Highlights

  • Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3 have been huge hits, but only a new Shadowrun game to fill a unique niche that combines the two.
  • Shadowrun offers a blend of cyberpunk and fantasy elements, with deep character customization and compelling turn-based combat.
  • With the resurgence of turn-based RPGs and the popularity of cyberpunk themes, now is the perfect time for a studio to revive the Shadowrun IP.

The past year has been terrific for RPG fans. Cyberpunk 2077 has seen a massive resurgence with the release of Phantom Liberty and Patch 2.0, while fantasy fans have been graced with the full release of Baldur’s Gate 3, which took the game award season by storm.

Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3 are fantastic representations of their respective genres, but there is still a particular niche that hasn’t been filled in a long while. Gaming needs a world where it’s perfectly normal to see a cyber samurai square off with a spell-slinging mage, all the while a hellhound is rampaging through a mall the street over. It’s high time a new Shadowrun game made an appearance.

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Shadowrun: A Near-Future Dystopia With Dragons

The Sixth World

Anyone who has played Cyberpunk 2077 or immersed themselves in one of the many representations of a high-tech future -- such as Deus Ex, Blade Runner, and so on -- will find themselves on common ground in Shadowrun. Human augmentation and hyper-capitalism run rampant, the streets are filled with crime, and the world is on the precipice of self-destruction. What makes Shadowrun different from its counterparts is that Corpos will quite literally steal people’s souls to fuel some kind of eldritch money-making scheme, while the “Lizard People” who run the world are actual dragons, and calling them lizards out in public may have some unfortunate implications for one’s future well-being.

Shadowrunners

Just like Cyberpunk has its Edgerunners, Shadowrun players take on the role of Shadowrunners who live on the edge of legality -- sometimes fully over the edge -- who take on secretive missions for shadowy clients. Corporate espionage, theft, assassinations, and the like are all part of the game. However, instead of just picking a particular flavor of cyberware and gear to customize the player character, Shadowrun offers a plethora of choices, more in line with Baldur’s Gate and its D&D roots.

Shadowrun Needs a Second Comeback Tour

Shadowrun Returns, Again

Besides being a tabletop RPG that has entered its sixth edition in 2019, Shadowrun also encompasses three games developed by Harebrained Schemes - Shadowrun Returns, Shadowrun: Dragonfall, and Shadowrun: Hong Kong. The games were Kickstarter-funded projects that found financial and critical success, but fans haven’t been graced by another Shadowrun game since 2015.

Anyone who's played Baldur’s Gate 3, or any other turn-based RPG, will find themselves on familiar ground, but the Shadowrun trilogy sports its own spin on character creation. Contrary to the class-based system of BG3, Shadowrun offers more freedom when building and leveling a character, enabling players to mix and match various skills to create a unique build. Sword-wielding street warriors are perfectly capable of casting spells, while mages aren’t discouraged from carrying a shotgun in addition to their spellbooks.

The Perfect Cyberpunk Fantasy

On top of having challenging turn-based combat, and a deep customization system, the stories of the Shadowrun trilogy are prime cyberpunk material. Corporate plots that run rampant with corruption, power games, and characters grappling with the essence of humanity in a transhumanist world all blend seamlessly with the more esoteric aspects of Shadowrun’s world. A neighborhood like Cyberpunk’s Pacifica is quite a common occurrence, but in addition to gangs and crime, players would also have to grapple with the inevitable spiritual corruption that exists in a place like that.

Although it could be attributed to CD Projekt Red’s existing fanbase, the success of the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime and films like Blade Runner 2049 prove that audiences are fond of and eager for more stories within the cyberpunk genre. Shadowrun’s added layer of fantasy elements in a sci-fi world opens so many more opportunities to explore themes the cyberpunk genre is fond of while creating fresh twists on familiar fantasy tropes. Shadowrun’s world offers an enormous amount of potential stories that can be told, while its game system could offer hours of experimentation with skill builds, gear, cyberware, and spells.

It is also extremely obvious, with the response to BG3, that the market is still very fond of turn-based RPGs, as well as deep stories with complex characters - reminiscent of old BioWare titles. The success of its early access period could serve as a model for potential future developers. Larian Studios proved it works with the amazing standard of communication they held with their fanbase. As it stands, turn-based RPGs have returned in a bombastic fashion, while the cyberpunk genre is more and more relevant to the current cultural zeitgeist. It’s safe to say, that now would be the perfect time for a studio to take a crack at the Shadowrun IP once again.