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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThere is no official required order. Netflix presents Cyberpunk: Edgerunners as a standalone, 10-episode story in the same universe as Cyberpunk 2077. Watch the anime first if you want a short, self-contained introduction to Night City; play the game first if you want your first experience to be interactive and shaped by your own choices. That is a format preference, not a creator-mandated sequence.
The short answer
Choose Cyberpunk: Edgerunners first when you want a finite story that you can complete in 10 episodes. Choose Cyberpunk 2077 first when you would rather enter Night City through an interactive role-playing game and decide what to do, where to go and how to respond.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition - PlayStation 5 | $49.69 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Cyberpunk 2077 - Xbox One | $43.43 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Cyberpunk 2077 - PlayStation 4 | $34.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultimate Edition) | $64.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The World of Cyberpunk 2077 | $32.47 | Buy on Amazon |
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Neither choice is presented by the official sources as the correct starting point. Netflix’s series announcement and current series description call Edgerunners a standalone story, while CD PROJEKT RED’s franchise material places the game and anime in the same universe. Shared setting makes familiarity useful, but it does not create a required sequence.
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- CREATE YOUR OWN CYBERPUNK: Become an urban outlaw equipped with cybernetic enhancements and build your legend on the streets of Night City. · EXPLORE THE CITY OF THE FUTURE: Night City is packed to the brim with things to do, places to see, and people to meet. And it’s up to you where to go, when to go, and how to get there.
- BUILD YOUR LEGEND: Go on daring adventures and build relationships with unforgettable characters whose fates are shaped by the choices you make. · EQUIPPED WITH NEXT-GEN FEATURES: Immerse yourself in Night City like never before thanks to faster load times, improved visual and gameplay features, ray tracing and dynamic 4K support, and more.
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If you are asking, “Should I play 2077 or watch Edgerunners first?” the most honest answer is to decide whether you want to watch or play first. The format you are most motivated to finish is a better tiebreaker than an imagined official chronology.
What the official descriptions actually establish
Edgerunners can stand on its own
Netflix describes Cyberpunk: Edgerunners as “a standalone, 10-episode story about a street kid trying to survive in Night City — a technology and body modification-obsessed city of the future.” That wording answers the most important practical question: you do not need to play the game to understand the anime’s basic premise.
The “standalone” label describes the story’s accessibility, not total separation from the game. The anime still uses the same fictional universe, so a viewer may recognize concepts or places from the wider franchise without having to complete a game first.
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The game and anime share a universe
Netflix’s original announcement says the anime is set in the same universe as Cyberpunk 2077. That is the firm connection supported by the official material. It does not, by itself, establish a mandatory chronology, a spoiler direction, or a list of scenes that must be experienced in one order.
“Same universe” is therefore a useful expectation setter. It tells you that the two works belong to one broader setting, but it does not tell you that the anime is an adaptation of the game’s plot, that the game continues the anime, or that one is a tutorial for the other.
There is no published “play first” or “watch first” rule
The official pages reviewed do not prescribe an order. Any recommendation should therefore be based on how you prefer to consume a story: passive viewing with a defined episode count, or interactive play in which your decisions determine your route through the game.
This also means that a friend’s preferred order is a preference rather than a rule. If someone tells you that one sequence is mandatory, ask whether they are describing a personal spoiler strategy or quoting an official instruction. The official descriptions support neither a universal sequence nor a promise that one route protects every surprise.
Anime first or game first?
| Question | Edgerunners first | Cyberpunk 2077 first |
|---|---|---|
| Primary format | Animated series | Interactive video game |
| Commitment described by the official sources | 10 episodes | An interactive game; no completion-time figure is established here |
| Best fit if you want… | A self-contained introduction to Night City | Your first contact with the setting to be playable |
| What is officially required? | Nothing beyond starting the series | Nothing beyond starting the game; the anime is not listed as a prerequisite |
| What you can reasonably expect | A bounded story with its own beginning and ending | A player-directed route through the game’s setting and systems |
| What the sources do not establish | A complete spoiler map or reference list | A required viewing order, spoiler-free status or universal playtime |
The table deliberately avoids declaring one format “better.” It compares the commitment the official descriptions actually identify: a 10-episode series versus an interactive game whose completion time is not specified here. Any precise hour count, review score, age recommendation, platform list or price would require separate, current verification.
Choose Edgerunners first when a compact story is your priority
You want a defined starting point
The series gives you a clear boundary: Netflix identifies it as a 10-episode story. That makes it a practical first step for someone who wants to learn the tone and premise of Night City before committing to an interactive game. You can finish the complete season and then decide whether the setting warrants a longer, player-controlled experience.
A fixed episode count also makes planning simple. You can begin with the knowledge that the first story is a complete 10-episode run, rather than treating the anime as an open-ended catalogue of franchise material. The count comes from Netflix’s official description and should not be confused with a claim about how long the game will take you.
Rank #2
- Cyberpunk 2077 is an open world, an 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 are new to the franchise
Because Netflix calls the series standalone, a newcomer can begin without studying game terminology or previous franchise history. The setting’s emphasis on technology and body modification is part of the series description itself, so the anime supplies its own orientation rather than assuming that you have already created a character or explored the game world.
You also do not need to read a game guide first. Starting with the anime lets the series introduce its own characters and conflict on its own terms. If you later play, you can treat the game as another entry point into the shared universe instead of expecting it to repeat every explanation from the show.
You prefer watching before making choices
Some players want to understand a fictional setting before being asked to make decisions inside it. Watching first lets you encounter Night City through a fixed narrative, then approach the game with that context in mind. This is a preference-based benefit, not an official claim that the anime explains every game system or story thread.
It can also help you decide whether the setting’s technology-focused, body-modification-centered premise appeals to you. If the show’s version of Night City is not your style, you have learned that through a bounded series rather than buying a game you may not want to play. That is a practical decision benefit, not a statement about comparative quality.
You may not want to buy or install a game yet
The two works require different kinds of access: one is a Netflix series and the other is a video game. If you are deciding whether interactive play suits you, the 10-episode series is the smaller initial commitment described by the available sources. Check your local Netflix catalogue and the game’s current platform listing separately, since regional availability and edition inventory are not established here.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Do not assume that “on Netflix” means the title is available in every country or under every subscription tier. Confirm the service shown in your region at the moment you plan to watch. Likewise, do not infer a game price from a general product name; store, platform, region and edition can all affect the listing you see.
Choose Cyberpunk 2077 first when interaction matters more than orientation
You want your first Night City experience to be playable
The game lets you enter the universe by controlling a player character rather than following a predetermined episode sequence. If agency is the reason you are interested in the franchise, beginning with the game keeps that quality at the centre of your first experience.
This route is especially clear when you already know that you want to play. Watching the anime is not an official prerequisite, so adding it first would only delay the format you actually came for. Start the game, learn the setting while interacting with it, and decide later whether the anime’s separate story interests you.
You are comfortable learning a setting while playing
Starting with the game means discovering Night City through interactive progression. The official material does not provide a universal completion-time estimate, so do not choose this route on the assumption that it is a short or fixed-length experience. Choose it because you want to play, not because a particular number of hours has been verified here.
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Different players will also define “finished” differently. One person may stop after a focused run, while another may continue exploring. Since no sourced completion-time figure is established, avoid using an exact schedule to compare the game with ten episodes.
Rank #3
- Brand New Sealed Product: This PlayStation 4 game arrives in factory-sealed condition, ensuring you receive an authentic, untouched copy of Cyberpunk 2077 with all original packaging and materials intact
- Immersive Open World Experience: Experience the dark future of Night City, a sprawling metropolis where you can explore diverse districts, engage with complex characters, and shape your own story in a richly detailed cyberpunk universe
- Deep Character Customization Options: Create your own unique mercenary with extensive customization options for appearance, skills, and playstyle, allowing you to approach missions through combat, stealth, or hacking based on your preferences
- PlayStation 4 Physical Disc Format: Specifically designed for Sony PlayStation 4 console, this physical disc version delivers the complete Cyberpunk 2077 experience optimized for PS4 hardware and gameplay
- Action-Packed Gameplay Mechanics: Engage in intense first-person combat with an arsenal of futuristic weapons and cybernetic enhancements, while making choices that impact the narrative and determine the fate of Night City's inhabitants
You want to decide later whether the anime adds value
Playing first gives you an independent introduction to the universe. You can then watch Edgerunners as another story set in that world, without making the anime responsible for teaching you the game’s premise. This order is especially straightforward for people who already know they want the game and are treating the series as an additional piece of the setting.
Afterward, you can compare your impressions of the shared universe without assuming that the show is a direct continuation of your playthrough. The official descriptions establish a common setting and standalone storytelling, not a promise that the anime fills in a specific game ending.
Two practical routes, step by step
Route A: watch, then play
- Confirm access to the series. Netflix identifies Edgerunners as a series, but catalogue availability and subscription terms can vary by region. Check the service in your country rather than relying on an old listing.
- Watch the 10 episodes of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Treat the season as a complete standalone narrative rather than as a tutorial for the game.
- Note the elements that interest you. You might record questions about Night City, its technology or its body-modification culture, but do not assume every element has a one-to-one game equivalent.
- Decide whether interactive play is what you want next. The anime can introduce the setting, but it cannot tell you whether you will enjoy making decisions in a game.
- Check the game listing for your platform and region. Confirm the edition name, included content and current availability at the time you intend to buy or play.
- Start Cyberpunk 2077 without expecting a continuation. The shared universe can enrich recognition, but the official descriptions do not promise that the game resumes the anime’s plot.
- Keep expectations about references flexible. The available official pages do not enumerate all cross-media connections, so avoid using a spoiler-free guarantee as a purchase criterion.
Route B: play, then watch
- Choose the game edition deliberately. CD PROJEKT RED’s franchise history describes Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition as containing the base game and Phantom Liberty. Verify the current store page, platform and contents before purchase because this information does not establish today’s price or inventory.
- Play the game on its own terms. The anime is not identified as a prerequisite, so you can begin without watching any episodes.
- Do not plan around an unsupported hour count. No sourced completion-time figure is available here. Set your own stopping point instead of assuming that the game matches a particular number of episodes.
- Finish when your own playthrough feels complete. Different players may stop at different points, and the official material does not prescribe a completion threshold.
- Watch Edgerunners as a separate 10-episode story. Its standalone status means the series has its own narrative purpose rather than functioning as a required epilogue to a particular playthrough.
- Compare impressions without assuming a fixed chronology. Shared universe does not automatically mean that every event lines up in a simple before-and-after sequence.
What you can and cannot infer about spoilers
What is safe to say
The anime and game are connected by setting, and the anime is officially described as standalone. Those facts support either starting point for a newcomer. You can begin with the medium you prefer without first completing the other work.
What is not certified
The official descriptions do not list every cameo, location, term or plot reference that might appear across the two works. They also do not state that watching first protects all game surprises, or that playing first protects all anime surprises. If avoiding every possible connection is your highest priority, no order can be advertised as guaranteed spoiler-free on the evidence available here.
That limitation matters because “same universe” is broader than “direct sequel.” It is accurate to expect possible points of recognition, but not accurate to promise a complete spoiler map or claim that every reference travels in one direction.
How to make a low-spoiler choice
Pick the format you are most likely to finish first. A completed 10-episode season gives you a bounded introduction; a game-first route gives you direct control. This reduces the risk that you abandon the franchise halfway through while trying to optimize an order that the creators have not required.
If you want to minimize deliberate cross-media discussion, start with one work and avoid fan wikis, episode guides and plot summaries for the other until you are ready. That is a personal media-hygiene strategy, not an official guarantee about the contents of either title.
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Edition, access and purchasing cautions
For the game
CD PROJEKT RED’s franchise history uses the name Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for a package containing the base game and Phantom Liberty. That description is useful when you are comparing listings, but it is not evidence of a current price, a particular store’s stock, or identical contents on every platform.
Before checkout, confirm the exact platform, region, included expansion and whether the listing is a new purchase or a previously owned copy. If a retailer uses a shorter title such as “Cyberpunk 2077 video game,” inspect the full product page rather than assuming that the listing is the Ultimate Edition. Edition names and contents should be verified at the time of purchase.
No current price is established here, so avoid presenting a dollar amount as a dependable comparison with a Netflix subscription. Game prices can change by platform and sale period, while streaming access depends on the service available to you.
Rank #4
- 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
For the anime
Edgerunners is identified as a Netflix series. The material available here does not establish regional catalogue availability, subscription terms or whether a particular service outside Netflix carries it. Check the service shown in your country rather than assuming that access is universal.
Netflix’s official description supplies the 10-episode count, but it does not establish a separate purchase price, disc edition or permanent download option. Treat streaming access and game ownership as different purchasing decisions.
For a combined purchase decision
Do not treat the anime and game as a bundle with a single shared release or access requirement. They are separate works in one universe. Decide first which format you actually want, then verify that format’s current listing.
If you use a retailer search, include the platform and edition in your query. For example, “Cyberpunk 2077 video game” is a broad starting phrase, but the final page still needs a check for Ultimate Edition, Phantom Liberty, region and platform. No particular retailer affiliation or special offer is established here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where Edgerunners 2 fits
As of October 13, 2026, CD PROJEKT RED says Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 is scheduled to air on Netflix on October 20, 2026. At the time of this article’s publication, that date is upcoming, so it should not be described as a season that has already premiered.
The announcement describes the sequel series as another standalone 10-episode story. Its scheduled release does not change the answer for the first series: you can choose the original anime or the game according to format preference. It also does not establish a required order among the game, the first series and the sequel.
If you are planning a franchise marathon around the scheduled date, keep the wording precise: the second series is set to air on October 20, 2026 according to CD PROJEKT RED’s October 13 announcement. A scheduled date is not proof of current availability, completed episodes or regional access.
Common reader questions
Can I watch Edgerunners before playing Cyberpunk 2077?
Yes. Netflix describes the anime as a standalone 10-episode story, and no official page reviewed lists the game as a prerequisite. Watching first is a sensible choice if you want a self-contained introduction to Night City.
Do I need to watch the anime before starting the game?
No. The official material does not require the anime. Start with the game if interactivity is the main reason you are interested, then decide whether you want the separate anime story later.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWhich order is officially correct?
None is officially mandated. The sources establish a shared universe and standalone storytelling, not a creator-prescribed sequence.
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Will one order prevent all spoilers?
No order is certified as completely spoiler-free. The official descriptions do not enumerate every reference or reveal across the two works, so choose based on format preference rather than a guaranteed spoiler barrier.
Is Edgerunners a continuation of the game?
The official descriptions say it is set in the same universe and call it standalone. They do not describe it as a direct continuation of a particular game playthrough, so treat it as its own story in the broader setting.
How long is the game compared with the anime?
The anime is officially identified as 10 episodes. No universal game completion-time figure is established here, so an exact hour-for-episode comparison would be unsupported.
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What does Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition include?
CD PROJEKT RED’s franchise history describes it as containing the base game and Phantom Liberty. Confirm the current store page, platform, region and package contents before buying, because the description does not establish today’s inventory or price.
Is the anime available everywhere Netflix is available?
Regional catalogue availability is not established by the descriptions cited here. Check your local Netflix catalogue and current subscription terms.
Has Edgerunners 2 already premiered?
As of October 13, 2026, it was scheduled for October 20, 2026. Use “scheduled” or “set to air” for that date unless a later official update confirms a premiere.
A decision checklist
- Pick the anime first if “10 episodes” sounds like the right-sized introduction.
- Pick the game first if making choices and controlling the experience is the main attraction.
- Pick the anime first if you want to test your interest in Night City before selecting a game edition.
- Pick the game first if you already intend to play and do not want a viewing prerequisite.
- Use either order if you are comfortable with possible references between works and do not require a certified spoiler map.
- Verify access locally because the available descriptions do not establish regional streaming or marketplace availability.
- Verify the edition if you buy the game, especially when a listing mentions Ultimate Edition or Phantom Liberty.
- Do not compare on price alone because no current game price, Netflix term or universal regional offer is established here.
- Keep the sequel date separate from your starting-order decision; the October 20, 2026 release was scheduled, not an ordering instruction.
Bottom line
Start with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners for a concise, self-contained introduction, or start with Cyberpunk 2077 if you want to meet the universe through interactive play. The official material supports both routes and mandates neither. Treat the shared universe as an opportunity for extra context, not as a rulebook for the order in which you must experience the stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Cyberpunk: Edgerunners before playing Cyberpunk 2077?
Yes. Netflix describes it as a standalone 10-episode story, and the game is not listed as a prerequisite.
Do I need the anime to understand the game?
No official source requires it. Start with the game if you prefer an interactive introduction.
Is there a spoiler-free order?
No order is officially certified as completely spoiler-free. The shared-universe relationship may create references in either direction.
What does Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition contain?
CD PROJEKT RED’s franchise history describes it as containing the base game and Phantom Liberty. Verify current platform, region, price and listing contents before purchase.
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When is Edgerunners 2 releasing?
As of October 13, 2026, CD PROJEKT RED scheduled it to air on Netflix on October 20, 2026. That date should be described as upcoming unless a later official update confirms a premiere.
The Bottom Line
There is no required order: watch the 10-episode standalone anime for a compact introduction, or play Cyberpunk 2077 first for an interactive experience.
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.
