5 Essential Cyberpunk TV Shows to Watch Before Apple TV’s Neuromancer

William Gibson’s Neuromancer, the novel that launched the cyberpunk genre, imagined a dark future dominated by powerful corporations, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge technology. Now, this groundbreaking story is coming to Apple TV in early 2027.

If you’re excited about the upcoming Neuromancer series on Apple TV+, there are lots of other great shows to enjoy while you wait! These recommendations offer similar themes – from exploring virtual worlds to surviving after the end of civilization – and will get you prepared for what’s considered a landmark achievement in the genre.

Almost Human Offers a Faithful Take on Cyberpunk Tropes

The show Almost Human is set in the year 2048 and centers around John Kennex (Karl Urban), a police officer who comes out of a 17-month coma to find himself partnered with an incredibly realistic android cop. As he deals with gaps in his memory, Kennex relies on his new partner and begins to reconnect with his own humanity.

If you enjoyed games like Detroit: Become Human, you’ll likely love the show Almost Human. It’s a single-season series that perfectly captures the classic cyberpunk feel with its focus on futuristic technology, corruption, and people with special abilities. Think of it as a detective show with a strong buddy-cop dynamic, all wrapped in a dark and gritty style. Even though it was canceled after just one season, Almost Human is still highly recommended for anyone who likes thought-provoking, high-tech cyberpunk stories.

Blade Runner: Black Lotus Expands Its Cyberpunk Franchise

Inspired by Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Blade Runner: Black Lotus centers on Elle (Jessica Henwick), a woman who wakes up with no memory of who she is or why she’s there. Set in a bleak version of 2032, she’s both trapped and pursued as she searches for answers about her lost past.

The Adult Swim series pays homage to Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, but it also builds upon the story by exploring what life was like before Niander Wallace started making his replicants.

If you’re a fan of Blade Runner, don’t miss Blade Runner: Black Lotus. This single-season anime delivers everything fans expect – a gritty, rain-filled future and thought-provoking questions about life itself. With strong voice acting from Arisa Shida, Shinshu Fuji, and Will Yun Lee, it’s a visually stunning and compelling story that dives into the complexities of memory, power, and what justice really means.

Love, Death & Robots Is a Gripping Cyberpunk Anthology

Released on Netflix in 2019, Love, Death & Robots is a collection of animated shorts exploring science fiction, horror, cyberpunk, and dark humor. Created by different directors, the show’s 45 episodes all connect to the themes of love, death, and robots, and often present inventive and thought-provoking ideas about technology and its effects on the world.

This four-season Netflix series delivers unique and mind-bending cyberpunk stories. Expect everything from epic battles against monsters to the unsettling consequences of a world with too many people living forever. It’s perfect for those who enjoy the stranger side of the genre, as each episode offers something completely different.

Dark Angel Was a Cyberpunk Series Ahead of Its Time

The series Dark Angel is set in a troubled 2019 and centers on Max Guevara (Jessica Alba), a young woman with genetically enhanced abilities. She escaped from a secret research lab when she was a child and now lives on the streets, fighting to survive. She eventually seeks out others who also escaped from the facility, hoping to find a new direction in life, free from the control of those who created them.

Dark Angel is a captivating show with intense drama reminiscent of the X-Men series. The main character, Max, is a compelling vigilante – strong on the outside but secretly vulnerable – who dedicates herself to helping others while dealing with the challenges of a broken world. With excellent writing and acting, it’s a fantastic series that holds up even today.

Altered Carbon Delivers on Its Ambitious Premise

The series Altered Carbon is based on Richard K. Morgan’s 2002 novel. It centers around Takeshi Kovacs, a former soldier who has been held as a digital prisoner for 250 years. He’s given a new chance at life when he’s transferred into the body of wealthy Laurens Bancroft, but with one condition: he must investigate Bancroft’s death.

Okay, so this show really grabbed me. It takes this incredibly unsettling but captivating idea and just runs with it. Seriously, the visuals are stunning – think neon lights, crazy tech, and a really decadent vibe. But beyond the style, it’s a fast-paced story that really digs into the huge gap between the rich and the poor. It only lasted two seasons on Netflix, which is a shame, but those seasons are packed with action and thought-provoking stuff.

With strong performances from Joel Kinnaman and Anthony Mackie, who both brilliantly portray the character of Kovac, Altered Carbon is a creatively crafted show. It’s a captivating series filled with mystery, a dark, noir atmosphere, and compelling ideas, making it a must-watch for fans of cyberpunk.

2026-07-29 22:06