Following the River is a side quest in Cyberpunk 2077 that can be done with both a female or male V, whether or not the player is trying to romance River Ward. Following the steps below can also lead to getting River's revolver, Crash.
River Ward's story begins when V needs to meet with him after seeing him in a braindance session. After River helps V with a job given by Jefferson Peralez and his wife Elizabeth, River will ask V for help with a mission involving the kidnapping of his nephew. If V is able to return Randy to his home safely, Joss and River will invite the mercenary over for dinner, beginning the quest Following the River. Here, the ex-cop becomes a romance option for V, though his involvement in the main story isn't as prolific as Panam's or Judy's.
The quest itself is straightforward. After being invited over to Joss' by River in Cyberpunk 2077, all V needs to do is accept, but can show up at the trailer park at any time. They may need to wait nearby, though. Once it's the right time of day, River will be cooking up some jambalaya and will ask for V's help. V will have to do a number of menial tasks like help him stir and go get the rice from the kitchen. V can also talk to Joss about Randy inside if they'd like to, and River will later open up to V about some personal struggles.
But Joss' kids will interrupt the conversation asking if River and V will play with them. They'll play an augmented reality cyberpunk game called Trouble in Heywood. If V is trying to romance River, make sure to let the kids win by shooting targets fewer times than them. Otherwise, this prompt is a piece of cake and V just needs to complete a few rounds before Joss will announce that dinner's ready.
Here's where specific dialogue options need to be chosen in Cyberpunk 2077 if V wants to start a relationship with River. Make sure to say that "they're great kids," when he thanks V for letting them win. Sit down with the family for dinner and tell them that V would like to have a family someday and say "I do!" when the kids tease River and V for being a cute couple. If playing a male V, they can flirt with Joss by saying she's "great mom material," but that's as far as it will go before River takes V onto the water tower.
Up here, River will gift V his pistol, Crash, a modified version of the Overture, and an Iconic Power Weapon in Cyberpunk 2077. A male V will cheers River to a good friendship while female V can kiss River and cut to a steamy montage. Of course, now that modders have uncovered Cyberpunk voice files, those playing with a male V can likely install a mod to romance River if they'd like to.
Cyberpunk 2077Â is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions in development.
