Cyberpunk 2077is, 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 thePhantom LibertyDLC, it’s safe to say that audiences are hopeful about the future of the franchise, eagerly awaiting the arrival ofProject Orion, the code-namedCyberpunk 2077sequel.
But for better or worse, it’s going to be a while before players get their hands onProject Orion. Understandably, CD Projekt Red was long preoccupied withCyberpunk 2077’s patches and DLC, so full production onProject Orionhas likely only begun in earnest relatively recently. In other words,Cyberpunk 2077fans will need to fill the vast space ahead of them with other games, and luckily, there are plenty of great options to choose from.
What To Play While Waiting for Cyberpunk 2077’s Sequel
The Witcher 3
Perhaps the most essential game forCyberpunkfans to play,The Witcher 3is 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 followingCyberpunk, but its overall design, progression system, and narrative structure are surprisingly similar to its younger sci-fi sibling. Indeed,The Witcher 3is akin toCyberpunk 2077in 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 industrialcyberpunk landscape as effectively asGhostrunnerand its sequel, which are certainly similar toCyberpunk 2077in terms of aesthetic. Rather than setting players loose on a sprawling, seedy metropolis, theGhostrunnergames adopt a far more linear approach, focusing on a story of corruption and greed that is far more absurd and outlandish thanCyberpunk’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 forCyberpunk 2077fans.
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 thatThe Witcher 3was being viewed as a fledgling competitor to the then-mammothSkyrim, after all, andCyberpunk 2077can be viewed as a different spin on theFalloutformula, at least in some ways.Falloutpresents 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 toCyberpunk’s dense, unique sci-fi hellscape.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
On paper,Deus Ex: Human RevolutionandCyberpunk 2077are strikingly similar. They both take place in a dystopic metropolis (althoughDeus Ex’s setting is perhaps more authoritarian thanCyberpunk’s anarchal plutocracy), both are first-person with a predetermined main character, and both contain quasi immersive sim elements. That last point is something thatCyberpunk 2077doesn’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 ofCyberpunk,Deus Exis a great next step.
Robocop: Rogue City
Cyberpunk 2077has more than a littleRobocopDNA, so it’s fitting that 2023’sRobocop: Rogue Cityreturns the favor, sharing certain traits with CDPR’s sci-fi RPG. It’s not open-world, and its RPG mechanics areeven more watered down thanCyberpunk’s, but its grungy science-fiction elements, 1980s aesthetic, and hard-hitting, power fantasy gameplay are nevertheless a treat for anyone looking for aCyberpunkchaser.
