Despite complaints about bugs in the older gen systems, Cyberpunk 2077 is still a fantastic open-world RPG set in a stunning dark world that more than lives up to its namesake. It’s a deep and atmospheric RPG with some of the best world-building seen in the genre and an epic sense of scale and depth.
This is the reason why many gamers are willing to look past the many issues that are plaguing the game on base hardware. However, for those that would prefer to wait until these issues patched out there are still several other RPGs that worth try in the meantime..
10 The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
Released in 2015, The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is another massive open-world RPG developed by CD Projekt Red. Unlike Cyberpunk 2077, however, The Witcher universe is based in a dark fantasy world where character development and dialogue choices carry weight in the game’s world.
The game is considered by many to be one of the greatest RPGs of all time and is a testament to how much the developers cared about their fans with consistent and regular free updates. Just like Cyberpunk, The Witcher 3 launched with a lot of bugs and issues that needed to be addressed over time. So for fans that want to see what the developer is capable of while they work on updates and patches for their latest RPG, The Witcher 3 is the perfect place to start.
9 Transistor
First released in 2014 on consoles, PCs, and iOS devices, Transistor is an isometric action-RPG set in a cyberpunk-like world. The game was developed by Supergiant Games who were also responsible for the RPG hit Bastion and just like that title, Transistor relies on effective environmental storytelling and the clever use of a narrator that calls the action throughout the game.
As an RPG experience, Transistor is very different from Cyberpunk 2077, but fans of Night City will easily find themselves swept up in the story that surrounds Cloudbank and preventing The Process from destroying everything.
8 ELEX
Released in 2017 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC, ELEX is an action-RPG set in a world that combines magical fantasy and science fiction in one very interesting world. Just like Cyberpunk 2077, it released with several bugs and issues which negatively impacted scores with critics.
However, those that are willing to scratch beneath the surface will find a rewarding and challenging RPG with some of the best world-building in a generation. ELEX is deep and the decisions that the player makes have a meaningful impact on the world around them.
7 The Yakuza Series
The Yakuza games are action and turn-based RPGs set in a modern-day Tokyo in the Red Light Districts. In terms of its modern-day settings, Yakuza may seem like an odd recommendation but the recreation of Tokyo’s seedy underbelly is a perfect fit for fans of Cyberpunk’s Night City.
The series spans seven games in the Kiryu saga and are all action RPGs with fun and brutal combat that’s reminiscent of the Streets of Rage series. The newest game in the series Yakuza: Like a Dragon features a brand new protagonist called Ichiban and a turn-based combat system. All of the games have an incredible amount of depth and feature excellent storytelling and deep side quests.
6 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Released in 2003, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is an RPG developed by BioWare. Despite its age, the game is still considered by many fans to be the greatest Star Wars game ever developed. Even though the game is no longer considered canon, it’s still the best way for fans to explore a universe set 4,000 years before Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace that featured a war between the Jedi and Sith.
In addition, Cyberpunk 2077 fans will appreciate the game’s distinct worlds and cities — especially Taris. Taris has many qualities that will be familiar to fans of the cyberpunk genre such as the rich Upper City and the slums of the Lower City, which is run by rival gangs. Even though KoToR is showing its age in the visuals department the storytelling is as good now as it ever was.
5 Mass Effect Trilogy
The Mass Effect trilogy is another massive science fiction space opera RPG developed by BioWare. In many ways, the game feels and plays like an evolution of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and will feel familiar to fans of that series.
The character creation system that functions as both a scripted protagonist named Commander Shepard and an avatar for the player works in a very similar manner to Cyberpunk 2077. In addition, many of the worlds and cities of the game will perfectly suit fans of the cyberpunk genre.
4 Disco Elysium
First released in 2019, Disco Elysium is a narratively driven isometric RPG set in an alternate universe 1950s, While that may seem like the complete opposite of what the cyberpunk genre is all about, the game’s city (known as Revachol) is a weird and dark district drowning in crime, poverty, and lots of strange and quirky characters.
The game offers its players so many choices and options, leaving them able to determine whether or not they want to be the hero or a self-destructive detective with more issues than the criminals that he’s investigating.
3 Final Fantasy VII Remake
Another big release from 2020 that used some themes based around the cyberpunk genre is the first part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake. In keeping with the themes that are found in the cyberpunk genre, players will explore the slums of Midgar and the Upper Plate which is occupied by the rich elite.
The entirety of the Final Fantasy VII Remake takes place in Midgar and allows players to explore it further than ever before. The original game’s story has been expanded and the new combat action-based mechanics gave the story a much-needed modern makeover. That being said, the original Final Fantasy VII which was remastered for current-gen PCs and consoles is still an all-time classic that needs to be played.
2 The Deus Ex Series
In terms of gameplay, exploration, and its visual aesthetic, Deus Ex is the closest game to Cyberpunk 2077 for comparison. It’s an action RPG set in a cyberpunk world where corporate conspiracies and transhumanism are the main overarching themes of the series’ storylines.
The two most recent titles, Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Mankind Divided are excellent games in their own right and obviously feature better visuals, sounds, and voice acting over the original game which released in 2000. The games don’t quite have massive worlds to explore but the small-but-open hub towns and fantastically designed missions will satisfy fans of Cyberpunk 2077.
1 The Shadowrun Series
When it comes to depth and brilliantly realized cyberpunk settings it doesn’t get much better than the videogame adaptations of the Shadowrun series. Just like Cyberpunk, Shadowrun began life as a science-fiction tabletop RPG.
However, unlike the realism that’s used in Cyberpunk 2077, the Shadowrun games combine cyberpunk and high fantasy by featuring elves, orcs, trolls, dwarves, and humans. The series made a comeback on PC with the turn-based RPG Shadowrun Returns and was followed by Shadowrun Hong Kong. Any fans of the cyberpunk genre and classic RPGs owe it to themselves to dive into these games as soon as possible.