a must-watch anime of the year.

As mentioned earlier, Edgrunner 2 takes more time to build-up whereas Edgerunners spent less time building up characters around the protagonist. If you’re looking for the same level or crazier sequel, Edgerunners 2 will have some but not on the same level. If you’re looking for a more well-rounded story and plot building, then you’ll like Edgerunners 2.

The Final Piece

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 takes a different approach to Night City with a more grounded, character-driven story featuring an interesting group of misfits and a gradually escalating, meowtastic climax. It takes time to get going, but it’s a worthwhile follow-up for those seeking more developed storytelling.

An early screening was provided for this review. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 launches on October 20, 2026 exclusively on Netflix. Fans can visit the anime’s official website for more information.