Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Personalized picks at your fingertips

Get the mobile app on iOS and Android

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Well-produced, violent video game adaptation isn't for kids.

TV Netflix Anime 2022
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners TV show poster.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 16+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Jam M.
Jam M. Adult
April 23, 2023
age 14+

Good for mature teens

Hexgoblin
Hexgoblin Adult
October 20, 2022
age 17+

Great show but not for kids!

It definitely encapsulate the ultra capitalist society we are in currently and the social economic issues folks face due to that. Its stunning animation, relatable struggles, aesthetic, as well as core values makes up a whole in this genre. The hard part about watching this series is the it’s a heartwrencher. Keep in mind who’s around since hyper violent action scenes often result in gore and literal curb stomping people’s faces into the ground. It tackles other topics like drug & alcohol use, body dysmorphia, and mental illness without skipping a beat so it does need to be kept In mind when watching because it gets intense. Also if you’re sensitive to flashing lights, take this show slow, it’s a lot on the nervous system. It’s best lesson I took away from this is that you need to follow your own dreams instead of other’s life expectations. Ultimately definitely a good anime.
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on the video game Cyberpunk 2077, CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS is an anime series (available dubbed and subtitled in English) about a teen from the wrong side of the tracks who becomes an underworld mercenary in order to stay alive. David Martinez (Zach Aguilar/Kenichiro Ohashi) is an underprivileged high school kid in the Dominican Republic living with single his mom Gloria (Gloria Garayua/Yurika Hino) in Night City, a place where the technology is modern and people have cyber implants that have to be regularly updated. When tragedy strikes, David drops out of school, and has some advanced cyber technology he found implanted into his spine with the help of Ripperdoc (Borge Etienne/Kenjiro Tsuda). Unlike most people, his body doesn't reject the augmented technology, and now has the power to move while stopping time and space for others. After connecting with a hacker named Lucy (Emi Lo/Aoi-Yuki) he joins an underworld group of gangsters known as Cyberpunks, who are more than willing to have him on their side because of his abilities. However, the more augments (aka "chrome") people add to their bodies, and the more powerful they become, the bigger the chance they'll fall into a state of cyberpsychosis. But David believes that he is different.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (14 ):

The edgy, violent, and well-produced anime series takes place in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe, but offers its own standalone narrative. It features a different cast from from the video game, but incorporates elements from it, including some cameo appearances and specific augments and settings that will be recognizable to those who play it. Nonetheless, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners tells a good story in its own right, and you don't have to be familiar with the game to appreciate it. But you do have to be old enough to handle its mature content, because it isn't meant for kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the challenges that come with adapting a video game narrative to a TV series. What elements of Cyberpunk 2077 are featured in this series? Why were some elements chosen and not others?

  • What messages does Cyberpunk: Edgerunners send about the role of technology in our lives and how we live it? What does it tell us about power?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate