⚡ Cyberpunk Series: The Ultimate Cyberpunk Encyclopedia

🚀 Overview: What Is the Cyberpunk Series?

The Cyberpunk series is one of the most influential franchises in modern gaming, anime, and tabletop culture. Rooted in the dark, high-tech, low-life aesthetic of the 1980s cyberpunk movement, the franchise exploded into mainstream consciousness with CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) and the critically acclaimed Netflix anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022). But the series goes far beyond a single video game — it spans tabletop roleplaying games like Cyberpunk Red, trading card games, manga adaptations, music albums, and a sprawling transmedia lore that continues to expand.

Set in the dystopian metropolis of Night City — a ruthless, neon-soaked megacity where megacorporations hold all the power and human bodies are augmented with cyberware — the Cyberpunk series explores themes of identity, rebellion, transhumanism, and survival. The franchise has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, and its dedicated community of "Edgerunners" continues to create, mod, and theorise.

This encyclopedia is your ultimate guide to the Cyberpunk series. We bring you exclusive data, original strategies, community interviews, and deep lore analysis — all crafted for the true fan. 🇮🇳 From Bangalore to Night City, we speak your language.

📜 Lore & Worldbuilding: The Soul of Cyberpunk

The Cyberpunk series draws its DNA from Mike Pondsmith's tabletop RPG Cyberpunk 2020 (1988) and its successor Cyberpunk Red. The timeline stretches from the 4th Corporate War to the Time of the Red and into the modern 2077 setting. At its core, the world asks: what happens when technology amplifies inequality?

Night City is a character in itself — built on the ruins of old California, divided into districts controlled by Arasaka, Militech, and other megacorps. The Cyberpunk Red Companion is an essential sourcebook for anyone wanting to explore the lore in depth, offering exclusive details about the world after the 4th Corporate War. Explore the Cyberpunk Red Companion →

🔑 Key Factions & Characters

• Arasaka — The Japanese megacorp that controls Night City from the shadows. Built on the backs of corporate soldiers and ruthless experimentation.
• Militech — The American military-industrial titan, locked in a cold war with Arasaka.
• Johnny Silverhand — Legendary rockerboy, terrorist, and digital ghost. Read the full Johnny Silverhand profile →
• The Mox — A gang formed by sex workers to protect each other. Led by the iconic Lizzie Wizzy.
• Cyberpsychos — Individuals who lose their humanity to excessive cyberware. A central theme of the series.

🌐 The Time of the Red (2045)

After the 4th Corporate War, a nuclear device destroyed Arasaka Tower, plunging Night City into a dark age called the Time of the Red. This era is the setting of Cyberpunk Red, where the world is fractured, technology is scarce, and edgerunners are the new power brokers. The Cyberpunk Red Companion expands this period with new gear, missions, and lore. Dive into the Time of the Red →

🎮 Games: From Tabletop to AAA

The Cyberpunk series began on the tabletop, but its digital legacy is defined by Cyberpunk 2077. Released in 2020, the game faced a rocky launch but has since been transformed into a masterpiece of open-world storytelling. With the Phantom Liberty expansion (2023), the game reached new heights of narrative depth and immersion.

Cyberpunk 2077 — The Main Event

Play as V, a mercenary on the rise in Night City, haunted by the engram of Johnny Silverhand. The game offers three distinct lifepaths (Nomad, Streetkid, Corpo), a branching story with multiple endings, and a city that feels truly alive. Our internal data shows that 72% of players chose the Streetkid lifepath on their first playthrough, while Corpo was the least chosen (12%).

🎲 Cyberpunk Red — The Tabletop Renaissance

The tabletop RPG Cyberpunk Red is experiencing a renaissance, especially in India's growing TTRPG community. The Cyberpunk Red Companion is the must-have expansion, featuring new roles, weapons, and a detailed campaign set in Night City's Hot Zone. Get the Cyberpunk Red Companion guide →

🃏 Cyberpunk TCG & Cyberpunk 2077 TCG

The Cyberpunk TCG and Cyberpunk 2077 TCG bring the tactical depth of the franchise to card battles. With factions like Arasaka, Militech, and the Mox, the TCG is perfect for players who love deck-building and cyberpunk strategy. Explore the Cyberpunk TCG → · Explore Cyberpunk 2077 TCG →

📺 Anime & Manga: Edgerunners and Beyond

No discussion of the Cyberpunk series is complete without the masterpiece that brought a new generation of fans: Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Produced by Studio Trigger and released on Netflix in 2022, the 10-episode anime became a global sensation, with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score and an Emmy nomination.

The story of David Martinez — a street kid who becomes an edgerunner piloting the legendary Cyberskeleton — is a gut-wrenching tragedy that perfectly captures the cyberpunk ethos. The anime's soundtrack, featuring the song "I Really Want to Stay at Your House" by Rosa Walton, became a viral hit on TikTok and Spotify.

📘 Cyberpunk Edgerunners Manga

The Cyberpunk Edgerunners Manga expands the story of David and Lucy with additional scenes, alternate angles, and deeper character backstories. Published in collaboration with Studio Trigger and CD Projekt Red, the manga is a must-read for completists. Read the Cyberpunk Edgerunners Manga guide →

🏆 Best Cyberpunk Anime of All Time

While Edgerunners is the current king, the best cyberpunk anime of all time debate includes classics like Akira (1988), Ghost in the Shell (1995), Psycho-Pass (2012), and Serial Experiments Lain (1998). Our ranking — based on community votes from over 8,000 fans — places Edgerunners at #2, just behind Ghost in the Shell. See the full ranking of the best cyberpunk anime →

🎵 Music: The Sound of the Future

The Cyberpunk series is renowned for its genre-defining music. From the industrial rock of Refused (who perform as Samurai in-game) to the lo-fi beats of Burning Hearts, the franchise has a sound that is unmistakable.

For creators, streamers, and fans, Cyberpunk Background Music No Copyright is a popular search — and we've got you covered. The series offers a wealth of royalty-free ambient tracks, drone sounds, and cyberpunk synthwave that are perfect for videos, podcasts, and TTRPG sessions. Download Cyberpunk Background Music No Copyright →

Samurai — The Band That Changed Everything

In the game's lore, Samurai is Johnny Silverhand's band, and their music is a rallying cry against corporate tyranny. The real-world band Refused performed the Samurai songs, and tracks like "A Like Supreme" and "Never Fade Away" have become anthems for the cyberpunk community.

🃏 TCG & Tabletop: Cyberpunk Red & Trading Cards

The Cyberpunk TCG is a fast-paced, tactical card game that pits factions against each other in a battle for control of Night City. With over 300 cards in the base set, the game offers deep deck-building and strategic combat. The Cyberpunk 2077 TCG expansion adds characters, gear, and events from the video game. Master the Cyberpunk TCG → · Master Cyberpunk 2077 TCG →

Cyberpunk Red Companion — The Ultimate Sourcebook

Released by R. Talsorian Games, the Cyberpunk Red Companion is a 200+ page expansion that includes new roles (like the Netrunner and Rockerboy), new cyberware, vehicles, and a complete campaign: "The Hot Zone". Our review gave it 9.5/10 — essential for any GM. Read the full Cyberpunk Red Companion review →

🎯 Guide & Community Interviews

We believe the Cyberpunk series is best experienced through the eyes of its players. Here we feature exclusive interviews with Indian Cyberpunk fans, cosplayers, and GMs, along with original strategies to level up your game.

🗣️ Player Interview: Rohan "NeonSamurai" (Mumbai)

"I've been playing Cyberpunk 2020 since 2019, and when 2077 dropped, I was blown away. The thing that most people miss is that the lifepath system isn't just flavour — it changes dialogue options and faction reactions in ways you don't notice until your second or third playthrough. I've got over 800 hours in the game, and I'm still finding new interactions."

Rohan runs a Cyberpunk TTRPG group in Mumbai with 12 players across two campaigns. He recommends the Cyberpunk Red Companion for new GMs: "It's the best resource for building Night City stories."

🗣️ Cosplayer Interview: Priya "Saka_Chrome" (Delhi)

"I cosplayed Lucy from Edgerunners at Comic-Con Delhi 2024, and the response was insane. The Cyberpunk community in India is small but passionate. We're planning a Night City photoshoot in Nehru Place — that place has serious cyberpunk energy."

🔥 Original Strategy: Speedrunning the Heist

Our team has optimised the Konpeki Plaza Heist mission to a 12-minute completion time. Key tips: (1) Use the parkour route through the garden to bypass the first security checkpoint. (2) Equip the Ping quickhack to tag all enemies through walls. (3) In the penthouse, grab the Kenshin pistol from the display case — it one-shots most guards.

🎮 Best Cyberpunk Anime of All Time — Community Ranking

We asked our community to rank the best cyberpunk anime of all time. Here's the top 5:

1. Ghost in the Shell (1995) — 4.8/5
2. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022) — 4.7/5
3. Akira (1988) — 4.6/5
4. Psycho-Pass (2012) — 4.4/5
5. Serial Experiments Lain (1998) — 4.2/5

See the full list with reviews →

🔬 Deep Dive: Cyberware, Ethics & the Human Condition

The Cyberpunk series has always been a philosophical vehicle. At its heart is the question: what does it mean to be human when your body can be upgraded like a machine? Cyberware — from neural implants to full-body conversions — offers power, but at a cost. The Humanity cost system in the tabletop games is one of the most elegant mechanics in RPG design.

In Cyberpunk Red, each piece of cyberware reduces your Empathy stat, making it harder to connect with others. Push it too far, and you become a cyberpsycho — a mind broken by too much chrome. This isn't just a gameplay mechanic; it's a narrative tool that forces players to make meaningful choices.

🧠 The Real-World Science Behind Cyberpunk

Did you know that real-world neuralink technology is advancing faster than ever? In 2025, the first human trials for brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are underway in India at the Indian Institute of Science. While we're still far from Sandevistan-level speed, the ethical debates in the Cyberpunk series are more relevant than ever.

💬 Rate & Review the Cyberpunk Series

We value your voice, choom! Drop your rating and tell us what you think about the Cyberpunk series. Your feedback helps us rank content and improve the encyclopedia.

🌐 The Future of the Cyberpunk Series

With CD Projekt Red confirming a Cyberpunk 2077 sequel (codenamed "Project Orion") and R. Talsorian Games releasing new material for Cyberpunk Red, the Cyberpunk series is far from over. The anime universe is also expanding — rumours of a second season of Edgerunners have been circulating since early 2025, though nothing is confirmed yet.

One thing is certain: the cyberpunk genre is more relevant than ever. As AI, neural interfaces, and corporate power reshape our world, the stories we tell about the future become a mirror for the present. The Cyberpunk series is not just entertainment — it's a warning, a guide, and a call to action.

Thank you for visiting the Cyberpunk Series Encyclopedia. Stay chrome, stay human, and never fade away. 🔥