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Choose Cyberpunk: Edgerunners first if you want a finite, linear anime with a tightly controlled cast and complete emotional arc. Choose Cyberpunk 2077 first if you want to become V, build a character, explore Night City and make decisions that alter missions and relationships. They share a universe and city, but they are not the same story and neither is required to understand the other.
The short answer
This is a choice between two very different ways of entering Night City, not a choice between two versions of one plot. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a 10-episode Netflix anime about a street kid trying to survive. Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world role-playing game in which you play V, a mercenary whose life changes after a job involving an implant.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition- Nintendo Switch 2 | $62.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Cyberpunk 2077 - PlayStation 4 | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultimate Edition) | $64.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41R5kouU7PL._SL160_.jpg)
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Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code] | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The World of Cyberpunk 2077 | $32.47 | Buy on Amazon |
The best starting point depends on the kind of control you want. The anime controls its camera, rhythm, music and character decisions for you. The game asks you to decide who V becomes, which jobs to accept, how to fight and hack, where to travel and how to respond to people. You can start with either without being lost.
What each Cyberpunk experience is
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Netflix describes Edgerunners as a standalone 10-episode story set in Night City. Its central character is a street kid trying to survive in a violent, technologically saturated city. The show is produced by CD PROJEKT RED with Studio Trigger, whose animation direction, visual exaggeration and music give the story a strongly authored identity.
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- Explore all of Night City’s extremes — From V’s rise as a cyberpunk mercenary in Night City to their journey into the shadowy world of spies in Dogtown, dive into the full story and carve your own path through it.
- Meet unforgettable characters — Forge relationships with a rich cast of characters all with their own dreams, tragedies, and tales to tell, including Keanu Reeves as rockerboy Johnny Silverhand and Idris Elba as secret agent Solomon Reed.
- Explore one of the most immersive cities in video games — Experience a breathtaking city of the dark future at home or on the go with the power of Nintendo Switch 2! Customize your journey from the very first steps with performance and quality mode.
“Standalone” matters here. The anime is designed to deliver a complete arc rather than function as a chapter of V’s game campaign. You follow a defined group of characters, and the show decides when information, action and emotional consequences arrive. There is no build menu, mission order or alternate dialogue path to manage.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world RPG. You create and play V, a mercenary operating in Night City. The official game premise centers on a life-changing job involving an implant, while the wider campaign lets you decide how V approaches people and problems.
You invest in skills and perks, choose weapons and hacking methods, use body-enhancing implants, drive through the city and investigate optional activities. Choices can shape the story and the people around V. Because exploration and optional content are part of the design, two players can experience different sequences, combat styles and relationship outcomes even while following the same broad campaign.
Are they the same story?
No. They share the Cyberpunk universe, Night City and related world-building, but they have different protagonists, premises and narrative structures. Netflix’s announcement characterized Edgerunners as a “brand-new story” in the world of Cyberpunk 2077, not an adaptation of the game’s plot.
The anime’s street-level survival story follows its own character group. The game follows V’s mercenary career and the implant-driven main plot. Characters and locations from the anime leave traces in Night City, so watching can make certain game references more meaningful. Those connections are rewards for exploring the shared setting, not prerequisites for understanding V’s story.
Side-by-side comparison
| Question | Cyberpunk: Edgerunners | Cyberpunk 2077 |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Animated series | Open-world role-playing game |
| Published scope | Complete 10-episode season | Base game with a main campaign, optional jobs and free exploration |
| Point of view | Authored ensemble centered on a street kid | Player-controlled V, a mercenary |
| Agency | Fixed pacing and character decisions | Player choices, dialogue, mission order, builds and approaches |
| Core appeal | Focused emotional arc, animation and music | Role-playing, combat experimentation, hacking, driving and discovery |
| Time commitment | Known episode count | Varies with play style and optional content; no single completion time applies to every player |
| Relationship to the other work | Standalone story in the game’s universe | Self-contained V campaign with references and traces connected to the anime |
Choose Edgerunners first if these statements sound like you
You want a defined commitment
A 10-episode season gives you a clear, finite route through the story. You do not need to learn a skill tree, compare weapons, clear map activities or decide whether to postpone the main plot. This makes the anime a practical first step when you want to understand the tone of Night City without committing to an open-world game.
You prefer the creator to control the pace
The show can move directly from setup to escalation and consequence. Its editing, camera movement, voice performances and soundtrack establish what deserves your attention. If you find open-world games distracting because optional tasks interrupt the central plot, the anime offers a more concentrated experience.
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- Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world, action-adventure story set in Night City
- Become a cyberpunk, an urban mercenary equipped with cybernetic enhancements and build your legend on the streets of Night City
- Take the riskiest job of your life and go after a prototype implant that is the key to immortality
You want an emotionally focused cast
The anime follows a specific group whose relationships develop within one authored arc. You are not deciding which companion to call, which mission to delay or how to role-play a response. That concentration can make the show feel more immediate than a game designed to accommodate many player choices.
You are curious about the setting but do not normally play RPGs
You can experience the city’s inequality, technology and street culture through a television format. No controller, combat system or character build is required. Afterward, you can decide whether the setting interests you enough to learn the game’s systems.
Choose Cyberpunk 2077 first if these statements sound like you
You want to be the protagonist
V is a role-playing character rather than a fixed television hero. You determine how V speaks in many situations, what skills to develop and which risks to take. The game is the better first choice when your main question is not “What happens?” but “What would I do in this city?”
You enjoy experimenting with builds
Skills, perks, weapons, hacking and cybernetic implants support different approaches to encounters. You can emphasize direct combat, stealth, technology or combinations of those ideas. The satisfaction comes from testing a setup, seeing how it changes an encounter and revising it as your priorities change.
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You want to roam rather than follow a single route
Night City is designed for traversal and environmental discovery. Driving between jobs, investigating optional activities and entering locations that are not required for the main plot are part of the experience. Players who enjoy setting their own pace will get more from the game than from a fixed season.
You want choices to affect people and missions
The official game description emphasizes that choices shape the story and the people around V. Conversations, alliances and approaches can produce different immediate situations and longer-term consequences. If consequence and replayable decision-making are central to your interest, begin with the game.
What “playing the game” involves
Character creation and progression
You begin by defining V and then continue refining the character through skills, perks and cyberware. Progression is not just a statistical layer: it changes which solutions are practical in combat and how you think about a mission. A build that relies on hacking encourages planning and network manipulation; a weapon-focused build asks you to manage positioning, timing and equipment.
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- THE ULTIMATE CYBERPUNK 2077 EXPERIENCE - Includes the critically acclaimed spy thriller expansion Phantom Liberty
- CREATE YOUR OWN CYBERPUNK
- Explore the city of the future – you decide when you want to go where and how to get there
- Decide how the story ends – your choices in the main game as well as in the spy thriller adventure Phantom Liberty lead to a complex web of consequences
Mission choice and pacing
The game presents a main storyline alongside optional jobs and activities. You can pursue the central plot, pause it to explore, or alternate between major missions and smaller stories. This freedom means the emotional rhythm is yours to manage. It also means that a player seeking only the main narrative may encounter a less concentrated experience than the anime.
First-person interaction with Night City
The game’s perspective places you inside movement, combat, driving and environmental details. You discover the city by physically traveling through it, reading spaces and deciding which leads to follow. The anime shows Night City through composed shots and edited sequences; the game asks you to inhabit it and pay attention while acting.
Can you watch or play first without spoilers?
Yes, provided you accept that each work reveals its own premise. Starting with the game will not make the anime redundant, because the anime follows a different protagonist and arc. Starting with the anime will not explain every game system or plot development, because V’s campaign stands on its own.
If you want the cleanest separation, finish one before beginning the other. If you mainly want atmosphere and references, watch the anime first and then explore Night City as V. You will recognize echoes and locations without needing to know the game’s major turns. If you value agency more than context, play first and treat the anime as another story from the same city.
The most useful viewing and playing orders
Order A: Anime first
- Watch the complete 10-episode Edgerunners season.
- Start Cyberpunk 2077 without trying to recreate the anime’s characters or decisions.
- Explore optional jobs and locations when you encounter references that interest you.
This order gives you an emotional and visual introduction before you face the game’s systems. It is especially effective when you have limited gaming experience or want a focused story first.
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- Begin the game as V and learn its movement, combat and progression systems.
- Follow the main campaign at your own pace, taking optional jobs when they appeal to you.
- Watch Edgerunners afterward as a separate story that broadens your view of Night City.
This order puts player agency first and avoids shaping your V around assumptions from the anime. It suits players who bought the game primarily for role-playing and exploration.
Order C: Sample, then commit
- Watch the opening episodes to see whether the anime’s tone and animation appeal to you.
- If you want more control, move to the game; if you want the fixed arc, finish the season.
- Experience the other format later for its different perspective.
This is useful when you are undecided about the medium itself. Neither work needs to be treated as homework for the other.
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- A Nintendo Switch Online membership may be required for online play. Please check the game detail page on Nintendo.com for membership requirements.
- 2025 CD PROJEKT S.A. All rights reserved. CD PROJEKT, the CD PROJEKT logo, the REDengine logo, Cyberpunk, Cyberpunk 2077, the Cyberpunk 2077 logo, Johnny Silverhand, the SAMURAI logo, Phantom Liberty and the Phantom Liberty logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of CD PROJEKT S.A. in the US and/or other countries. All other copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Which game edition should you consider?
Phantom Liberty is an expansion, and the official store states that Cyberpunk 2077 is required to play it. The combined package is sold as Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, which CD PROJEKT RED describes as including the base game, the Phantom Liberty spy-thriller expansion and Update 2.0.
| Purchase situation | What it means |
|---|---|
| You want only the core V campaign | The base game is the essential starting product. |
| You want the expanded package | Ultimate Edition combines the base game, Phantom Liberty and Update 2.0. |
| You already own the base game | You need the base game to use Phantom Liberty; check the store listing for the correct expansion option. |
| You are buying digitally | The stated digital Ultimate Edition platforms are Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC. |
| You want a physical copy | The physical edition is available only in select territories, so verify local stock and edition contents before purchasing. |
Platform support, regional stock and store packaging can change. Check the current listing for your country and device rather than assuming that an edition sold elsewhere is available to you.
What the anime adds to a later game playthrough
The biggest benefit is contextual, not mechanical. You may recognize names, places or traces connected to the anime while exploring Night City. That recognition can add texture to optional discoveries and make the city feel like a wider society rather than a backdrop built solely for V.
Watching first does not unlock a special route or replace learning the game. You still need to make your own decisions, build V and follow the mission structure. The anime’s value is that it gives one human-scale view of the city before you begin making choices inside it.
What the game adds to a later anime viewing
Playing first can make the setting’s systems easier to recognize. You will already understand that Night City is experienced through work, technology, violence, social status and competing interests. You may also notice environmental details and terminology that the anime presents at a faster pace.
Do not expect the anime to resolve unfinished game questions or function as a campaign prequel. Its purpose is to tell its own story. The game’s prior context can deepen your appreciation of the world, but it does not turn the series into an adaptation.
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Assuming one is a prerequisite
Neither format is required to understand the other. Choose according to your preferred medium and desired level of control, not a presumed canon order.
Best Value
Expecting the anime to provide a game tutorial
The series introduces the world through drama, not menus or instruction. It will not teach you how to allocate perks, use hacking systems or plan a mission.
Expecting the game to deliver a tightly edited season
An open-world RPG can interrupt its central narrative with exploration and optional work. If you want a guaranteed sequence with no detours, the anime is the safer choice.
Buying an expansion without checking the base game
Phantom Liberty requires Cyberpunk 2077. Confirm whether a store listing contains the base game before purchasing an expansion-only product.
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Treating references as required plot knowledge
Connections to the anime reward attentive players, but the V campaign remains understandable without prior viewing. Do not postpone the game because you fear missing essential exposition.
What changes in the current 2026 lineup
The original Edgerunners story is complete. Netflix has scheduled a separate 10-episode story, Edgerunners 2, to premiere on October 20, 2026. That announced follow-up does not change the relationship between the existing anime and Cyberpunk 2077: the original series remains a standalone entry, while the game remains the interactive V campaign.
For the game, the relevant current package is the base title with the Phantom Liberty expansion and Update 2.0 where applicable. Edition names and availability should still be checked at the time of purchase, especially for physical copies and regional storefronts.
Decision guide
| Your priority | Start with | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| I have limited time and want a complete arc. | Edgerunners | Its season has a fixed 10-episode structure. |
| I want to create a character and make consequential choices. | Cyberpunk 2077 | You control V’s build, decisions and route through Night City. |
| I prefer animation, music and authored pacing. | Edgerunners | The show controls presentation and rhythm. |
| I enjoy combat, hacking, driving and exploration. | Cyberpunk 2077 | The game makes those activities interactive systems. |
| I want to notice cross-references. | Edgerunners, then the game | The anime can provide context before you investigate the shared city. |
| I dislike spoilers and want each work to stand alone. | Either | The protagonists and plots are distinct. |
Final recommendation
Start with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners when you want a controlled, finite story and a strong anime identity. Start with Cyberpunk 2077 when your priority is inhabiting Night City as V, developing a build and deciding what happens through play. Watching the anime before the game is optional, but it can make the game’s connected details richer. Playing the game first is equally valid if agency and exploration matter more to you than a fixed narrative.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
