The Cyberpunk genre and video games have always had a close relationship. The interactive medium stays on the cutting edge of technological trends while simultaneously retaining artistic integrity, at least depending on the game and studio. The science fiction subgenre is all about new technologies and its effect on society. It makes sense that the two would have a kinship.

Countless games fit the genre, but none are as ambitious as the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077, made by the Polish developer CD Projekt Red. The sprawling open-world RPG aims to immerse players in the gritty, grimy, unfair world of Night City. Corporations rule everything and life is cheap. There are several trailers and one public gameplay demonstration for fans to see, but the wait until April 2020 it unbearable.

Fortunately, this list is here to help. To pass time and familiarize one's self with the themes of Cyberpunk, here are 10 games to play in preparation for what is surely one of next year's biggest titles. Note that not all of these games fit into the Cyberpunk genre, but they all deal with themes that the sub-genre explores.

10 Syndicate

Syndicate top down strategy game
Syndicate top down strategy game

In Syndicate, corporations have become so powerful that they regularly influence entire nations. The series' name comes from the idea that these companies resemble crime organizations more than legitimate businesses. The isometric strategy title puts players in the role of one of these companies, giving them the unique chance at playing a villain. In 2012 a first-person shooter was made within the series, offering a more intimate and up-close perspective of the dystopian world. Since then, the series has been dormant, but there are plenty of entries to chose from.

9 Blade Runner

Blade runner 1997 video game

Before Neuromancer—the novel credited with birthing Cyberpunk—there was Blade Runner. The film, based on Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, failed to make a splash at the box office, but has become a cult classic. The world is meticulously crafted, and the plot draws into question what makes something human or sentient. In 1997, a point and click adventure title was released, also titled Blade Runner. The game doesn't follow Rick Deckard's exploits, but a different Blade Runner named Ray McCoy as he hunts down a group of replicants. The title explores similar ideas to the movie, making it a worthwhile endeavor for fans.

8 Metal Gear Solid

The phantom pain big boss on a motorcycle
The phantom pain big boss on a motorcycle

The Metal Gear Solid series feels less like Neuromancer or Count Zero and more like later William Gibson novels like Pattern Recognition. It takes place in modern times, but with some different twists.

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Despite its different settings, the series' themes deal heavily with identity, controlling the masses, and manipulation of information. While Cyberpunk explores these in a distant future setting, Metal Gear shows how these ideas affect people today or could in a few short years.

7 Shadowrun

Shadowrun
Shadowrun

Like Cyberpunk 2077, Shadowrun also came from a tabletop RPG. The first game in the series was a 1993 SNES title and follows the events of the series' first novel. A neat detail about it is the ability to enter Cyberspace. Entering the Internet as a physical space is a staple of the genre, so get some experience in it with Shadowrun before next year.

6 I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream

I have no mouth and I must scream video game
I have no mouth and I must scream video game

I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream details just about the worst scenario anyone could imagine. A computer has eliminated humanity except for five unlucky souls, and spends eternity torturing them in various ways. The point-and-click title is based off a Harlan Ellison story of the same name, and showcases the dangers of technology getting out of hand.

5 Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy Vii cloud and shinra building
Final Fantasy Vii cloud and shinra building

Final Fantasy VII was a notable departure from the franchise formula, embracing a science fiction setting. Instead of an evil kingdom or ancient evil wreaking havoc across the land, it is a greedy corporation and an alien that are at the center of the conflict.

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Midgar's look, population, and the Shinra Corporation would feel right at home in a William Gibson novel. The upcoming remake appears significantly flesh out the city, and the updated graphics showcase just how cyberpunk the city is.

4 Neuromancer

Neuromancer game
Neuromancer game

This adventure title is an adaptation of the book that started it all. Without William Gibson, the Cyberpunk genre would probably not exist or would be unrecognizable. It is an older game, and therefore takes time to get used to, but it is worth it to experience the story through the medium. The novel also has two sequels, called Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive.

3 System Shock

System Shock original

This horror game and its sequel heavily innovated the first-person shooter genre. The player is trapped in space at the mercy of a corrupt AI. Enemies include robots, unwilling cyborgs, and mutants. AI technology is getting more advanced with each passing day, and games like System Shock are important reminders of their dangers. Maybe its all for the best, though. Perhaps an Artificial Intelligence would be better at running things than humans.

2 The Witcher 3

This game's genre isn't anywhere close to science fiction, but still important to play for anyone excited for Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red's latest game is still an impressive feat, despite being four years old. The expansive open world, epic narrative, and branching story paths all create an immersive finale to The Witcher trilogy.

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The countless side quests that feel more fleshed out than most games' campaigns. After playing The Witcher 3, one wonders just how the studio plans to top themselves next year.

1 Deus Ex

Deus Ex game play
Deus Ex game play

Player choice in a narrative is one thing, but choice in gameplay is a whole other beast. Many games have tried, but few have succeeded the way Deus Ex has.

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Player's can tackle the game's open-ended levels in a variety of ways. The story is also a classic Cyberpunk tale, filled with secret shadow organizations and human augmentation. If Cyberpunk 2077 can reach the same level of gameplay variety as Deus Ex, then there is nothing to worry about.