Cyberpunk 2077

Game cover: Cyberpunk 2077

Description

Cyberpunk 2077 is a single-player, open-world, first-person shooter, role-playing game set in Night City - a sprawling neon-lit metropolis dominated by megacorporations, gangs, and advanced cybernetic technology. The player portrays V, a mercenary whose appearance, background, and voice are fully customizable. Following a botched job, V becomes bound to a prototype biochip containing the digital ghost of rockstar-rebel Johnny Silverhand, a long-dead insurgent who is voiced by and modeled after Keanu Reeves. The struggle for survival and control over the biochip propels the narrative forward as V navigates shifting alliances, betrayals, and the unstable social and political structure of Night City.

Gameplay unfolds in a first‑person perspective, blending exploration, branching dialogue, hacking, vehicular travel, and combat. Players may freely traverse Night City’s six major districts, tackling story missions or engaging in side content offered by fixers, gangs, or ordinary citizens. Combat includes ranged options such as pistols, smart guns, and shotguns, as well as melee weapons like blades and blunt instruments. Cybernetic augmentations allow V to enhance mobility, reflexes, survivability, and unlock abilities such as double‑jumping, sliding, or tactical repositioning. These augmentations, installed by "ripperdocs," can be tailored to complement different playstyles.

Progression is anchored by a versatile role‑playing system in which attribute points are distributed among categories like Body, Reflexes, Technical Ability, Intelligence, and the Cool attribute. Each attribute unlocks unique perks and shapes V’s specialization, whether it be brute strength, stealth infiltration, hacking, or marksmanship. Weaponry and armor are acquired through looting, purchasing, crafting, or upgrading, with rarer items granting enhanced performance and bonuses.

A defining feature is the netrunning system, the immersive hacking mechanic. Equipped with a cyberdeck, V can breach enemy systems to disable cameras, distract guards, manipulate machinery, or execute offensive hacks that overheat enemies or disable their gear - enabling playstyles ranging from stealthy infiltration to full‑scale combat.

Dialogue branches and player‑driven choices significantly affect quest outcomes, relationships with fixers, faction reputations, and the unfolding of the story. Side content includes acquiring vehicles, racing, boxing matches, bounty hunting, and a variety of street‑level missions. Collectibles, called shards, expand Night City’s lore and add narrative depth.

The Update 2.0 patch in September 2023 overhauled core systems, including perks, cyberware, UI, balance, police and enemy AI, vehicle combat, and more, while also solving numerous bugs and performance issues. The paid Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty expansion introduces a new district called Dogtown, additional quests, the Relic skill tree, new quickhacks, vehicles with mounted weapons, and raised the level cap to 60. It also enables a new ending depending on the player's decisions.

Game Info

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PlayStation 42020Stadia2020Windows2020Xbox One2020PlayStation 52022Xbox Series2022