Sitting here twiddling my fingers before playing my next game, putting up that shelf, or shredding the jungle that is my back garden, I thought, what better way to procrastinate than posting a feature?
Today’s list is: 15 Of The Best Cyberpunk Games Worth Checking Out. Why 15? Because that’s the number I came up with when looking through my site for ideas. There are other cyberpunk games out there, but these are the titles I’ve reviewed and recommend as I’ve played them.
There are a couple of honourable mentions at the end. If you have any recommendations for me, send me a message via the contact form.
Glitchpunk Early Access (Steam)
Let us begin with some nostalgia. A bit of a weird start as we’re focusing on dystopian futures. How can we be nostalgic if it ain’t even happened? Well, my friends, Glitchpunk Early Access is very reminiscent of the original GTA.
Hell yeah, the original GTA is a classic and the mutts when it comes to top-down thievery and mayhem. The only thing better than that is going out and doing it for real. No, don’t do that. Instead, mess with the individual factions in this human/android dystopia full of corruption and organised crime.
Jeitaro
Encodya (Steam)
And our first point and click entry goes to Encodya. Why the fluff is this frequently on sale? Do they need to ship this excellent adventure at a discounted price? I hope not.
Encodya is a beautiful looking game from Assemble Entertainment, featuring a sweet protagonist and very cool robot sidekick/protector. It’s a bit of a challenge in places but should melt the hearts of most adventurers. Give it a try.
Jeitaro
Cyberpunk 2077 (GOG)
How can we mention cyberpunk without the notorious Cyberpunk 2077? I’ve loved this from the get-go, but I never had any technical issues with it via GOG as per my ‘repeat play’ statement.
Looking at the PS Store yesterday, this was on sale for almost half price. Is it still bad on consoles? I don’t know. Again, I got this on GOG And clocked in 60 hours with one of the best first-person experiences I’ve had in the last few years. Superb.
Ruiner (GOG)
A bit of an older game, but it was only last year I finally succumbed to buying Ruiner on PC. What a sharp game it was! A bit like Smash TV, you run through vast complexes, picking up a multitude of BFGs to dispose of enemies in the hope of getting an S ranking. Well, that’s not goal number one.
Your protagonist has been hacked, and as a result, you’ll find that there’s an evil corporation you have to go up against, but that’s not without tussling with the local gangs along the way and some overpowered mechs. Definitely recommended.
Esse Proxy (Steam)
Esse Proxy from FromSouthGames isn’t out yet, but the demo was… wicked. Without looking at my original write-up, the minute I think of the title, Ghost in the Shell comes to mind. Visually, this is a stunner, gameplay-wise, it’s a beast.
Undoubtedly, this game will have me campaigning for cheat codes by the time it’s released, as the one-hit-kills are incredibly harsh but all part of the lure. At the time of writing, there’s a demo still available – try it yourself and let me know what you think.
Silicon Dreams (Steam)
We have an indie here that will appeal to any Blade Runner fan. No, I’m talking to actual fans who’ve always wanted to take a Voight Kampf test. Well, conduct one.
In Silicon Dreams, you’ll interrogate several NPCs to define their fate. Are they human or an android? Can you turn a blind eye to their antics, or do they need to be… rectified? Excellent writing, compelling stuff.
The Sundew (Steam)
Point and click number two. The Sundew is a fairly short adventure but packs a punch. It has all the hallmarks of a good cyberpunk environment without going overboard on the paranoia or neon palettes.
You play a cyborg cop in a future version of Japan. Cyborgs are a bit old hat in this future, and she’s finding herself as relevant as a two-year-old iPhone. However, she has a calling, and there’s the opportunity to shape her future and that of technology. Vague, yes, but I reckon you should check this out.
Song of Farca (Steam)
The more I think of Song of Farca, the more I believe this didn’t get the airplay it deserved. Under house arrest, you play as Izy Song – a hacker extraordinaire who still manages to maintain a regular client base to keep the funds coming in.
The deeper she gets involved in each case, a plot unravels that features a murder mystery involving rival siblings and oppressive forces using violence on its citizens. Best of all, you get your own A.I. named Maurice. Sure, they’re erratic, but they’re better than Siri.
Neo Cab (Switch)
One of the first games I got on the Switch, Neo Cab is marvellous. As Lina, you work as a cab driver working freelance after leaving the somewhat corrupt corporation Capra.
After heading into town to meet up with her BFF Savy, the latter goes missing. Lina continues her work but is seriously distracted by the friend’s sudden disappearance. Is Capra involved? Seek this one out. It’s like a visual novel, but with more interaction than your average bear.
The Red Strings Club (Switch)
We’re heading into Switch territory now as there’s a fine selection of cyberpunk games up for grabs. Sure, you could play these on other platforms, but indies like The Red Strings Club work perfectly on this electronic rectangle from Nippon.
When I first looked at this game about another dystopian future, I wasn’t big on cyberpunk. I was never anti, but a few Gibson books, 90s sci-fi flicks and some cracking titles (as seen in this list), and now it’s one of my preferred genres. When done right.
I’m trying to keep individual entries brief, and I’ve wasted it waffling about the past. Instead, go check out the original review. It’s a bit rubbish, but it’s a bit more concise than this.
Synergia (Switch)
Still one of my favourite visual novels, and a cyberpunk one to boot. Synergia has lots of Dick references, the Philip K D’s, as from my first playthrough, I could see similarities between Cila and that bloke named Deckard.
There’s a whole belief system here, and our hero Cila finds herself conflicted when she bonds with the androids in the title but believes in a hierarchy where humans are at the top. That all changes with the introduction of Mara…
G String (Steam)
I’m desperate to use innuendos and puns for G String, but I’m better than that. I’m not. In development for some time, the investment has paid off, and this first-person experience puts the D in dystopia. It also uses that same D for creepy dolls/mannequins.
Quite remarkable, G String is the work of a solo developer, building upon a Half-Life 2 mod. I’m not part of that community, so I don’t have a comparison. I can say that the atmosphere in this game is excellent and plays more like Mirror’s Edge than Doom. Look for it by name.
Dex (Switch)
Dex got a second wind when I received the Switch review code after ignoring it on the PS4. I didn’t consciously ignore it, but I was bogged down in titles, and I don’t recall the PS4 version being a review title.
When games come in for review, I treat them with the utmost respect: wine, dine, sixty-ni – wait! What I’m trying to say is Dex was a review title, so that second time around, I played it properly and was pretty impressed, despite the somewhat clumsy combat. Check out la review hier.
Katana Zero (Switch)
Another early purchase on the Switch, Katana Zero is one of my favourite games. Ever. The story is pretty good, but the gameplay won me over. And, you can quote me: the presentation – both the visuals and score.
To this day, I’m still listening to the accompanying soundtrack. In real life! But putting that aside for a minute, this is a precision 2D platformer where you have to create a trajectory for your pseudo samurai Zero to cut through henchman to reach his assassination contracts.
It’s been out for a few years now, but if you haven’t already tried it, seek it out or watch some videos to wet your whistle. Yeah, that doesn’t work. Just humour me and check this out. For the children…
Akane (Switch)
Once again, Akane was one of my first Switch purchases and an early review. A cyberpunk slasher that you’ll play on repeat – not because it’s addictive (well, it is), but it’s pretty hard to start with until you begin to unlock new gear.
In a fast-paced futuristic Mega-Tokyo, you play the title character who single-handedly takes on the yakuza underworld, armed with a katana. Kills are often one-hit affairs, and that includes you. You’ve been warned.
This is often on sale on the Nintendo eShop, and I’d recommend you pick it up.
When I drafted up this list, I thought I'd finish this relatively quick. However, it's still holiday mode for me, so drinking a beer hasn't helped with productivity. I'll conclude with the 'honourable mentions' bit a little later...
