It doesn't take an expert to state that Cyberpunk 2077 is the biggest gaming release of 2020, and fans can't wait to get their hands on this absolute gem of a game. While there have been two high-profile delays for the game, the hype train has shown absolutely no signs of dying off anytime soon.
That being said, there are still people who simply can't wait to get a whiff of what this game can bring to the table. After all, the gameplay videos have been so engrossing that fans can't help but imagine the sheer level of possibilities that this game will offer up to the player. Immersive sims are certainly one of the more engrossing genres in gaming, and the fact that Cyberpunk 2077 is essentially revitalizing this genre is good news in every way.
So, for the people who need their fix of something that resembles Cyberpunk 2077 in any way, shape, or form, here are ten action-heavy games that will satiate fans until 19 November.
10 Dishonored 2
Expect to see a lot of immersive sims on this list, since Cyberpunk 2077 is clearly heading down that particular route. The original Dishonored was a great game in its own right, featuring some amazing level design and gameplay that was tense and viscerally satisfying in every manner possible.
So, it goes without saying that Dishonored 2 would take everything that was properly executed in the first game, and expand upon it to a greater extent. This leads to some brilliant level design, a great story, and some truly immersive settings as well.
9 Prey
Another game by Arkane Studios, Prey took everything that worked well with the first Dishonored and integrated all of it in an amazing sci-fi setting that was equal parts enthralling and terrifying in every way imaginable.
Walking through an almost-abandoned spaceship feels as haunting as one might expect, and Prey does a brilliant job of making its title as atmospheric and engaging as possible.
8 Deus Ex
The Deus Ex series is what most people consider to be one of the biggest innovators in the immersive sim genre. In fact, most people consider the first game to be one of the greatest and most groundbreaking titles of its time, which is pretty high praise indeed.
It's also the game that is recommended for anyone who is waiting for Cyberpunk 2077. The new games might have all the flair and panache that one might expect from a modern AAA title, but there's something still special about the original Deus Ex that still qualifies it as a truly sublime experience.
7 Thief II: The Metal Age
It would be impossible to mention legendary games that birthed the immersive sim genre without mentioning the revolutionary masterpiece that was the Thief series. The first game was certainly great in its own right, although the second half of the title is notably weaker and more disjointed.
However, it's the second game that is considered by many to be one of the greatest video games of all time. The fact that Thief II: The Metal Age takes place during a time when machines were becoming commonplace in the world makes it the perfect game to play for anyone who's waiting on Cyberpunk 2077.
6 Arx Fatalis
The first game that Arkane Studios properly developed might've been a commercial failure, but there's no denying how revolutionary Arx Fatalis really was. It gave players a lot of freedom in how they approached combat.
This 2002 title might not be the easiest thing in the world to get into, but people who wish to witness Arkane's development as a studio firsthand should definitely check this title out.
5 System Shock 2
A discussion about immersive sims without the mention of System Shock 2 is woefully incomplete. This title is easily one of the most popular games of all time, notorious for the AI antagonist Shodan that hounds players throughout their journey through another abandoned spaceship — something that is apparently quite a popular setting for such games.
However, System Shock 2 is more than just Shodan's imposing presence. The oppressive atmosphere and gameplay freedom are two of the title's biggest highlights.
4 BioShock: Infinite
The BioShock series is considered by many to be one of the best gaming franchises around, and any person who's played even a single game in this series can understand why this is the case.
BioShock: Infinite seems to share the most similarities with Cyberpunk 2077. The narrative is broader and the gameplay is refined with all the conventions seen in most modern first-person shooter games, making for a truly immersive experience.
3 Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2 might not be an action RPG per se, but one can't deny that Cyberpunk 2077 is set to impact the gaming world in a similar manner to when this legendary title was released all the way back in 2004.
Half-Life was as immersive a title as can be, and Half-Life 2 decided to improve upon this formula even further. The sheer manner in which this title allowed gamers to interact with the world was quite revolutionary, and one can only hope that Cyberpunk 2077 emulates this level of interactivity in some form or the other.
2 Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines
Perhaps the most underrated and underappreciated titles on this list — mainly due to the fact that it released on the same day as Half-Life 2 itself — there's a reason why the sequel to Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is getting so much attention online...even though the first impressions might've not been all that great.
Bloodlines is easily one of the deepest role-playing games on this list, and one can only hope that the complexity of Cyberpunk 2077's systems can reach the level of greatness that this game did all the way back in 2004.
1 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
When it comes to offering gamers with near-unlimited freedom to tackle their obstacles, no game pulls off this gameplay style better than Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
It's a testament to Kojima and his development team that, even after all the problems that the game had in development, The Phantom Pain still managed to be one of the greatest titles released in 2015 — a great year for gaming.