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Grab your augmentations and put on your best outfit. Here are some of the best cyberpunk games, from modified shoot-em-ups to bartending sims.
A cyberpunk game is a type of video game that takes place in a futuristic, dystopian world with both advanced technology and a corrupt and oppressive social order. These games often look at things like artificial intelligence, hacking, cyborg upgrades, and how technology affects society.
Cyberpunk games often have a mix of things to do, like exploring, fighting, hacking, and making choices that affect the story. Most of the time, you have to move through futuristic cities, fight or sneak around, hack into systems to get information or change the environment, and talk to different people and groups.Even though combat and action are popular in cyberpunk games, those aren’t the only things that can be in them.
Cyberpunk games often let the player make choices, have stories that go in different directions, and look at how technology affects society. They might also have puzzle-solving, stealth, and role-playing parts where players can change their character’s skills and make moral decisions that affect the story.
Best Cyberpunk games Comparison Table
Product | Genre | Setting | Multiplayer |
---|---|---|---|
Stray | Adventure | Cyberpunk City as a Stray Cat | Single Player |
Signalis | Horror, Adventure | Dystopian Cyberpunk | Single Player |
The Ascent | Action, RPG | Vertical Cyberpunk World | Co-op and Single Player |
Blade Runner | Adventure | Futuristic Cyberpunk City | Single Player |
Neuromancer | Adventure | Dystopian Cyberpunk | Single Player |
Syndicate | Action, Strategy | Dystopian Cyberpunk | Single Player, Multiplayer |
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action | Simulation, Visual Novel | Cyberpunk Bar | Single Player |
Stray
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Unique Perspective | Stray offers a unique perspective, allowing players to experience the world as a stray cat navigating a cyberpunk city. |
Immersive Cyberpunk Setting | Explore a beautifully crafted cyberpunk cityscape filled with neon lights, futuristic technology, and intriguing mysteries. |
Stealth and Puzzle Gameplay | Engage in stealth and puzzle-solving gameplay as you uncover the secrets of the city and interact with its inhabitants. |
Emotional Narrative | Experience an emotional narrative that delves into themes of identity, friendship, and the relationship between humans and AI. |
Atmospheric Soundtrack | Immerse yourself in the cyberpunk atmosphere with an atmospheric and captivating soundtrack. |
Most of the games on this list are quite old, and some of them are true classics. However, cyberpunk is making a comeback, and Cyberpunk 2077 is leading the way (it’s further down). Because of this, one of the best games of 2022 is a unique cyberpunk story where you play as a cat. It was even nominated for best game at The Game Awards.
Yep. It’s easy to see why a game with a unique and on-trend pitch has made a name for itself in the gaming world in 2022. You can read our full thoughts on Stray in our review. Shortly, though, this indie hit from BlueTwelve Studio follows you, a cat, as you meow-ander (meander? I know, it didn’t work) through a cyberpunk city full of robots in the future, trying to find your way out and back to humanity.
The Good
- The idea of playing as a stray cat in a cyberpunk world is an interesting one.
- Visuals and environments that are beautifully made.
The Bad
- Some players might get bored with how the game works after a while.
Signalis
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Atmospheric Horror | Signalis combines cyberpunk aesthetics with psychological horror, creating a unique and chilling gameplay experience. |
Retro-inspired Graphics | Enjoy visually stunning retro-inspired pixel art graphics that evoke a sense of nostalgia while maintaining a dark and futuristic atmosphere. |
Nonlinear Storytelling | Dive into a nonlinear narrative that unfolds through exploration, puzzle-solving, and encounters with mysterious characters. |
Survival and Resource Management | Manage resources carefully as you navigate dangerous environments and face otherworldly threats. |
Haunting Sound Design | Immerse yourself in the haunting and immersive sound design that enhances the atmospheric horror experience. |
Signalis, unlike Stray Best Cyberpunk games, looks a lot like the original pixelated games on this list. It’s a cyberpunk game with a retro look that came out in 2022 and is underrated to boot. Signalis, which came out in October 2022 but hasn’t gotten much attention since, is not only one of the best cyberpunk games but also one of the best horror games.
Signalis is a lot like early Resident Evil in that it takes you from room to room in a deserted government building, where you have to solve puzzles to find out what’s going on and complete your own job. You play as a Replika machine called Elster, which is looking for its human partner, called Gestalt. As you collect diary entries, business memos, and other items, you find out that the facility and the Replikas inside have been infected with disease, making them almost impossible to kill as you move through the map.
The Good
- Style of pixel art that is spooky and beautiful.
- Psychological horror elements add to the story’s interest and complexity.
The Bad
- The level of difficulty can be hard, which could put off some players.
The Ascent
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Co-op Action | Team up with friends in seamless co-op gameplay, taking on missions and challenges together in this top-down cyberpunk action game. |
Massive Cyberpunk World | Explore a sprawling and vertical cyberpunk world filled with diverse districts, factions, and intricate details. |
Intense Combat and Looting | Engage in fast-paced and frenetic combat encounters, utilizing a wide variety of weapons and abilities to defeat enemies and earn loot. |
Character Progression | Progress and customize your character’s skills, abilities, and equipment as you level up, becoming a formidable force in the cyberpunk world. |
Even though it’s Best Cyberpunk games a twin-stick shooter with a high camera angle, The Ascent is one of the most beautiful cyberpunk games out there because of its detailed and well-lit cityscape, which is heavily inspired by Ridley Scott and other great sci-fi films.
It follows the genre’s tendency toward extreme violence, and the gameplay is squelchy, cruel, and a lot of fun. Even though it was made by a small core team of about 12 people, The Ascent is a surprisingly deep RPG with many different play styles, weapons, and stats to mix, tweak, and master.
The Good
- A cyberpunk world that is both beautiful and full of detail.
- Combat mechanics that are fun and move quickly.
The Bad
- Performance issues and bugs can sometimes make it hard to play.
Blade Runner
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Atmospheric Cyberpunk Setting | Immerse yourself in a dark and gritty cyberpunk world inspired by the iconic Blade Runner universe. |
Detective Gameplay | Assume the role of a detective, investigating complex cases and making critical decisions that shape the narrative. |
Branching Storylines | Experience multiple branching storylines with choices that have far-reaching consequences, leading to different outcomes. |
Engaging Characters | Interact with memorable characters, each with their own motivations, secrets, and unique personalities. |
Stunning Visuals | Enjoy visually stunning graphics that capture the essence of the cyberpunk genre, with detailed cityscapes and futuristic aesthetics. |
In this Best Cyberpunk games creative point-and-click adventure game, Ray McCoy hunts a group of rogue replicants through the rainy streets of Los Angeles. Even though Blade Runner riffs a lot on the movie it’s based on, that’s kind of what makes it interesting.
It’s worth it because you can explore a beautiful recreation of Ridley Scott’s important work while listening to Vangelis. It’s heaven to walk out onto your deck and look at LA while the music soars. The “enhanced edition” that came out in 2022 was a bit of a disappointment.
The Good
- A classic and important cyberpunk movie with a gripping noir plot.
- The movie has beautiful cinematography and a dystopian feel.
The Bad
- Some people may find the pace slow, especially in the director’s cut.
Neuromancer
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Hacking and Cyber Intrigue | Immerse yourself in the world of hacking and cyber intrigue, where your skills determine your success in a dystopian future. |
Intricate Narrative | Experience an intricate narrative inspired by William Gibson’s seminal cyberpunk novel, featuring complex characters and thought-provoking themes. |
Virtual Reality Exploration | Dive into virtual reality environments, navigating through digital landscapes and uncovering hidden secrets. |
Cybernetic Enhancements | Upgrade your character with cybernetic enhancements, enhancing your abilities and opening up new gameplay possibilities. |
Retro-Futuristic Aesthetics | Enjoy a blend of retro and futuristic aesthetics, creating a unique visual style that captures the essence of the cyberpunk genre. |
This adventure-RPG based on William Gibson’s Neuromancer goes in a different direction than Blade Runner. Its version of Chiba City has some of the same places and details as the book, but it also has a lot of Interplay’s own weirdness. There’s the House of Pong, where Pong Monks have spent decades reflecting on the secrets of the One True Computer Game, and a body shop where you can sell your spleen or tongue for cash.
Which you’ll need because you’re a hacker who has sold your computer because you’re broke. You rebuild yourself by getting software and skill chips, and then you go into cyberspace, where you face AIs that you can beat with your skills in Logic, Philosophy, Phenomenology, and Sophistry. Interplay’s idea of internet was just as strange as its Chiba City.
The Good
- A classic cyberpunk book that set up many of the genre’s tropes.
- Characters that readers care about are deep and well-rounded.
The Bad
- Some parts of the book may move too slowly for some readers.
Syndicate
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Tactical Squad-Based Gameplay | Lead a tactical squad in intense, futuristic battles, utilizing advanced weapons and technology to overcome your enemies. |
Dystopian Corporate Warfare | Immerse yourself in a world of corporate warfare, where mega-corporations vie for power and control in a cyberpunk setting. |
Strategic Decision-Making | Make strategic decisions that impact your squad’s abilities, equipment, and alliances, shaping the outcome of the game. |
Augmentation and Upgrades | Customize and upgrade your agents with cybernetic augmentations and advanced weaponry, enhancing their combat capabilities. |
Co-op and Competitive Modes | Engage in cooperative or competitive multiplayer modes, teaming up with friends or competing against other players in thrilling cyberpunk battles. |
The tactical first-person shooter Syndicate has been called one of the “underrated” games of 2012. It tells the story of Miles Kilo, an augmented agent who works for EuroCorp, a big company that hires killers to kill important people from rival groups. Miles can access the dataverse because he has the DART-6 chip implanted in his brain.
This lets him use his hacking skills to beat enemies and solve puzzles. Players can choose from a wide range of weapons, from current guns to guns from the future, as well as skills that can stun or talk your enemies into doing what you want them to do.
The Good
- A futuristic setting that is unique and draws you in.
- Upgrades, skills, and weapons can all be changed in a lot of ways.
The Bad
- Some technical problems and bugs could make the game less fun overall.
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Unique Bartending Gameplay | Experience a unique gameplay mechanic where you serve drinks and engage in conversations with diverse patrons in a cyberpunk bar. |
Character-Driven Narrative | Engage with a cast of intriguing characters, listening to their stories and forging relationships through dialogue choices. |
Branching Storylines | Your decisions and interactions with patrons affect the branching narrative, leading to different outcomes and multiple endings. |
Retro Pixel Art Aesthetics | Enjoy charming retro pixel art visuals that evoke nostalgia while capturing the cyberpunk atmosphere. |
Evocative Soundtrack | Immerse yourself in a captivating and atmospheric soundtrack that complements the game’s cyberpunk setting and narrative. |
“Overwhelmingly Positive” is how Steam users feel about VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action is a drink-and-shoot game about waifus, technology, and life after a future.
The game looks like Japanese adventure games from the 1990s, and it has a branching plot where your choices don’t depend on normal choices but on the drinks you make. Learn about your customers’ likes and make them a drink that will change their lives. You’ll also get to know how people live in the cyberpunk dystopia of Glitch City.
The Good
- The bartending mechanics are interactive and require the player to make choices.
- There are different choices and endings, so you can play it more than once.
The Bad
- Some players might find the game boring because it’s mostly about mixing drinks.
FAQs
A: Yes, cyberpunk games are made for PC, consoles (like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo), and sometimes even mobile devices. Check each game’s system requirements and platform compatibility to make sure you can play it on your chosen platform.
A: Some cyberpunk games have multiplayer settings that let players work together or play against each other. But not all cyberpunk games can be played with more than one person. Some focus mostly on single-player experiences and stories.