Cyberpunk is a subgenre of sci-fi generally set in a dystopian future. Philip K. Dick’s proto-cyberpunk novelDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?was released in 1968 and is probably the starting point of such a genre. The gaming debut of cyberpunk happened in 1982 with the release of Cyborg, a text-based adventure.
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Four decades later, video games have evolved exponentially, and the nowadays benchmark is CDPR’sCyberPunk 2077. An immersive, broad open-world title that exquisitely embodies and further modernizes the themes and aesthetic of such a setting: strong contrast between poverty and luxury, body and mind augmentations, gray morality, high technology, and loss of humanity. If you liked 2077 or Edgerunners, you can’t miss these games.
10VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
The list is served: the first ingredient of this cocktail is VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action, an intriguing indie visual novel made by Sukeban Games. A dystopian story that unfolds almost entirely at the bar counter since, besides being an interactive dialogue-driven adventure,VA-11 Hall-Ais a bartender simulator.
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The storytelling is fascinating, and the story woven by Jill and her customers is compelling, while the beautiful soundtrack made of electronic music contributes to the immersion and the atmosphere. However, the gameplay revolves around one mechanic, and its repetitiveness holds this title to the bottom of the standing.
9Ghostrunner
The next course of this Cyberpunk menu is the opposite of the previous entry and offers an adrenaline-filled, immersive, and challenging title.Ghostrunnerrecalls the parkour experiences ofMirror’s Edge, declining them in a thrilling action game where a single blow makes the difference between life and death.
Namely, one single hit is enough to both kill and be killed. Hence, the game mechanic makes Ghostrunner a title that is exciting but frustrating at the same time and an experience where a trial-and-error approach can take over in your climbing to the Dharma Tower.
The epinephrine runs wild in the title developed by Reikon Games:Ruineris a thrilling fast-paced game that revolves around a twin-stick shooter structure accompanied by some minimal RPG elements.
While the title features cut-to-the-bone and not-so-inspired writing, the gameplay is galvanizing and brings to the table the killing flow and rhythm of Hotline Miami in a cyberpunk way. A single man that must kill the boss of a mega-corporation is an already-seen styling cue, but it serves its purpose and concurs with the creation of this small and rough indie gem.
7Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
Ubisoft delivered a great take on the retro-futuristic and nostalgia-filled cyberpunk distinctive of the movies of the 80s. Rex Colt, the protagonist of Blood Dragon, is the synthesis of the stereotypical action-men that ruled in the theatres and VCRs at home at that time.
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The shooter is a spin-off of the award-winningFar Cry 3made iconic by the villain Vaas Montenegro, and delivers an over-the-top experience dominated by electronic music, neon, laser beams, and cyber-commandos. Every corner of the game exudes exquisite quotations from the 80s, and the experience offered might not be deep, but it is priceless fun.
6Technobabylon
Technobabylon is an adventure game and is the last name to appear in the bottom half of this standing. Dave Gilbert, the designer of this title and founder of the indie studio Wadjet Eye Games, delivered a fascinating, mature, and immersive Cyberpunk point-and-click adventure that stands as one of his best works together with the last chapter of the Blackwell series and the recent Unavowed.
The quality of the writing and the charm of the clever puzzles offer an experience that, despite its graphics and its slightly fragmentary episode-like narrative, deserves a spot in this list.
5The Red Strings Club
Deconstructeam, another indie game developer focused on point-and-click and pixel art adventures, opens the top five. After the fascinating and experimental Gods Will Be Watching, delivers The Red Strings Club, a cyberpunk narrative-oriented experience that provides philosophical food for thought.
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Donovan and Brandeis, the main characters of this story, move their steps in an immersive and beautifully crafted small world that embodies the atmosphere of the cyberpunk setting. Despite its short duration and some tripping in the gameplay, through inspired dialogues and a deep plot, this title manages to give you hours that you will not easily forget.
4Shadowrun: Dragonfall
Shadowrun is one of the longest-running cyberpunk franchises. It was born as a tabletop role-playing game that combines cyberpunk, sci-fi, and urban fantasy in 1989 and gotits first video game adaptation, as a SNES title, in 1983.
After a forgettable FPS game released in 2007,Shadowrunstarted to shine brightly again with an immersive and flexible tactical RPG that is not bonded to a class system and features challenging turn-based combat. Dragonfall manages to be faithful to its pen-and-paper roots and setting and boasts compelling writing and appealing character development.
3Citizen Sleeper
The podium of the cyberpunk experiences welcomes Citizen Sleeper to its last spot. Jump Over The Age crafted a small gem of narrative that is deeply rooted in the novels of the 20th century and takes inspiration from the modern incarnations of cyberpunk games and stories.
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The messages that lie in the foundation of the writing and the important themes that are present in the game, concur to offer a strong thought-provoking that speaks about existentialism, capitalism, and dystopian scenarios. Despite having a simple gameplay structure and mechanics,Citizen Sleepergives the best of itself through a deep and charming TTRPG experience.
2Observer: System Redux
The title developed by Bloober Team is probably one of the most true-to-the-setting cyberpunk games available, whose decadent, hopeless, and dark atmosphere can be hardly matched.Observeris a dystopic thriller and an investigation game that features the legendary and ever-lamented Rutger Hauer as its protagonist, the iconic anti-hero replicant of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner.
An enthralling story, deep dialogues, and themes accompany Detective Lazaraski in a spiral of sorrow and death. You will face the mysteries hidden in a tenement building steeped in anguish and horror while shedding light on what happened to the Observer’s son.
1Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Adam Jensen, the augmented agent of an anti-terrorist intelligence team, stares at the other titles from the highest spot on this list.Deus Ex: Human Revolutionis the third installment of the homonymous franchise and the prequel of the critically acclaimed Deus Ex released in 2000.
The game developed by Eidos-Montréal brilliantly embodies every dark topic of the cyberpunk narrative: transhumanism and the impact on the ethics that exacerbates the social gap issues, together with conspiracy theories and mega-corporations that rule the world. The gameplay is diverse, featuring FPS elements, stealth sections, and RPG progression, all surrounded by extraordinary world-building.
