Everybody knows how dominant Star Wars has been in the sci-fi genre for years, and this huge franchise has inspired countless others to follow suit in exploring space, time, and beyond. While Star Wars itself is still going today having been established back in the 1970s, it does still have plenty of competition, even from sci-fi anime.
As with any genre, anime has the advantage of accentuating and exaggerating the impossible, making out-of-this-world situations even more of a spectacle in some cases. There are plenty of sci-fi anime that have established good universes and characters, but only a select few can compete with Star Wars, or in some cases surpass this storied franchise.
10 Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a mecha anime that pits humanity and their Evangelion machines against alien beings known as Angels. There were 26 episodes in the popular original series, with several movies following since, but these never quite recaptured that same magic.
Neon Genesis Evangelion will always be remembered as the main sci-fi anime of the 1990s, with its tragedy and brutal mecha action living on in the memory years after it debuted. Its ending may have been polarizing in how there was a lack of story resolution, but the overall impact generally wins the day.
9 Dr. Stone
Earth being struck by catastrophe is a standard trope for a movie or series, but Dr. Stone manages to stand out as one of the best sci-fi and post-apocalyptic anime with its unique take. Earth is hit by mass petrification, with science prodigy Senku waking after thousands of years. Senku starts to investigate how this mass petrification of the human race came about and sets about curing it with his knowledge of science.
Dr. Stone takes the core principles of Star Wars in having an underdog take on an impossible task in less-than-ideal circumstances but with unmatched optimism and resolve. As a more recent addition to the genre, Dr. Stone may not be everyone's favorite when the likes of Steins;Gate, and Cowboy Bebop exist, but giving this anime a chance opens the door to a fun and exciting sci-fi experience.
8 Legend Of The Galactic Heroes
Legend of the Galactic Heroes may be an older title of the sci-genre, but this franchise is one of the very best storytelling space operas. The series follows the conflict between the Free Planets Alliance and the Galactic Empire, a matchup that immediately sounds like something straight out of Star Wars.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes shines through its characters and the situations they find themselves in. Exploring the trials and tribulations surrounding humanity's survival and various conflicts in other-worldly situations is often just as good as endless action. In fact, it is its storytelling that has helped Legend of the Galactic Heroes to immense praise and rave reviews over the years, even if the animation and action don't necessarily compete too well with other top sci-fi series.
7 Made In Abyss
Made in Abyss is set in Orth, a town surrounding this huge hole called the Abyss, and what lies below sets the precedent for the entire anime. To many anime fans, Made in Abyss blurs the lines between sci-fi and dark fantasy, but in following adventurous children on their perilous journey into the dangerous Abyss, it is impossible not to fall in love with the series, whatever category it falls into.
Made in Abyss thrives on its mixture of tragedy and wholesome bonds of friendship while charging head-first into the unknown brings a thrilling sense of adventure. Made in Abyss captures that infectious beauty of exploring an unknown and perilous environment, something that Star Wars has valued throughout its entire existence. Yet Made in Abyss is short and direct enough that it never risks the stale factor that sometimes looms over Star Wars, justifying its place among the best sci-fi anime.
6 Ghost In The Shell
There is a reason why both the movie Ghost in the Shell and the series Stand Alone Complex have received such rave reviews: the Ghost in the Shell universe is just that interesting and expansive. Ghost in the Shell is the cyberpunk genre of the '90s and '00s at its very best and ranks high in overall sci-fi.
While both are well worth watching, the movie is a perfect gateway into this spy-thriller world, as Stand Alone Complex is 52 episodes deep and can be intimidating to start. Ghost in the Shell presents a possible future affected by advanced technology and cybernetic enhancements, but with such a reliance on cyberbrains and other parts, comes serious risks of hacking and other attacks. This helps both the movie and series to have an underlying sense of dread and tension throughout, contributing to an exhilarating cyberpunk and sci-fi experience.
5 Code Geass
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion takes place in an alternate timeline, where the world is divided into three superpowers. Of these superpowers, the Holy Britannian Empire is the main focus of this story, as they attack and invade Japan, setting the scene for exiled Britannian prince Lelouch to step up and hit back at those in Britannia who wronged him. Lelouch gains the titular power of Geass which grants him command of anyone and everyone, which raises some moral and ethical dilemmas.
Armed with his power, Lelouch has to navigate the wrath and destruction of the Britannian Empire, while having to deal with loss and obstacles along the way. Code Geass is an exceptional sci-fi mecha anime, that really excels in presenting a complex protagonist who isn't a straightforward hero in the slightest.
4 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Cyberpunk 2077 has been such a polarizing game since its controversial release in 2020, so there was a wave of cautious anticipation from fans surrounding the release of the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime in September 2022. However, despite only being 10 episodes long, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners has wowed and impressed the masses. With Studio Trigger and CD Projekt Red teaming up, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a sci-fi masterpiece.
Edgerunners quickly builds up the wonders and perils of Night City, in a world of cybernetic enhancements and addiction. Characters are introduced and explored to establish meaningful connections, only to have them ripped away for maximum effect and emotional damage. Edgerunners has intense fight scenes and plenty of gore, but a lot of heart and inspiration that makes for an excellent anime that's certainly worthy of Star Wars.
3 Psycho-Pass
Psycho-Pass is another top anime that delves into the cyberpunk sub-genre of sci-fi. It follows the Sibyl System, technology that governs the criminal system by identifying individuals with any ill-intent and arresting them before they can act on potential crimes or general bad deeds. This naturally comes with complications surrounding the difference between good and evil, free will, and the right way to exact justice.
Psycho-Pass is fascinating in its premise, while characters like the protagonist Akane Tsunemori, and the charismatic villain of the piece Shogo Makishima help propel this cyberpunk thriller to new heights. Psycho-Pass may not have the vast space exploration of Star Wars, but the scope of the Sibyl System and its effects help Psycho-Pass feel just as epic, with an unmatched level of intensity throughout.
2 Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is about as close as it gets to creating that Star Wars experience in an anime, besides Star Wars: Visions. Whatever competition there may be in this regard, Cowboy Bebop blows it out of the water. Cowboy Bebop explores the vastness of space on board the titular spaceship, the Bebop, as Spike Spiegel and the crew go on various adventures, but not all of them pleasant.
Cowboy Bebop assumes an episodic format, but each individual story excels in introducing and exploring new characters and how they interact with the regulars. There are overarching narratives involving characters like Spike and Vicious, which helps in threading together this near-perfect show. Arguments can be made for Cowboy Bebop meeting many other genres apart from science fiction, but this neo-noir space-western has clear sci-fi influences, capturing that Star Wars essence in a refreshing new light.
1 Steins;Gate
While it may not compete with the scope or epic scale of Star Wars in terms of space travel and exploration, Steins;Gate instead turns to the concept of time travel. Steins;Gate is one of the very best anime of all time, and is certainly at the very top of the sci-fi genre spanning all media. Following self-proclaimed "mad scientist" Rintaro Okabe, Steins;Gate delves into a psychological thriller as seemingly harmless discoveries into the unknown throw up complexities and very real consequences.
There are very few shows anywhere that keep an audience on the edge of their seat at the first viewing like Steins;Gate does. Steins;Gate's flirtations with unknown quantities and outcomes make it hard to predict, keeping that underlying feeling of dread and tension throughout.