Summary

  • Avoid using skill points to increase difficulty and remain at base stats.
  • Focus on stealth, stay undetected, and restart missions if spotted.
  • Stick to basic gear, keep weapons at base stats for a greater challenge.

Cyberpunk 2077 is arguably one of the best games of the last decade. Not only is the game set in a futuristic dystopian society run by evil corporations, but the narrative presented to players is also quite enticing and immersive.

cyberpunk 2077 mod feature
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Throughout the game, players will have the chance to get to know V more in-depth and learn things about them that will help them decide what ending they want for their character. On top of this, Cyberpunk 2077 has amazing game mechanics and Cyberware for V’s arms, legs, and body in general, which can help make the experience more complex. However, sometimes even the hardest difficulty isn’t enough and additional steps are required for players who want a challenge. Here are some ways to make a Cyberpunk 2077 playthrough as hard as possible.

8 Don't Use Skill Points

Staying At Base Stats Can Be Challenging

cyberpunk-2077-solo-skills
  • Skills are very useful to make the game easier
  • Forgoing augmentations will up the ante

One of the best ways to reduce the difficulty of Cyberpunk 2077 is to use skill points and upgrade skills as the story progresses. This not only allows players to spend points on the abilities they're interested in, but also makes them stronger.

By forgoing spending skill points, players can face a true challenge as they remain at the base level and with the minimum skills available. Avoiding this, along with any kind of leg Cyberware or any other augmentation can go a long way.

7 Focus On Stealth

Remain Undetected And Restart A Mission If Spotted

César Diego Ruiz from Cyberpunk 2077 Beat the Brat quest
César Diego Ruiz from Cyberpunk 2077
Credits: CD Projekt Red
  • Stealth is usually advised in many situations
  • If players are spotted, they can restart the mission to make things more interesting

While the combat mechanics of Cyberpunk 2077 are designed to deliver a thrilling and adrenaline-rushing experience to players through a first-person perspective, those looking for a challenge can also try to complete the game using nothing but a Stealth approach.

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Naturally, this will not always be possible, as some situations will require V to engage in combat. However, in several others, a discrete approach is usually best and will challenge players who want to have a harder experience. Using the right perks can make V stealthier and balance the playing field.

6 Stick To Basic Gear

No Upgrades Means A Greater Challenge

The Rasetsu Sniper Rifle in Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 Rasetsu sniper rifle
  • Keeping weapons at base stats makes things more challenging
  • A sniper, pistol, melee weapon combination is usually best

As players progress through the story of Cyberpunk 2077, they'll have the chance to not only get more powerful weapons, but also upgrade those that they already own. While upgrading constantly is one of the best decisions V can make, players can also choose to keep their weapons at their base stats, making the gameplay experience more demanding.

In the mid-to-late stages of the game, some enemies are more resilient to damage, so keeping players' weapons at base stats will mean that a lot more shots will be required to bring them down.

5 Try A Permadeath Run

Dying Means Restarting The Game

Cyberpunk-2077-Adam-Smasher
  • Pretending there's Permadeath can make the game more fun
  • Players must hone their skills and get great at survival

Games with Permadeath mechanics are usually very fun, as they challenge players to hone their skills in order to survive insurmountable odds. Although Cyberpunk 2077 does not have this game mechanic built in, players can implement it into their gameplay experience by manually restarting their game if they die.

This can raise the stakes significantly and force players to think about their every move twice, just like they do when it comes to the romance options in the game. Naturally, bugs and glitches don’t count, but everything else does, so sticking to the rules, no matter how frustrating it might be, is key to making this work.

4 Avoid Fast Travel

Explore Night City And The Outskirts On Foot Or A Vehicle

cyberpunk 2077 mizutani shion mz2
cyberpunk 2077 mizutani shion mz2
  • Fast travel is a necessity, but avoiding it can make the game harder
  • Exploring every corner of Night City has its benefits

In titles with maps as large as the one in Cyberpunk 2077, the possibility of fast travel is not a luxury, but rather a necessity to keep things interesting. Foregoing the use of fast travel will make the game a bit frustrating, but it can also boost the play time significantly and challenge players to explore every corner of Night City.

Taking their time to traverse Night City on foot or vehicle will also help players take in all the splendor of the urban areas, and might even prevent them from making a mistake that could cost them the best ending.

3 Use Mods To Increase Difficulty

Sometimes, The Base Game Just Doesn't Cut It

MaxTac from Cyberpunk 2077 Firing a Pistol
  • Mods can be a great way to shake things up
  • Downloading mods from official sources is always a good practice

Provided the options listed so far are not enough to satisfy those players who really want a challenging experience, mods might be the one thing they need to scratch their itch. Modding Cyberpunk 2077 can be a great option to shake things up. However, it can also be dangerous and corrupt saved files or create game-breaking glitches if players are not careful.

Ideally, players should only install mods from official sources that have been tested thoroughly, as doing otherwise could be catastrophic and do more harm than good.

2 Use Minimal Cyberware

Stick To V's Natural Body

Cyberware menu in Cyberpunk 2077
  • Cyberware can make the game considerably easier
  • Augmentations can be expensive, and the Eddies can be used for other purposes

As players progress through the game, they'll gain access to various Cyberware upgrades that can allow them to fight better, move quicker, and have an advantage over their enemies. Many of these bodily augmentations are not cheap or easy to come by, but if players save enough Eddies and have patience, it’s mostly guaranteed that their effort will pay off.

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Those who want to have a very challenging experience should forego the use of Cyberware unless it's necessary to complete a mission, as this will force V to fight with nothing but what was given to them at birth.

1 Try A Pacifist Run

Not Every Situation Requires Bloodshed

Beat on the Brat quest Kabuki twins in Cyberpunk 2077
Beat on the Brat quest Kabuki twins in Cyberpunk 2077
Credits: CD Projekt Red
  • Doing a pacifist run might make the game a bit boring, yet much harder
  • Choosing non-lethal approaches when possible is recommended

Lastly, there’s the option of choosing a path of non-violence. For a game that's designed to pack a lot of action and allow players to make the most out of its outstanding FPS mechanics, suggesting a pacifist run might not make sense.

This might arguably make the gameplay experience a lot more boring, but also much more challenging. Players looking to make their playthrough as hard as possible should try to avoid conflict whenever they can or stick to non-lethal approaches if the opportunity to do so presents itself.

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Cyberpunk 2077
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6 /10
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Released
December 10, 2020
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