Neon Noir is an aesthetic that first emerged out of the Neo-Noir film genre during the 1980s. It creates a dreamlike atmosphere with stylized visuals with a vibrant saturation, neon text, and an overall feeling of existential isolation. Neon Noir is heavily associated with Synthwave , with most Neon Noir media incorporating it to emphasize the loneliness.

Neon Noir combines the dark and mysterious elements of Noir films with a vibrant and futuristic aesthetic akin to neon lights. It has a strong focus on dark scenery that is contrasted by the the vivid and surreal glow of neon sights in the nightlife of cities. Characters are often depicted as only dark silhouettes against a neon-lit backdrop with fog or smoke creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The scenes are sometimes accompanied by rain, which reflects the neon lights and intensifies the contrast between the wet, reflective surfaces and the darkness of the night.

Despite its loud and bright presentation, Neon Noir in media retains the classic elements of the Neo-Noir film genre of violence and characters with moral ambiguity.

If any medium can compete with movies and TV in terms of taking on the Neon Noir aesthetic, it's video games. While most Neon Noir video games look like games that could've been played on an original Nintendo, there are some that have very polished next-gen graphics.