Cyberpunk 2077: 10 Awesome Cyberpunk Games To Play RIGHT NOW

Cyberpunk 2077 is finally coming on December 10th, but it’s far from the first game to draw inspiration from the genre. In fact, it’s a well video games have gone back to many times; the futuristic dystopias so common in the Cyberpunk genre have proved popular gaming playgrounds.

Arguably, The Matrix was the film to give Cyberpunk its broader cultural appeal and when Deus Ex launched one year later in 2000 and proved to be a hit both commercially and critically, it became blindingly obvious the genre would do big business for the video game industry.

Cyberpunk’s initial definition and themes - as explored by writer William Gibson in his landmark Cyberpunk novel, Neuromancer - were primarily concerned with how humanity is changed by the technology we use and the resulting societal and ethical complications.

Now, that all sounds very high-minded, and games have made good use of those thought-provoking topics, but Cyberpunk’s special appeal lies in the middle ground of philosophy and the reality of swapping out your boring human arm for a robot arm that can punch enemies through brick walls.

With CDPR's game imminent, which other titles will help you pass the time in the best way?

This prequel to Deus Ex released in 2011 to wide critical acclaim is probably the game which bears the closest resemblance to the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077.

The game has a gorgeous aesthetic; sprawling cities filled with art deco buildings coloured gold and black. It’s a stark contrast to the original Deus Ex and its grimmer, more rundown setting.

Adam Jenson, the head of security for Seraph Industries is left for dead when several cybernetically augmented mercenaries assault Seraph’s headquarters, leaving dozens of employees dead. They’re able to save Adam’s life but only through replacing most of his body with machinery. Luckily, this has no detrimental effect on Adam and simply serves to turn him into a badass for the remainder of the game.

Players can level up and buy new “augments” (read: perks or feats) to tailor their Adam Jensen to be more effective at stealth or killing depending on how you’d like to approach the game. One ludicrously overpowered upgrade transforms Jensen into a bomb.

Human Revolution’s sequel, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, underwhelmed both critically and commercially - albeit by the high standards set by its predecessor - and once again the franchise has been mothballed , likely waiting for an inevitable reboot.