Say Goodbye To Arcane As Netflix's Best Sci-Fi Show Returns In 2 Months

Few sci-fi shows on Netflix have earned the universal admiration that Arcane enjoys. Hit series like Black Mirror, Love, Death & Robots, Dark, and Stranger Things all excel in their own ways, but none occupy a special place in the hearts of fans like Arcane does. The League of Legends adaptation’s breathtaking animation and sweeping yet deeply personal narrative ensure that many consider it not only Netflix's crowning sci-fi achievement, but one of the greatest animated series ever produced.

Still, as deserved as Arcane's reputation is, there's another Netflix sci-fi series that arguably surpasses it. 2022’s Cyberpunk: Edgerunners delivers many of the same strengths that made Arcane extraordinary, from stunning visuals to unforgettable characters, but its tragic story arguably lands with even greater emotional force. Better still, its success accomplished something rare for Netflix. Originally conceived as a standalone miniseries, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners became so acclaimed that it earned a second season, reversing the platform's reputation for letting beloved stories end prematurely instead of continuing naturally.

Produced by Studio Trigger in collaboration with CD Projekt Red and Netflix, season 1 of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners followed David Martinez (Zach Aguilar), a gifted teenager whose life spirals into violence and cyberpsychosis. It became one of Netflix's most acclaimed anime thanks to its emotional storytelling, striking animation, and seamless expansion of the Cyberpunk 2077 universe. Season 2 is officially scheduled for Fall 2026, and when it arrives (which, if unconfirmed rumors are to be believed, could be on October 20th), Cyberpunk: Edgerunners will evolve beyond its original miniseries status into a true multi-season saga capable of rivaling Arcane.

A New Season Gives Cyberpunk: Edgerunners The Chance It Deserves

One of the few genuine criticisms of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners has never been about its quality. Instead, it was simply that there wasn't enough of it. Its concise 10-episode run told a complete and devastating story, yet Netflix and Studio Trigger's vision of Night City felt so vibrant that audiences wanted to spend far more time there than a mere miniseries.

Netflix’s anime adaptation of Cyberpunk 2077 transformed Night City into something even more visually expressive than the game itself. Every district burst with color, every action sequence carried extraordinary energy, and every twist and turn in David’s story was a true emotional gut punch. Much like Arcane did across its two seasons, Edgerunners demonstrated how, with the right approach, Netflix could elevate a familiar and already celebrated video game world into something truly iconic.

Still, for years after its 2022 debut, fans were resigned to the fact that Edgerunners would remain a flash-in-the-pan spark of brilliance. Then everything changed when Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2 was announced in 2025. Fans would get to return to Night City again just like they’d dreamed of doing since the end of David’s tragic journey. However, there is a catch, since season 2 will be another standalone story with a fresh batch of characters.

Still, that creative decision may ultimately work in the franchise’s favor. Rather than revisiting David’s story, which would risk undoing the impact of its ending, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners can now establish itself as an anthology exploring different lives within Night City. If season 2 reaches the same artistic heights as its predecessor, it will firmly cement itself alongside Arcane as one of Netflix's defining sci-fi series.

Netflix And Arcane Both Mark The Start Of An Era For Netflix

Whether Arcane or Cyberpunk: Edgerunners deserves the title of Netflix's greatest sci-fi series will remain a matter of personal preference. Both are as visually extraordinary as they are emotionally resonant, while also managing to remain remarkably faithful to the spirit of their respective franchises. Either could comfortably occupy the top spot depending on what viewers value most.

Viewed within Netflix's broader history, however, both Arcane and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners share an even greater importance. For years, Netflix experimented with video game adaptations that either attracted relatively modest attention, such as Castlevania and Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, or became surrounded by controversy, as happened with the live-action The Witcher. Arcane and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners broke that cycle by satisfying critics, general audiences, and long-time fans simultaneously.

Both Netflix series proved that adapting games successfully required more than simply recreating familiar characters and locations. They respected their source material, of course, but their main focus was telling compelling stories that stood confidently on their own. This ensured that Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Arcane were able to justify their existence beyond being seen as simple attempts to cash in on the affection of their respective fandoms.

Netflix's future already includes ambitious gaming projects such as a Gears of War TV show, a BioShock movie, and adaptations beyond video games, including an animated Magic: The Gathering series. If game adaptations eventually become one of Netflix's defining strengths, history may well remember Arcane and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners as the productions that perfected the formula and established the platform's blueprint for years to come.

Release Date 2022 - 2022

Network Netflix

Writers Mike Pondsmith, Yoshiki Usa, Masahiko Otsuka

Franchise(s) Cyberpunk