The Power Fantasy Debate No One Is Talking About Enough
Solo Leveling took the anime world by storm. It broke Crunchyroll streaming records, won Anime of the Year in 2025, and made Sung Jinwoo one of the most iconic protagonists in recent shonen history. There's no denying its cultural impact.
But here's what a lot of people in the USA anime community are starting to realize: Netflix has had the answer to Solo Leveling sitting on its platform all along — and it's arguably better. That answer is Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
Both shows are power fantasies about ordinary people who rise to extraordinary heights. Both feature jaw-dropping action, stunning animation, and protagonists who are fundamentally transformed by their power. But where Solo Leveling gives you spectacle, Edgerunners gives you something rarer and more valuable: depth.
This is the head-to-head comparison you've been waiting for.
What Is Cyberpunk: Edgerunners?
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a 10-episode anime series produced by the legendary Studio Trigger (Kill la Kill, Gurren Lagann) and directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi. It premiered exclusively on Netflix in September 2022 and became an immediate global sensation.
The show is set in the neon-soaked dystopia of Night City, a world of extreme wealth inequality, corporate control, and body modification. It tells the story of David Martinez — a working-class kid trying to survive after tragedy destroys his life — who joins a crew of mercenary "edgerunners" and transforms into a legend.
On July 4, 2025, Netflix officially confirmed that Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2 is in production — meaning this franchise is only going to get bigger.
| Feature | Cyberpunk: Edgerunners | Solo Leveling |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | Studio Trigger | A-1 Pictures |
| Episodes (S1) | 10 | 12 |
| Genre | Sci-fi / Action / Tragedy | Action / Fantasy / Shonen |
| Protagonist Arc | David Martinez | Sung Jinwoo |
| Power System | Cybernetic enhancement | Leveling / Shadow Army |
| Tone | Dark, tragic, funny | Triumphant, epic |
| Available On | Netflix | Crunchyroll |
How Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Matches Solo Leveling
Same Power Fantasy, Different World
At their core, both shows deliver on the same fundamental promise: watch an underdog become unstoppable. David Martinez starts as a scholarship kid who can barely afford to eat. Sung Jinwoo starts as the weakest hunter in existence, constantly mocked and underestimated.
Both characters undergo dramatic, almost terrifying transformations. Both become figures of legend in their respective worlds. Both draw enormous satisfaction from watching the impossible become possible.
If you loved watching Jinwoo decimate enemies who once looked down on him, David's rise through Night City's mercenary underworld will hit the same nerve — but with added emotional devastation.
Both Have Incredible Fight Scenes
Solo Leveling's battles are cinematic masterpieces — especially Jinwoo's fights against Kargalgan, Baruka, and Goto Ryuji. The animation quality from A-1 Pictures is elite.
But Edgerunners matches it punch for punch. Studio Trigger's animation is frenetic, hyper-stylized, and breathtakingly fluid. Every combat sequence feels like a music video directed by someone who loves action movies. The cyberpunk aesthetic — neon explosions, chrome body parts flying, impossible physics — makes every fight feel like nothing else in anime.
Where Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Is Better Than Solo Leveling
1. Depth of Character and Story
This is the biggest difference, and it's significant. Solo Leveling is, by its own creator's design, a straightforward power fantasy. Sung Jinwoo's motivation is clear, his path is linear, and his victories are deeply satisfying but rarely surprising emotionally.
Edgerunners, on the other hand, is a tragedy disguised as a power fantasy. David's story doesn't go where you think it will. The show asks uncomfortable questions: What is the cost of power? How much of your humanity can you trade away before you lose yourself? What does it mean to succeed in a system designed to destroy you?
These questions give Edgerunners a thematic resonance that Solo Leveling simply doesn't reach for. The show is about a failing system that grinds people up. It's about love, loss, and the terrible irony of getting everything you wanted.
2. It Achieves More in Less Time
Solo Leveling has had two full seasons — roughly 24 episodes — to build its world. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners does everything it needs to do in 10 episodes. Night City feels completely realized. The cast of supporting characters is vividly drawn. The love story between David and Lucy is genuinely heartbreaking.
The discipline of Edgerunners' storytelling is remarkable. Nothing is wasted. Every scene serves a purpose. By the final episode, the emotional payoff is enormous — arguably the most powerful finale of any anime produced in the 2020s.
3. The Soundtrack Is a Work of Art
Solo Leveling has a solid score. Edgerunners has the original score by Akira Yamaoka (legendary composer of the Silent Hill series), combined with tracks chosen specifically for their emotional impact. The ending song alone has become one of the most beloved pieces of music in recent anime history.
The music doesn't just accompany the story — it is part of the story, working in perfect harmony with the animation to create moments of pure emotional devastation.
4. The Love Story Hits Different
Jinwoo's romantic subplot in Solo Leveling exists but never becomes a core emotional driver of the show. In Edgerunners, the relationship between David and Lucy is the heartbeat of the entire series. Their connection — tender, complicated, and ultimately tragic — gives the action stakes that feel genuinely personal. When David fights, you understand exactly what he's fighting for. And that makes every moment more powerful.
Where Solo Leveling Has the Edge
To be fair, Solo Leveling does some things Edgerunners doesn't:
- Scale: Jinwoo's battles grow to world-ending proportions. Edgerunners keeps things street-level.
- Power progression: Solo Leveling gives you a satisfying leveling system you can track and anticipate. It's deeply gamified in a satisfying way.
- Sheer entertainment: Solo Leveling is fun in a way that Edgerunners isn't always. Edgerunners is more emotionally demanding.
- Length: If you want more content, Solo Leveling has more episodes to binge.
Should You Watch Cyberpunk: Edgerunners?
If you:
- Loved Solo Leveling's power fantasy but wanted more emotional weight
- Enjoy sci-fi settings over fantasy
- Are willing to have your heart broken
- Want to watch something that will stick with you for weeks afterward
Then yes — Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is the most important anime you haven't watched yet.
It's also worth noting that Cyberpunk: Edgerunners won the Crunchyroll Anime of the Year award for 2022 — the same prestigious award Solo Leveling won in 2025. The show has already proven its staying power.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2 Is Coming
The big news: Season 2 of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is officially in production as of July 2025. Studio Trigger has confirmed the new season will be completely disconnected from Season 1's story — meaning new characters, a new arc, but the same Night City setting and creative team.
This is the perfect time to watch Season 1 if you haven't already.
FAQ: Cyberpunk Edgerunners vs Solo Leveling
Q: Do I need to play Cyberpunk 2077 before watching Edgerunners? No. Edgerunners is a completely standalone story that serves as a prequel to the game. It's designed to work for viewers with zero knowledge of the game.
Q: Is Cyberpunk: Edgerunners appropriate for kids? No. The show is rated TV-MA and contains graphic violence, sexual content, and mature themes. It is strictly for adult audiences.
Q: How many episodes is Cyberpunk: Edgerunners? Season 1 consists of 10 episodes, all available on Netflix.
Q: Which show has better animation — Edgerunners or Solo Leveling? Both are excellent. Solo Leveling (A-1 Pictures) is cleaner and more polished. Edgerunners (Studio Trigger) is wilder, more stylized, and more experimental. Most animation enthusiasts give Edgerunners the edge for sheer creative ambition.
Q: Is Solo Leveling getting a Season 3? Solo Leveling Season 3 has been confirmed and is expected to release on Crunchyroll. The series is far from over.
External Authority Links
- Cyberpunk: Edgerunners – Wikipedia
- Studio Trigger Official
- Solo Leveling – Wikipedia
- Crunchyroll – Solo Leveling
- Netflix Official – Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Conclusion: The Power Fantasy You've Been Missing Is Already on Netflix
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is Netflix's definitive answer to Solo Leveling — and in most ways that matter creatively, it surpasses it. In just 10 episodes, it delivers more emotional impact, more thematic depth, and more visual ambition than almost anything else in anime.
Solo Leveling is great. But if you want a power fantasy that will actually break your heart, Night City is waiting for you. Fire up Netflix, and give David Martinez the audience he deserves.
Watch Cyberpunk: Edgerunners on Netflix — all 10 episodes available now.