Cowboy Bebop is considered by many to be one of the greatest anime ever made. Despite releasing in the '90s, the show holds up in a modern context due to it tackling many themes and issues that seemed taboo or foreign back when it originally released.
The show follows a group of bounty hunters and lone travelers as they simply try to get by in the universe. The show ran for a single season (and a movie) and fans have been yearning for more, so thankfully there's more than a handful of science fiction and bounty hunting games that might scratch that Cowboy Bebop itch.
10 Death Stranding
The wildest and most abnormal inclusion on this list is likely going to be this entry, Death Stranding. From the mind of Hideo Kojima comes an action game that he describes as a new genre called a strand game.
This science-fiction experience has many hardcore science fiction elements that are reminiscent of a lot of the technology seen in Cowboy Bebop. It may be much stranger and harder to comprehend than the anime, but Death Stranding doesn't stop short of providing a unique take on futuristic gear in a sci-fi world.
9 No Man's Sky
Since Cowboy Bebop was such a condensed and short show, fans have many unresolved questions. That mystery is part of what adds to the legacy of the anime and why it continues to be held in such high regard.
For science fiction fans who want to explore and discover answers to lingering questions on their own, No Man's Sky might be the perfect game for them. It allows players to explore the universe, fly a unique spaceship, and live the life they want to live.
8 Mirror's Edge
Cowboy Bebop is known for its characters and episodic-style story-telling, but it also oozes style at every corner. It feels distinct and unique and the level of cool this show expresses in the fashion, architecture, and character design is hard to see rivaled.
Mirror's Edge is a free-running video game that boasts a bright and vibrant art direction that feels both alien and familiar when compared to that of Cowboy Bebop. It'll also be a game experience you'll likely never have again, just like Cowboy Bebop in terms of anime.
7 Destiny 2
Despite science fiction being rather popular, there aren't many franchises or AAA titles that lean deep into science fiction. Destiny as a whole has many fantastical elements, but it also has a robust sense of self when it comes to displaying a science fiction world full of danger and intrigue.
Players can build whatever guardian they desire and customize it to fit their play style. Who's to say that the person under a set of armor isn't Spike or Faye in an alternate Cowboy Bebop universe where the two continued as bounty hunters.
6 Katana Zero
Back in 2019, Askiisoft released an action-platformer indie game called Katana Zero that focused on quick-paced gameplay and the introduction of a time manipulation mechanic. Among all of the games on this list, Katana Zero certainly is the most independent and is receiving a new DLC in 2021.
The game is set in a neo-noir city in a dystopian future. The main character's design sparks a sense of cool and mystery that is reserved for people such as Spike Spiegel or Jet from Cowboy Bebop.
5 Astral Chain
Astral Chain is as anime as video games come without using an official license. This game, developed by PlatinumGames, was released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch in 2019. In the game, players take on the role of a special task force agent who is responsible for protective humans from inter-dimensional threats and monsters.
The only real connective tissue here between Astral Chain and Cowboy Bebop are the anime roots. The core of the game also focuses on hunting down targets that pose a threat to society.
4 The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds is the latest role-playing game released by Obsidian Entertainment and is their original take on the Fallout series' gameplay and structure. At points in the game, the player acts as a bounty hunter of sorts all while existing in a future full of interplanetary marketing.
The blend of humor and satire of commercialism in a future full of spaceships and sci-fi tech is reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop. If the humor and satire are what made the anime special, then The Outer Worlds is the next logical experience to have.
3 Mass Effect
Though its sequels feel much more in line with the action sequences of Cowboy Bebop, the first entry in the Mass Effect franchise matches the cerebral nature of the anime's philosophical conversation.
The game does a good job of introducing the audience to a unique take on the future of humanity. Cowboy Bebop may not feature aliens, but like Mass Effect, it takes a look at the ramifications of humans perfecting interplanetary space travel and the complexities revolving around economical evolution.
2 Cyberpunk 2077
Despite seeing one of the more humbling releases in terms of AAA video games, Cyberpunk 2077 still provides a unique cyberpunk experience that few other games have managed to achieve. Though it's not exactly like the future seen in Cowboy Bebop, it is a world design that feels like the characters from the anime could be placed into and hit the ground running.
By the end of 2021, it won't be too surprising if someone makes and releases a mod that allows people to play as Spike Spiegel in Cyberpunk 2077.
1 Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 is considered by many to be the greatest science-fiction role-playing game of all time. The space opera of sorts takes players on a journey that has them building a crew that's tasked with taking on a suicide mission to save not only humanity but the entire galaxy.
Like Cowboy Bebop, the core of Mass Effect 2 centers on relationship building, and the audience experiences the strengthening of these bonds firsthand as once strong adversaries become close friends until the bitter end.