Cyberpunk 2077 launched in 2020, and CD Projekt Red's sci-fi open-world RPG was met with a mixed reception. A lot of the criticism stemmed from the game's poor state on last-generation hardware, along with a handful of missing features; since then, the developer released a few updates and a major expansion that succeeded in turning around Cyberpunk 2077's reputation. In the game, gang wars, corporation wars, and robotics have merged with every aspect of daily life. This title was, by no means, the first to show off this kind of setting.
Top 10 Cyberpunk Video Games
Seeking out a game to suit some particular science fiction needs? Look no further than The Best War Games's rundown of the best cyberpunk video games of all time.
From Deus Ex to Shadowrun, there are plenty of projects out there that trade in futurism, neurotechnology, and capitalist intrigue. Then there are cyberpunk adjacent games like Metal Gear Solid or Killzone. While these titles include elements of cyberpunk, they don't give gamers the full experience.
What are the best games like Cyberpunk 2077 that fans need to play?
While cyberpunk-themed games will be prioritized, the selection will not be limited to that sub-genre. Also, The Witcher 3 has been left out since it is such an obvious recommendation.
Updated on December 26, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Rather than highlighting currently available games similar to Cyberpunk 2077, let's look to the future and point out a few projects that might scratch a similar itch as CD Projekt Red's game. Click below to jump directly to this section.
20 The Ascent
Dense Cyberpunk City
The Ascent
- Released
- July 29, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Neon Giant
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Well-realized World
- Fun Co-Op Option
- Gameplay Takes Some Getting Used To
The Ascent is a top-down cooperative shooter rooted heavily in a cyberpunk theme. The gameplay is a bit hectic at times, with heavy action and shooting elements blended together with RPG mechanics that will let players customize their own characters.
They are skills to unlock and cyberwear to wield that can help reshape how a character plays to better suit a specific play style. Those looking to immerse themselves in another cyberpunk-inspired world after Cyberpunk 2077 will find a lot of visual beauty here.
19 Dishonored 2
Build Fluidity
Dishonored 2
- Released
- November 11, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Arkane Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Free-Roaming Missions With Player Choice
- Blend Of Stealth & Action
- Not Cyberpunk Setting
Although it's not nearly as futuristic and cyberpunk-inspired as Cyberpunk 2077, Dishonored 2 offers players a lot of entertainment via similar gameplay mechanics. Much like Cyberpunk 2077, players will be able to build their character as they see fit, unlocking skills and abilities that adhere to their own personal play style.
Dishonored is mission-based but does offer some explorative moments, allowing gamers to tackle each level as they see fit, deciding whether to do things in a stealthy manner or simply lay waste to their enemies by overpowering them with weapons and magic-like abilities.
18 Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
'80s Action Sci-Fi Cheese, In The Best Possible Way
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
- Released
- April 30, 2013
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Fun, Overthetop Gameplay
- Fairly Open Areas, Despite Following Linear Structure
- Comedic
- Short (Which Can Be A Positive)
Despite a lukewarm response to recent Far Cry games, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon broke the mold in terms of visuals. The game offers a simple plot: "get the girl, kill the baddies, and save the world." More importantly, Blood Dragon delivers frenzied combat action and pretty-to-look-at lasers to boot.
Though it doesn't pose questions about corporations or robotics, it does make players feel like a hero out of a cheesy '80s flick. Blood Dragon is a bit on the short side, which might be a nice refresher after Cyberpunk 2077 and its 40+ hours of gameplay.
17 System Shock 2
Cyberpunk Royalty
System Shock 2
- Released
- August 11, 1999
- Developer(s)
- Irrational Games, Looking Glass Technologies, NightDive Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, FPS
- Fantastic Villain
- Great Environmental Storytelling
- Immersive Sim
- Gunplay Is Dated
This game and its predecessor are basically cyberpunk royalty. The 1999 ARPG incorporated horror elements into its cyberpunk setting aboard a starship in 2114. System Shock featured elements such as hacking, FPS combat, and puzzles. The game also makes use of implants and upgrades to unlock different abilities including psionics.
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Players will never forget the murderous AI SHODAN, who wanted to kill everyone from the first game. The second game has a Russian oligarch resurrect the company that led to SHODAN's creation and is now testing an FTL starship. Unsurprisingly, SHODAN makes a comeback despite the presence of aliens(?), as well. Though old, System Shock 2 is a must-play for fans of the cyberpunk genre.
The System Shock remake is a good option for newcomers who might struggle to play through the original's dated gameplay.
16 Cloudpunk
Immersive Cyberpunk Setting
Cloudpunk
- Rich Cyberpunk Setting
- Gameplay Is Nothing Like Cyberpunk 2077
Cloudpunk has two rules: don't deliver late and DO NOT ask what's in the box. While the game is more like a walking simulator, the setting, voice acting, and sound design are top-notch. Cloudpunk also offers customization options for the HOVA on top of improvements like bumpers.
The city construction is a perfect example of how a cyberpunk future might be conceived. The only downside is that the story is an inch deep and a mile wide. Gamers who want a more in-depth or dynamic experience should look elsewhere.
15 Shadowrun Trilogy
Another Sci-Fi Tabletop Epic
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Shadowrun Returns Shadowrun Dragonfall: Director's Cut Shadowrun Hong Kong Extended Edition Platform(s) PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, Android, Xbox One PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One Released 2013-07-25 2014-09-18 2015-08-20 Developer(s) Harebrained Schemes Harebrained Schemes Harebrained Schemes Genre(s) Tactical, Action RPG Tactical RPG Tactical RPG
Shadowrun Trilogy contains Shadowrun Returns, Dragonfall - Director's Cut, and Hong Kong - Extended Edition. Based on a tabletop RPG franchise, these games are tactical turn-based RPGs that tell largely standalone stories set within different cities. While they build upon each other in terms of mechanics and themes, they can be experienced in isolation.
Although they incorporate a degree of exploration, these titles are rather story-driven, with each one containing a lot of dialogue and character moments as they guide players down a linear path. Shadowrun's writing is generally top-notch, and the series offers a unique blend of sci-fi and fantasy.
14 Transistor
Great Visuals, Great Storytelling
Transistor
- Released
- May 20, 2014
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Strategy
- Beautiful Art
- Challenging Combat That Blends Real-Time Action & Strategy Elements
- Minimal RPG Elements
Though Supergiant Games' most famous hit, Hades, is Greek-inspired, Transistor was the studio's next release after Bastion. It follows a vocalist who lost her voice and a talking sword as they traverse Cloudbank City. The game features a unique turn-based combo combat system, but the setting is also distinctly cyberpunk.
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Everywhere Red goes, these robotic droids hound and impede her. She finds former comrades and enemies who have been "integrated" into The Process. Transistor's backgrounds are gorgeous with a cohesive color palette and Art-Deco styling. Though the narrative doesn't involve cybernetics, the game wrestles with the same questions that any good cyberpunk story needs to address.
13 RoboCop: Rogue City
Love Letter To '80s Cyberpunk
RoboCop: Rogue City
- Released
- November 2, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Teyon
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Sci-Fi
- Authentic Gameplay For RoboCop
- Immersive City Sections
- Not An RPG Like Cyberpunk 2077
Teyon has found a niche in adapting '80s action movies into AA video games. Despite earning a poor reception at launch, Terminator: Resistance has improved since 2019, and fans of the source material craving a competent first-person shooter should consider picking up the Complete Edition. In comparison, 2023's RoboCop: Rogue City did not need to wait a few years to garner appreciation, and it is arguably Teyon's best release to date. It might also be the greatest RoboCop game of all time, which is admittedly faint praise. There is a lot to love about this project, and its value does not disappear if somebody is not familiar with the 1987 movie and its sequels.
Similar to its inspiration, Rogue City takes place in Old Detroit, a cyberpunk setting oozing '80s charm. Violence runs rampant throughout the city, and RoboCop exists to keep the peace, a process that generally involves filling gang members with enough bullets to fill a swimming pool. The campaign consists of two sections: linear story levels and exploration in a sandbox. The former highlights Rogue City's gratifying combat since Teyon, wisely, opted to embrace the protagonist's overpowered nature, allowing players to tank hits while they slowly mow down dozens upon dozens of enemies. The story is nothing special but suits the franchise. Outside these missions, RoboCop heads to the streets in search of minor cases, and the game's sandbox brings to life the movie's setting very well. Old Detroit is nowhere near as large or deep as Cyberpunk 2077's Night City, but it is fun to explore.
12 Citizen Sleeper
Tabletop Spirit, Complex Setting
Citizen Sleeper
- Released
- May 5, 2022
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Developer
- Jump Over the Age
- Translates Tabletop Gameplay Well
- Player Choice
- Very Different Gameplay To Cyberpunk 2077
Although Cyberpunk 2077's tabletop origins are well documented, CD Projekt Red primarily used the source material's setting and themes rather than its gameplay routine (although, this aspect was not completely ignored either). Conversely, Citizen Sleeper plays closer to a traditional in-person RPG, to the point that players start each day by rolling dice to guide their actions for the immediate future. In a space station home to people seeking to escape their overlords, players step into the shoes of a synthetic human who is trying to lie low after escaping the company that owns them.
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Citizen Sleeper adheres to classic role-playing standards by truly immersing people in their new lives. Placing a lot of focus on the protagonist's day-to-day routine, the game encourages players to get to know the locals and explore the minor stories that populate this fascinating world.
11 Stray
A Feline Perspective
Stray
- Unique Perspective For Sci-Fi
- Impressive Visuals
- Underwhelming Combat
A delightful twist on the cyberpunk formula, BlueTwelve Studio's Stray follows a cat that finds itself in an underground city run by robots. While traveling across this world in the hopes of making it back home, the adorable protagonist gets to immerse themselves in an unusual climate, interacting with the locals who are self-aware but also trapped within their city.
A comparatively short experience next to Cyberpunk 2077 or, frankly, most projects that explore this type of setting, Stray tackles themes fairly typical for cyberpunk; however, playing as a cast provides a different perspective from any of its contemporaries. This game is for anyone who wants an action-adventure title rather than a lengthy RPG.