With intriguing leaks giving an insight into the future direction of the game, now isn't a bad time to get invested in its unique world.
Of course, that's just scratching the surface of cyberpunk, an aesthetic that has birthed some of the most amazing titles and franchises in video game history. From Deus Ex series, these are the games that make the best use of this distinctive brand of futuristic dystopia.
Invisible, Inc. (2015)
Inspired by turn-based tactics games like XCOM but with a focus on stealth rather than action, Invisible, Inc. stands out as one of the most solid cyberpunk indie games in recent years. The game is set in the year 2074 and in a world that's now dominated by megacorporations that have overthrown the world's governments.
This turns out to be the perfect setting for high-tech espionage which is a specialty of Invisible Inc. Tasking the player with infiltrating enemy headquarters in each run, the game has a strong emphasis on replayability, with different agents to play as, randomly generated worlds, and a huge variety of builds that can be used.
Citizen Sleeper (2022)
The best cyberpunk game of this year so far, Citizen Sleeper immediately drew attention when it was released in May due to its excellent writing and memorable characters. A tabletop-inspired RPG set on a lawless space station at the fringes of a crumbling interstellar civilization, the game puts the player in the role of an escaped worker who must learn to survive in this environment.
Citizen Sleeper gives the player a ton of freedom as they choose how to spend each cycle on the station and the choices all feel like they have real consequences. Although the gameplay is based around a well-realized resource management system with a strong element of strategy involved, it is the world and the story of Citizen Sleeper that makes it such a striking game.
Observer: System Redux (2020)
Observer is a psychological horror game set in dystopic 2084 Poland where intrusive brain implants are the norm, and if anyone doubted its cyberpunk credentials then the presence of the late Blade Runner actor Rutger Hauer should put those to rest. The titular Observers are a police unit with license to hack into the minds of citizens.
Inspired by iconic cyberpunk movies like Blade Runner but with some distinctive twists of its own, the game puts the player in the position of an Observer named Daniel Lazarski in a noir plot that's full of surprises. Where the game really shines, however, is in the incredible visuals and soundtrack which work together to create a masterful cyberpunk world.
Transistor (2014)
Created by independent studio Supergiant Games, which went on to create the incredible Hades, Transistor is an action RPG centered on the protagonist Red, a singer who is being chased by robot forces hellbent on assassinating her. Her only way to fight back is with a powerful weapon called the Transistor that she comes across stabbed into a man whose consciousness it stole.
There's a lot more to the mysterious plot of Transistor than that though and, as the mysteries reveal themselves, the stylish mix of real-time combat and frozen planning that makes up the gameplay comes into its own. Like Hades, Transistor is a title that uses its unique setting to produce a genuinely memorable gameplay experience.
Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut (2014)
With the Shadowrun Trilogy coming to a variety of platforms later this month, now is the perfect time to get into a series that's heavily inspired by tabletop RPGs. Like the other Shadowrun games, Dragonfall uses a points-based character creation system and turn-based tactics, but its cyberpunk setting and its engrossing noir-style plot are what sets it apart.
With the player in the role of a Shadowrunner in an anarchic future Berlin where he teams up with a shaman, a cyborg, and a troll, Dragonfall leans into the punkier aspects of the cyberpunk aesthetic. However, this doesn't detract from a tense story and the excellent modern CRPG gameplay that makes for an engrossing experience.
Deus Ex (2000)
Before Cyberpunk 2077, System Shock, director Warren Spector had already proved his ability to create paranoid visions of a cyberpunk future but Deus Ex went even further in creating a truly unique sci-fi world where dark conspiracies turn out to be all too true.
The player is put in the shoes of JC Denton, an anti-terrorist operative with a body augmented by nanotechnology, and the gameplay effectively mixes elements of FPS games, RPGs, and immersive simulators. As they are forced to navigate an atmospheric world dominated by AI, nanotechnology, and mysterious factions, Deus Ex provides more twists than anyone could ask for in an extremely entertaining package.
Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)
Although a messy release that included some major issues on previous generation platforms detracted from the title at first, there were plenty of great reasons to be genuinely excited about Cyberpunk 2077. Living up to its name, the game brought fans one of the most ambitious and detailed cyberpunk worlds in games.
Night City is an open-world metropolis where cultures merge and lawlessness reigns. The player is thrust into the middle of it, and it's up to them whether they want to tackle the huge amount of story content or engage with the world in their own way. With tons of new features getting added to Cyberpunk 2077 that only enhance the experience, the game's claim to be one of the best in the genre only gets stronger.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (2021)
A world ruled by evil megacorporations intent on destroying it through their own greed may be a familiar story, especially to fans of cyberpunk, but it was a bold new step for the Final Fantasy series in 1997. Along with the level of storytelling and characters that have made the JRPG series renowned, Final Fantasy VII did an incredible job at bringing this premise to life.
Now Square Enix is reimagining the world with updated visuals that look glorious in the Intergrade edition. Along with an expanded story and updated gameplay that brings in new strategic elements, Final Fantasy VII Remake is easily the best reimagining of an RPG for modern times and Part 2 can't come soon enough.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011)
A prequel to the original Deus Ex but with the advantages of being made over a decade later, Deus Ex: Human Revolution expanded on many of the best parts of its predecessor. The player is put in the role of Adam Jenson, a security officer who is charged with investigating the mysterious attack that forced him to take on a bunch of body augmentations to survive.
Engaging with complex themes related to class struggle and what it means to be human, Deus Ex: Human Revolution displays a depth in its worldbuilding that sures even the original. The game does a great job of dealing with some of the ethical grey areas that come up with a world that is being transformed by new technology, making the impact of the player's choices all the more interesting.
System Shock 2 (1999)
With a remake of the original System Shock reportedly coming later this year, it's the perfect time to recall why the game and its even better sequel are a defining part of the cyberpunk genre in video games. An RPG that's all about surviving in a ship crawling with the parasite-infected crew and the ever-looming threat of the malicious AI known as SHODAN, System Shock 2 is a masterclass in tension.
A compelling mix of action and paranoia, System Shock 2 has a twisted story that set the benchmark for all cyberpunk-themed games made after. Despite aging plenty in the time since they were released, the System Shock games still stand apart from the rest, especially as they are responsible for one of gaming's most terrifying villains.
