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A futuristic dystopia or neon-lit utopia? However you look at the cyberpunk genre, there are plenty of great cyberpunk games to explore this year. Combining the best in high-tech with criminally cool characters, cyberpunk games offer a sci-fi infused sense of escapism for those who like to envision the future. Bring about the brightly lit collapse of society as we know it with this list of the 10 best cyberpunk games you should be playing this year. While these games will run great on PC, they are also available on other platforms, listed here for you to choose from.
#10 The ascent
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
An action packed shooter RPG game, the ascent is set in a cyberpunk world that seems to really push the boundaries of vertical level design. The game’s metropolis is owned and run by The Ascent Group, until the company’s sudden collapse, at least. Players must survive the ensuing chaos in a world filled with creatures and criminals. This is another one of a number of cyberpunk games that utilize the concept of low to high social stratification meaning players have a huge and towering array of neon colored locations to explore and loot as they quest to discover why The Ascent Group disappeared.
#9 Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
In Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, technological developments will take us to the year 2029. In this version of the future, mechanically enhanced humans will absolutely exist and will be considered social outcasts, forced to live as exiles from society. Players take on the role of Adam Jensen, a fortified human and secret agent who must navigate this hostile world to unravel a mysterious conspiracy. It’s fair to say that imagining the state of the world in just seven years may not include cybernetically enhanced humans, but you never know. Anyway, this is a great game with enjoyable stealth action gameplay with cool cyberpunk vibes.
#8 Observer
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC
Observer combines cyberpunk with horror into a gruesome hybrid that brings fear to life in a truly futuristic way. In 2084, set the action Observer is set in a dystopian world where war, plague and poverty are rife across humanity. Players take the role of an elite neural police detective, capable of hacking into the minds of the criminals and madmen they are tasked to track down. Needless to say, all of this makes for quite disturbing and terrifying experiences. If you tend to imagine the future as dark technology where your own thoughts can be used against you, then Observer is the game for you.
#7 Cloud punk
Platforms: Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC
In cloudpunk, players will take on the role of a delivery man for an illegal company operating in Nivalis, a massive cyberpunk city. This is a game that emphasizes exploration and NPC interaction and is definitely more of a storyline than an action experience. That said, the storyline is quite intriguing, although it’s arguably more fun simply exploring the verticality of the city in your ‘HOVA’ or flying car. With society segregated into a system of height-based classes, the farther you fly, the more elite your client or contacts become. This kind of extreme social classification offers an interesting look at a possible future for humanity and gives cloudpunk a thought-provoking world that strays from the city’s captivating cyberpunk aesthetic.
#6 Shadowrun returns
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC
A tactical RPG with turn-based gameplay, Shadowrun returns uses a cyberpunk environment where machines and magic have collided. The action takes place in the year 2054 and technological advancements and corporate greed have plowed through, turning the world into a strange and sprawling mega-metropolis. Fantasy is also common in Shadowrun returns though, as the world has also seen a resurgence of magical and mythical creatures such as dwarves, orcs, and elves. Players will experience the twists and turns of life in this world as they hunt for a mysterious killer. This is an adventure with beautiful art and a unique take on the cyberpunk genre, making it a game well worth playing this year.
#5 Super hot
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC
super hot is a unique style of FPS games where the time in the game environment only moves when the player does, or when a weapon is used. It is a game that uses minimalism at its core, giving players control over the ability to manipulate time and weapons to defeat their enemies. The ability to use such abilities gives this game an inherent cyberpunk feel, and in the later stages, players can switch to an enemy player’s body to avoid death if necessary. This is a cryptically clever game that challenges players to look at the video game play story and wonder who is really controlling who in the gameplay scenario.
#4 Ghost Runner
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC
Ghostrunner sees players step into the role of Jack, a technologically enhanced superhuman swordsman. This game takes platforming to a new level as it is in the first person mode. Players will have to use their lightning-fast reflexes to scale the gigantic Dharma Tower that now houses the rest of the human race after a massive global catastrophe wiped out most of it. This is a cyberpunk game packed with high-stakes combat and high-speed movement in a post-apocalyptic world environment that revolves around the dark side of a high-tech dystopia. It’s definitely one to try if you like up close brutal action and your platforming is infused with a good dose of science fiction.
#3 Cyberpunk 2077
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Stadia, PC
Cyberpunk 2077 was designed as the epitome of the cyberpunk genre. Night City’s main setting is a sprawling neon-hued mega-metropolis that symbolizes a dark future for humanity, however luminous it may seem at first glance. Despite a remarkably rocky launch, Cyberpunk 2077Its compelling world-building, dystopian view of humanity’s future, and compelling overall storyline make it a worthy entry on this list. Visually, this is quite a stunning cyberpunk game, with satisfying combat, consequences-packed choices, and open-world exploration at its core. This is one of the more recent cyberpunk games and is probably best played on the current generation of consoles and on PC. That way you get the most out of the beautiful, glowing graphics and fast-paced action.
#2 Lost
Platforms: PS5, PS4, PC
A game that is taking the scene by storm right now, strayed allows players to become the titular stray cat, deeply lost in a cyberpunk world and trying to find their way out. The feline action takes place in a strange new walled city that is full of high-tech futuristic elements such as machines, robots and strange, sensitive bacteria. The main companion of the playable cat is a small drone, which provides assistance in aspects of world travel and general operations that the cat needs, such as translating, hacking into various technology and providing combat skills if necessary. The cyberpunk setting of the game gives the cat a need to escape from a sense of greater urgency, as this foreboding city certainly isn’t always a welcoming environment for a lost cat, even when beautifully lit.
#1 Detroit: Become Human
Platforms: PS4, PC
Detroit: Become Human focuses on three sentient androids and their adventure through Detroit in the year 2038. Players will experience the city through the eyes of Connor, Kara and Markus, making choices that combine to create a truly gripping narrative experience. While the beautifully detailed and visually stunning backdrop of Detroit in the not-too-distant future will easily satisfy a cyberpunk fan, the central storyline packs a lot of emotional punch. Seeing the world through the lenses of androids becoming human is a fundamental cyberpunk concept. This is one of the most fantastic cyberpunk games to sink into if you want to explore moral and ethical questions about the future of humanity.
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