Did Cyberpunk: Edgerunners truly deserve its season 2?

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners truly was one of a kind. In fact, it has been hailed as a masterpiece by many - and for good reason. Studio Trigger brought their A-game with the show, but the visuals weren't the only reason behind the series' overwhelming popularity.

The story of David Martinez was tragic, brutal, but most importantly, complete. And that's what made Cyberpunk: Edgerunners so good. A lot of anime nowadays struggle with telling a complete story. They either spiral into filler hell or they leave you with a disappointing cliffhanger, along with the hope for a sequel that may never see the light of day.

Now, coming on to the titular question - did Cyberpunk: Edgerunners truly deserve a second season? Was it really necessary to reopen an already closed door?

In the traditional sense of "deserving," sure. It was one of, if not the most popular and beloved, shows of 2022. Critics loved it. It boosted the sales of the Cyberpunk 2077 game to an unprecedented level. People all over the world were religiously streaming the song "I Really Want to Stay at Your House" for hours on end.

So, why not? Why not bring the show back? From a business standpoint, a second season for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners sounds like a no-brainer. As the saying goes, strike while the iron's hot, right?

But here's the thing - just because something was great doesn't mean we need more of it. Sure, the news about the show coming back for a second season did take the internet by storm. People are excited, and the world's talking about Cyberpunk once again.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2: Do we really need more Night City?

The announcement came from the anime's social media handle on X (formerly Twitter) on July 5, 2025, and it got a lot of people debating whether it's a good move on Studio Trigger's part. While nobody's really doubting their ability to deliver another visual spectacle, some are questioning whether it was actually even necessary in the first place.

Fortunately, it was confirmed that Season 2 will be a standalone 10-episode story. In other words, the previous cast of characters (or whoever's left, that is) wouldn't be dragged back into the upcoming new season to partake in yet another tragedy. Their story is over, and the narrative will now focus on a new set of doomed characters.

Now, a brand-new cast of characters in a new story and setting could certainly work. After all, Night City is big enough, cruel enough, and definitely twisted enough to host a dozen different tragic tales. However, the risk of the magic fading is real.

The emotional impact of Edgerunners wasn't just in the world-building or even the visuals - it was in how contained it all felt. And a sequel risks watering it down. We have already seen that happen with many shows. A second season for a massively popular show gets announced, fans get excited, and what follows is a hollow echo of what made the original special.

Think about what happened with Squid Game - a dystopian thriller drama that went downhill the moment it became a worldwide sensation and got a follow-up season. Sometimes, it's better to let a great story end gracefully than try to Frankenstein it into a franchise.

Final Thoughts

But hey, all this doesn't mean that Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2 will be bad. In fact, it can be even better than its predecessor. And of course, the entire world - no matter what they think of the upcoming sequel - will still be seated when episode 1 hits the screens.

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However, this time, many will walk into it with lowered expectations and a bucket of skepticism. After all, not every success needs a sequel. Sometimes, one perfect, painful season is all we need to remember how brilliant a story was.

So, did Cyberpunk: Edgerunners deserve a second season? Sure. But did it need one? Absolutely not.

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