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The 10 Best Games Like Cyberpunk

Published

1 year ago

August 10, 2023

What are the best games like Cyberpunk 2077?

Fans of the cyberpunk genre know what they want in their games: seedy, exciting stories set in futuristic, dystopian landscapes.

Cyberpunk 2077‘s release was mired in bad press because of excessive bugs, but it still flew off virtual shelves to eager gamers.

That’s enough evidence to prove players need a strong list of similar games they can turn to when they’re done exploring Night City.

The 10 Best Games Like Cyberpunk 2077

The cyberpunk world is vast, spanning books, films, graphic novel series, and games, and each story offers memorable characters in a troubling near future.

Today, we’re looking at the top titles you must play if you’re a fan of this amazing genre of cyberpunk games.

We have a trusted process for analyzing data to find the titles that will matter the most to you.

And now, it’s time to get serious with the top ten best games like Cyberpunk 2077:

10. République

If you’re into games with stealth, horror, and grimy dystopian settings, then you need to check out what République has in store for you.

The first episode of this five-part adventure came out in 2013, and fans didn’t get to see the ending until 2016, which sounds absolutely painful.

Luckily for all of us, that was years ago, and now the publishers have released a complete edition, so we can binge the entire thing all weekend, if we want.

With lots of world-building that is reminiscent of any totalitarian dystopian classic you can think of, this game ramps up the tension in every scene.

Designer and writer Ryan Payton has stated that George Orwell’s novel 1984 was an inspiration for the story, and that vision is easy to see.

There’s also stealth-spiration from the series Metal Gear Solid, which has produced one of the best video games of all time on any platform.

That’s perfect for a stealth game intended for mobile platforms, where players are constantly aware of the real possibility of being heard or tracked.

9. Citizen Sleeper

This 2022 RPG actually uses a dice-based system to move through the story about the Sleeper who is a human in a robot body.

Depending on the choices you make throughout the game, there are several different endings you might encounter, upping the replayability here.

The designer and writer of the game said they wanted to explore side characters in traditional science fiction games like Mass Effect.

That’s great, as Mass Effect has given us plenty of great sequels and some of the best Mass Effect 3 mods are well worth playing.

Citizen Sleeper’s writer said they were also inspired by anthropologist Anna Tsing’s book, The Mushroom at the End of the World.

Those are some weighty examples of source materials, and that’s why the game turned out to be such a remarkable and interesting story.

At the 23rd Game Developers Choice Awards, it won the Social Impact Award and received honorable mention for several top awards.

8. System Shock 2

System Shock 2 is the 1999 sequel to – you guessed it – System Shock, and the series is one of the best examples of cyberpunk gaming.

It went on to be known as one of the best sci-fi RPG games ever made, thanks to its story and gameplay, so that’s reason enough to give it a try.

You play as a soldier on a starship in the distant future, where you’re facing the horrors of an uncontrolled infection outbreak on board.

With an emphasis on exploration and first-person perspective combat, gamers in System Shock 2 attempt to survive what seems like the unsurvivable.

There’s also a fun hacking minigame that’s right at home in the cyberpunk world and tends to make fans of the genre salivate.

Game of the Year awards fell onto this title like rain in a thunderstorm, solidifying its legacy in the science fiction gaming world.

In case you need any more of a push to play, BioShock is considered the “spiritual successor” to this amazing series – enough said.

7. Cloudpunk

It’s the undeniable cyberpunk atmosphere and dystopian world-building that really wins Cloudpunk its place on this list of best games like Cyberpunk 2077.

Enjoy your new job as a futuristic delivery driver in a city where you’ll take on different challenges to try to earn money.

Critics didn’t love some of this title’s elements, from its lackluster story to its sometimes clunky design, but they agreed the visuals were spot on.

Other reviewers felt it was a winner, though, and they listed Cloudpunk among the best video games of the entire year in 2020.

However you feel about the controls and plot, there’s no arguing that the overall game is a lot of fun and absolutely worth a play through.

Fans of the Blade Runner films specifically will find a lot to love here, as the world is at times plucked right out of that universe.

In case you want more of that vibe, power up your PC and install one of the best GTA 5 mods out there: Blade Runner.

6. Invisible, Inc.

Any fan of the world’s best alien war tactics series should check out the list of best games like X-COM to find more great titles.

You’ll find Invisible, Inc. listed there because the turn-based tactical mechanics were inspired by much of the gameplay in X-COM.

This isn’t an X-COM clone, however; Invisible, Inc. is an exciting espionage mission game that encourages more stealth than fighting.

Cyberpunk 2077 players want to pick this one up because of its hacking skill that plays an important role in the stealth movements.

Released in 2015, this is still a game that gets regular play, as it came to the Nintendo Switch several years later.

From recon to equipment gathering, even mission preparation is part of the fun for each operation you need to complete.

There’s something thrilling about the covert missions the story sends you on, and the puzzling scenarios players have to get through safely.

5. Final Fantasy VII Remake

If you already loved the original Final Fantasy VII game from 1997, then chances are you’ve already played the remake at least once by now.

The long-awaited Final Fantasy VII Remake did not disappoint die-hard fans, which is impressive, considering how dedicated a following this game has.

And, while it’s more of a dystopian fantasy than a cyberpunk story, there is plenty for Cyberpunk 2077 gamers to love in the setting and mechanics.

You play as the iconic Cloud Strife, who joins a group of eco-terrorists bent on bringing down the evil Shinra Corporation that’s destroying the world.

From stealth missions to complex combat and so much more, this game is rich with stories and things to do as you explore the impoverished city.

Cyberpunk genre lovers will particularly enjoy the sci-fi-esque aesthetic that runs throughout the slums of Midgar, where Cloud’s friends live and run their resistance.

The much-loved character Aerith always appears with the only flowers in the game, driving home the dystopian feel of the rest of the environment.

4. Ghostrunner

This wall-running, action platformer came out in 2020 to great success with players who loved its challenging difficulty and unique mix of gameplay mechanics.

Climb the tower that houses the evil Keymaster to uncover secrets and – with any luck – help humanity survive in this dystopian future.

Ghostrunner is a true cyberpunk adventure, and fans of the genre will enjoy learning about the bad guys they’re working against.

A story about the upcoming release in Forbes noted that the wall-running is reminiscent of one of the best FPS PS4 games, Titanfall 2.

It’s very much its own game, though, and critics praised it for featuring excellent world-building and tricky difficulty levels that kept players coming back for more.

The game soon came to be known as one of the most challenging of the year, as gamers struggled to complete levels and shared their best tactics online.

Only the best games are able to walk the thin line between enjoyably hard and frustratingly hard – and Ghostrunner hits that perfect balance.

3. Dex

Critics were divided on this game, with some calling it one of the best games of 2015, and others flat-out accusing it of being “dull.”

Dex is the name of the protagonist in this 2D side-scroller, and as we learn more about her story, the real cyberpunk elements shine through.

Of course, there’s an evil corporation and a friendly hacker ally, but this is much more than stereotypical tropes lumped into a video game.

Though it’s a platformer, the story takes on a non-linear structure, and gameplay encourages exploration, which is always exciting in an RPG.

That’s right; it’s also a role-playing game – Dex manages to blend several styles and genres into one epic experience that’s totally unforgettable.

It was originally funded through a Kickstarter campaign in 2012, and then eager fans waited until 2014 for the early release to begin.

Later, in 2020, we got a Nintendo Switch version, much to the excitement of everyone who was bored out of their minds in lockdown at the time.

2. Observer

Let’s head back into the scary side of things with Observer, a psychological horror game in first-person perspective from 2017.

It’s a fantastic example of how cyberpunk stories can be more frightening than classic sci-fi usually is, and we are so here for it.

In Observer, you get to hack people’s minds – but don’t worry because it’s totally legal, as you’re a detective on the Observers force.

Whether it’s ethical is another question you’ll get to ponder as you work through cases and face facts your character probably doesn’t want to know.

Actor Rutger Hauer stars in this game, lending a distinct Blade Runner vibe with his voice alone (he played the antagonist in the film).

There’s plenty of tension in this hacking game that plays out as a murder mystery in the kind of future that nobody wants to become real.

It’s definitely worth your time if you’re looking for more games like Cyberpunk 2077 to scratch that particular genre itch.

1. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Published in 2016, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is part of the larger Deus Ex series, which was the gift that just kept giving.

This is a direct sequel to Deus Ex: Human Revolution, so newcomers might want to pick up the earlier installments first.

If you play the whole Deus Ex series, you’ll find it’s also one of the best games like Detroit: Become Human, another great cyberpunk nod.

In Mankind Divided, you’ll get to experience human augmentations that increase hacking abilities, which, let’s be honest, is what most of us are here for.

The cyberpunk genre is filled with dirty streets, robot cashiers, and flying cars, but when it comes to gaming, hacking is where it’s at.

That’s not all you’ll do in Mankind Divided, though, so be ready for plenty of good, old-fashioned stealthing, shooting, and more.

We think Cyberpunk players will have a great time with this series, and this installment, in particular, because it’s essentially a love letter to the genre.