Cyberpunk games became incredibly popular in the 1970s and 1980s since pop culture was attached to the wonders of technology and what the future could possess. Since then, the cyberpunk theme has expanded to not only movies but also video games that have continued to interest players.

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There are many cyberpunk titles available that explore these futuristic and technologically fueled cities in different ways through RPGs, visual novels, and much more. With so many available now, it's difficult to pinpoint which of these excels above the rest, and that's why these cyberpunk games are some of the best available for players to enjoy.

Updated January 17, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The cyberpunk setting has exploded by leaps and bounds in gaming, especially with the advent of CD Projekt Red's flawed masterpiece. This genre is more popular than ever before, and fans would salivate at the prospect of checking out one of the many great games in the genre that are pretty engaging in their own right. While some cyberpunk games miss the mark, there are more than enough games that utilize this setting to great effect and are perfect for fans of these stylish dystopias.

16 Blade Runner

Metascore: 52 (Enhanced Edition)

• Developer: Westwood Studios
• Platform/s: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

A cyberpunk point-and-click adventure game by Westwood Studios, Blade Runner is based on Ridley Scott's classic movie of the same name. The game is set in Los Angeles in the year 2019 and follows the story of Ray McCoy, an elite investigator tasked with tracking down a band of dangerous replicants.

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Blade Runner does a good job of transporting the player into the grim world of cyberpunk with its ominous tone, challenging puzzles, and various paths to choose from. Having the opportunity to listen to Vangelis as players explore a beautiful reproduction of Ridley Scott's seminal work makes it fascinating.

15 E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy

Metascore: 61

• Developer: Streum On Studio
• Platform/s: PC

E.Y.E.: Divine Cybermancy had the potential to be something special, with its surreal plot and cyberpunk setting being two of its greatest settings. However, the game tried to implement too many gameplay mechanics that weren't fleshed out, taking away from what could've been a focused and engaging experience.

However, players willing to overlook this game's faults will find a riveting narrative buried underneath the mess that is the title's gameplay. For what it's worth, the insistence of this game to let players approach its levels however they saw fit was quite refreshing.

14 Cloudpunk

Metascore: 73

For players who are looking for a cyberpunk game that's a little more relaxed, they need to look no further than Cloudpunk. Players work as a semi-legal delivery service that delivers packages to citizens all over Nivalis. While delivering these parcels, players should not ask what's inside of them as they complete each task and solve puzzles in the world of Nivalis.

While meeting a varied cast, ranging from the usual residents to intelligent AIs, the game will be able to make a long-lasting impression on the players with the story. This is especially evident in the many choices that players make, which make a difference to the city they explore.

13 The Ascent

Metascore: 74

The action-shooter RPG The Ascent is a brilliant and lively cyberpunk game that challenges players to survive in a metropolis run by the infamous Ascent Group.

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Players will gradually work their way up the different levels of this bustling city as they are placed on a mission to find out what happened to the Ascent Group since it mysteriously shut down with no warning. In addition to the action-packed battles and customization options, exploring Neon Giant’s The Ascent is a fascinating experience as players find themselves in neon-filled areas.

12 Ruiner

Metascore: 75

Developed by Reikon Games, Ruiner is an intense top-down shooting game set in a harsh cyberpunk environment. Controlling a silent, masked protagonist armed to the teeth with high-tech weapons, players set out on a journey for retribution against the corrupt government that rules Rengkok.

The combination of Ruiner’s stunning visuals, thrilling gameplay, and heart-pounding score makes for an exciting adventure that will have players on the edge of their seats. Ruiner features a cyberpunk design and may be played with a keyboard and mouse or an analog stick controller.

11 System Shock

Metascore: 78

The System Shock remake emulated the first game to a T, which works both for and against this game. Purists and fans of the original System Shock will love just how much of the experience is preserved in a remake that looks and feels amazing to play.

While the dated level design and lack of visual clarity can be irritating to deal with, these are small prices to pay for what is otherwise a stellar video game. Fans of horror games with sci-fi settings will love the ambitious nature of the System Shock remake.

10 Ghostrunner

Metascore: 81

For players who enjoy fast-paced combat and heaps of parkour, Ghostrunner is another vibrant cyberpunk action game that has already hooked a large group of people. Played from the first-person perspective, players must attempt to parkour their way across buildings and slash down the enemies that attack, all while they avoid getting shot. One aspect of the vast cyberpunk world that players will find themselves dashing through is playing as an advanced blade fighter who is only stronger due to their cybernetics.

Although difficult to see, taking a moment to look around will reveal another neon city with far more detail in it than players credit it for. Players assume the role of Jack in Ghostrunner and will be able to utilize his special abilities, which include the ability to dash, slide, and race along walls. Those abilities are useful in combat and allow the player to advance in the game.

9 Signalis

Metascore: 81

Like System Shock, Signalis is another horror game that takes place in a dystopian future. The main character, Elster, wakes up from cryostasis in a world that she doesn't understand. She must look for her partner and the cause of what has happened in this brand-new world that a corrupt government owns. In this classic horror, if players hope to get to the bottom of this mysterious story, they must first be cautious about the resources they use.

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Players will also need to use their heads to work out a range of mind-boggling puzzles. They would acquire weapons and important artifacts throughout the game that could be utilized to solve puzzles and gain access to new areas.

8 Citizen Sleeper

Metascore: 82

Citizen Sleeper uses the principles of traditional role-playing games with a relaxing soundtrack and meditative setting to create an immersive adventure. Players take on the role of an enslaved robot on the lam, hiding out on a seedy space station from the lawless types who have put a bounty on their heads and the bounty hunters who are eager to collect the reward.

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A pool of dice serves as a representation of the player's capacity to uncover, use, and exit Erlin's Eye systems. The dice are then used for various endeavors, with greater numbers typically indicating a more successful conclusion.

7 Gunpoint

Metascore: 83

• Developer: Tom Francis
• Platform/s: Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux

Gunpoint is a stealth-focused puzzle platform game in which players play the part of Richard Conway, a futuristic freelance spy tasked with breaking into 2D buildings on behalf of various clients. In Gunpoint, players take on the dual cyberpunk roles of hacker and spy.

During the game, they are wrongly accused of a crime they did not commit, and then they must commit other crimes to investigate the real criminals. The absurdity of such circumstances is indicative of Gunpoint's sense of humor, which is also present in the game's text message-based narrative.

6 VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action

Metascore: 83

Not only is VA-11 Hall-A Cyberpunk Action one of the best pixel cyberpunk games, but it also possesses a captivating story that is packed nicely into a visual novel. While working as a bartender at the futuristic bar lovingly nicknamed Valhalla, players will learn the story of this cyberpunk city through its patriots.

However, unlike the usual multiple choices for a player to choose from when discussing these issues with the other characters, they instead whip up a drink that will likely cure all their problems in this technologically advanced world. Sukeban Games' futuristic tavern attracts the game's most interesting characters.

5 Stray

Metascore: 83

Players have continued to be interested in dystopian cities in recent years because. This adventure game in which players take on the role of a cat trying to climb back to the surface also reveals a robot-run world. With no idea where any of the human people have gone, players are left to theorize why this city exists below the surface, away from the sunlight they have seen.

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Throughout the entire game, the player must avoid the hostile Zurks and Sentinels. Exploring this world may be a short adventure, but the thought-provoking nature of this cyberpunk tale is sure to leave a long-lasting impression on a player.

4 Katana Zero

Metascore: 83

Action-packed and fast-paced games continue to be the most popular genre of gaming for the theme of cyberpunk. Katana Zero is a game with pixel graphics that challenges players to go fast and avoid danger while traversing another cyberpunk world. In this 2D platformer, players take on the role of Subject Zero, an amnesiac skilled with psychic powers.

While traveling through this platformer with the possibility of instant death, it's difficult to take the time to admire the pixel background the player dashes across. However, Katana Zero is a game with a lot of attention to detail that gives the player glimpses of the past in the now-dangerous future. In the 2D platformer, players take on the role of Subject Zero, an amnesiac skilled with psychic powers.

3 Cyberpunk 2077

Metascore: 86

It wouldn't be the best cyberpunk game available if the title Cyberpunk 2077 wasn't mentioned. Although Cyberpunk 2077 had a rough start when it was first released, CD Projekt Red has turned Night City into a place many players have enjoyed revisiting.

Players work as a mercenary in danger as a larger-than-life terrorist rock star attempts to take over the player's brain. Cyberpunk 2077 is a first-person shooter RPG with a great story and an even greater world to explore. Gaining experience points through the game's primary quests and using those points to level up will allow players to gain access to more game skills.

2 Deus Ex

Metascore: 90

Released in the early 2000s, Deus Ex is an iconic classic of the cyberpunk genre that many players have praised for being a great role-playing game as well. Set in the year 2052, players take on the role of JC Denton, a non-augmented rookie of the United Nations Anti-Terrorist Coalition. He is tasked with taking on terrorist cells and getting to the bottom of a nano-virus known as the Gray Death.

Alongside the action of an in-depth story packed with choices, players will also find themselves amazed by the world of Deus Ex, which is based on real-life locations and actual conspiracy theories that have been revealed as reality in this futuristic world.

1 System Shock 2

Metascore: 92

Another classic is the first-person shooter RPG System Shock 2. Playing off the success of the original System Shock, the second game in the franchise continued to amaze players. Unlike other games mentioned, System Shock 2 takes the cyberpunk genre and turns it into a frightening sci-fi horror.

Many also refer to System Shock as a techno-horror because technology is the monster. The story itself couples nicely with the connection to cyberpunk through the use of AIs taking over and the cybernetic implants that have been installed inside the player. System Shock 2 casts players as soldiers tasked with stopping the spread of a genetic infection that has wrecked the ship.

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