Cyberpunk 2077 is, against all odds, a success, striking a chord with millions following its historically disastrous launch. Now that it’s been polished and expanded with myriad post-launch updates and the Phantom Liberty DLC, it’s safe to say that audiences are hopeful about the future of the franchise, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Project Orion, the code-named Cyberpunk 2077 sequel.
But for better or worse, it’s going to be a while before players get their hands on Project Orion. Understandably, CD Projekt Red was long preoccupied with Cyberpunk 2077’s patches and DLC, so full production on Project Orion has likely only begun in earnest relatively recently. In other words, Cyberpunk 2077 fans will need to fill the vast space ahead of them with other games, and luckily, there are plenty of great options to choose from.
Cyberpunk 2077 on the Switch 2 Should Just Be the Tip of the Iceberg
Cyberpunk 2077 will be available at Nintendo Switch 2's launch, and it should signal the start of bigger things for CD PROJEKT RED on this platform.
What To Play While Waiting for Cyberpunk 2077’s Sequel
The Witcher 3
Perhaps the most essential game for Cyberpunk fans to play, The Witcher 3 is a strong contender for CD Projekt Red’s magnum opus. It has the same strong, mature writing and top-notch worldbuilding that players have come to expect following Cyberpunk, but its overall design, progression system, and narrative structure are surprisingly similar to its younger sci-fi sibling. Indeed, The Witcher 3 is akin to Cyberpunk 2077 in spirit, and a must-play title even for those who prefer sci-fi to fantasy.
Ghostrunner 1 and 2
Few games manage to capture the alluring, unsettling industrial cyberpunk landscape as effectively as Ghostrunner and its sequel, which are certainly similar to Cyberpunk 2077 in terms of aesthetic. Rather than setting players loose on a sprawling, seedy metropolis, the Ghostrunner games adopt a far more linear approach, focusing on a story of corruption and greed that is far more absurd and outlandish than Cyberpunk’s in many ways. It may not be as intimate, relatable, or open-ended, but its fast-paced gameplay, killer soundtrack, and untouchable vibes make it a strong suitor for Cyberpunk 2077 fans.
Fallout 3, 4 or New Vegas
It’s not hard to find parallels between CD Projekt Red games and Bethesda’s RPGs. It wasn’t too long ago that The Witcher 3 was being viewed as a fledgling competitor to the then-mammoth Skyrim, after all, and Cyberpunk 2077 can be viewed as a different spin on the Fallout formula, at least in some ways. Fallout presents a very different sort of dystopia, to be sure, but its open-ended RPG systems, strong quest design, and flexible build variety make it a great alternative to Cyberpunk’s dense, unique sci-fi hellscape.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
On paper, Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Cyberpunk 2077 are strikingly similar. They both take place in a dystopic metropolis (although Deus Ex’s setting is perhaps more authoritarian than Cyberpunk’s anarchal plutocracy), both are first-person with a predetermined main character, and both contain quasi immersive sim elements. That last point is something that Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t get enough credit for: CD Projekt Red’s flexible approach to mission and environment design, and the game’s surprisingly robust stealth mechanics, have a lot in common with deeper immersive sims. For those who appreciate such elements of Cyberpunk, Deus Ex is a great next step.
Robocop: Rogue City
Cyberpunk 2077 has more than a little Robocop DNA, so it’s fitting that 2023’s Robocop: Rogue City returns the favor, sharing certain traits with CDPR’s sci-fi RPG. It’s not open-world, and its RPG mechanics are even more watered down than Cyberpunk’s, but its grungy science-fiction elements, 1980s aesthetic, and hard-hitting, power fantasy gameplay are nevertheless a treat for anyone looking for a Cyberpunk chaser.
Cyberpunk 2077
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 76 /100 Critics Rec: 66%
- Released
- December 10, 2020
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Publisher(s)
- CD Projekt Red
