At this point, it is unnecessary to talk about the reasons why Cyberpunk 2077 He ended up disappointing many of the players who waited eagerly for him for so many years. Instead, we are going to recommend other games with a ‘cyberpunk’ setting and themes, so that you can fill with androids, neon colors and dystopian stories, the void that the CD Projekt Red game may have left in you.
Before we start, if you don’t know what does it mean cyberpunk, we highly recommend this article in which we talk about gender and the “sins” committed by many of the works that claim to belong to it.
Without further ado, these are the games cyberpunk they should try.
Deus Ex
We cannot make a list of games of the genre without mentioning its greatest exponent in the middle. This title, directed by the legendary Warren Spector, puts us in the shoes of a government agent who uses nanotechnology to obtain incredible abilities. It is recognized as one of the most important “immersive simulators”. It allows a lot of different approaches to overcome the obstacles of a dystopian world in which all conspiracy theories are reality.
Its sequel, Invisible War, It did not live up to the original. However, we do recommend Mankind Divided and Human Revolution. This duology starring Adam Jensen does a great job with his story about the arrival of transhumanism to the world.
Shadowrun Returns
Shadowrun is another of the big names in the world of ‘cyberpunk’ and began as a role-playing game of paper and pencil. It stands out especially because it mixes the science fiction elements characteristic of the genre with others typical of fantasy, such as the presence of elves and orcs.
The latest titles from the franchise –Shadowrun Returns, Shadowrun: Dragonfall and Shadowrun: Hong Kong— they are excellent role-playing and turn-based strategy games. The plot of the trilogy begins with the investigation of a series of murders that ends up linked to a great conspiracy. A great detail is that the story is in continuity with the video game of the franchise that was released for SNES in 1993.
Syndicate
Another strategy game, this time in real time, which is considered one of the pillars of ‘cyberpunk’ in the world of video games. This Bullfrog title has one of the harshest (and possibly realistic) looks of a dystopian future. Corporations have replaced governments and are expanding their power through the use of violence.
This game had an excellent sequel in 1996 called Syndicate Wars. It also had a “reboot” in 2015 in the form of a shooter game that is best forgotten.
2064: Read Only Memories
Not all ‘cyberpunk’ games should have violent shootouts in dark places. The graphic adventure 2064: Read Only Memories takes place in (partly) happy settings and presents us with very colorful characters. This is a very “millennial” view of the genre.
This is a world in which robots known as ROMs have replaced computers and telephones. The protagonist is a journalist who is investigating the disappearance of his friend: one of the workers of Parallax, the company that created the ROMs.
VA-11 Hall-A
Let’s continue with the genres in which no one would expect to see a ‘cyberpunk’ game. VA-11 Hall-A (Valhalla for friends) is a visual novel and a “waiter simulator” with a marked ‘anime’ aesthetic. The goal is to serve a small bar in a dystopian future, preparing drinks according to the customers’ instructions. But what is really important is its narrative component.
The true grace of this title consists in gradually discovering the personalities of the characters and their stories. It is through them that we get to know the world beyond the walls of the bar.
The Red Strings Club
Another interesting adventure game, this time from the Spanish team Deconstructeam. The world of The Red Strings Club is one especially concerned with the definition of ‘humanity’ in a society where cyber-enhanced people and androids are increasingly common and the option to artificially eliminate emotions, such as anger and depression, is a real thing.
In addition to its interesting approach, this title has beautiful pixel art and great character design.
>Observer_
Who said that a ‘cyberpunk’ story could not also be a horror story? This Bloober Team title – who have a lot of experience scaring thanks to games like Layers of Fear and Blair Witch– is a chilling first-person adventure that shows us the horrors that can inhabit the human mind.
The story takes place in a future Poland controlled by a mega-corporation. The protagonist is a detective who uses a device that can ‘hack’ the minds of other people to interrogate them and discover what they are hiding. As an interesting detail, Rutger Hauer – known for his participation in one of the most important movies cyberpunk of history– He voices the protagonist.
Huntdown
If visual novels and graphic adventures aren’t your thing and you want to shoot more and think less, the excellent Huntdown it is for you. This marvelous indie action game takes the aesthetics of the ’80s cyberpunk’ movies to offer intense shootouts in the crime-controlled areas of a futuristic city.
The characters and (short) dialogue are clearly inspired by action movie classics and that gives it an extra flavor. Plus, his pixel art is one of the best we’ve seen lately. If you want to know more about this title, read our review.
Ghostrunner
Let’s get on with the action. This fast and intense game was developed by the Polish studio One More Level (why is it that so many ‘cyberpunk’ games are made in Poland?).
Our amnesiac protagonist aims to travel a massive skyscraper in which what remains of humanity lives. Its objective is to “rescue” an artificial intelligence. To achieve this, he must move at high speed – running through walls if necessary – and ‘slowing down’ time to avoid bullets and take out all the enemies in his path.
Cloudpunk
Before finishing the list, we leave you with another interesting graphic adventure. In Cloudpunk we control a delivery woman employed by an illegal company who must transport packages and passengers through the airways of a city with her HOVA, a flying car.
In addition to its interesting aesthetics, this game stands out for taking a look at the evolution of the “scavenger economy” that has so many working for apps like Rappi and Uber.
This is just a sample of the large number of ‘cyberpunk’ games out there. In fact, if we get strict with the definitions, the games of Mega Man and Robocop they also belong to this genus. What are your favorites?
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