From the neon lights to the cybernetic enhancements, cyberpunk as a genre has become more and more beloved in the public eye. It’s likely due to the fast evolution of modern technology and the idea that cyberpunk is growing closer to a possible future than a fantasy. As a result, game developers have given players the chance to live out the future today via video games.
Some cyberpunk games are iconic, such as theDeus Exseries and the aptly titledCyberpunk 2077. However, for every title that shined brightly in the spotlight, there are others that never reached the radar of gamers. Either they failed to appeal due to the niche nature of the genre, or simply were overshadowed by other games at the time. Either way, these cyberpunk games deserve more attention.
9Predator: Concrete Jungle (2005)
During the height of multiplayer-basedgames set in the Alien/Predator universe,Predator: Concrete Junglewas one of the few attempts at a solely single-player experience. It delves into the near-immortality of the Yautja hunter race, featuring a dishonored hunter paying for crimes he committed by returning to Earth in the distant future.
It’s an interesting idea, taking the general concept of 1990’sPredator 2and taking it into the future.Concrete Jungle’s high-tech future city allows for thePredatorseries to dabble in some different ideas, such as human villains utilizing Yautja technology to advance themselves. Despite some dated elements such as the less-than-stellar camera,Predator: Concrete Jungleis addictive, and the world it creates feels fleshed out and thought through.
8Invisible, Inc. (2015)
Rather than a typical action game,Invisible, Inc.goes fora turn-based tactics gamein a similar vein asXCOMorMario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle.Invisible, Inc.also puts heavy emphasis on the stealth side of tactical gameplay, forcing the player to think carefully instead of going in to blast everything.
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It also takes place in a cyberpunk world with a neon-filled city, lots of rain, and colorful characters straight out of an anime. The visuals are half of the appeal when it comes toInvisible, Inc.— sometimes it is so well-illustrated that the characters and universe seem perfect for an adult animated series or movie.
7Killzone: Shadow Fall (2013)
One of the first big titles for the PS4,Killzone: Shadow Fallmade a splash at launch but quickly faded away. It was discarded as a generic first-person shooter, since it focused less on a groundbreaking story and more on the combat gameplay.
In a way, that’s true, since the story is not deep with any complex characters. However,Killzone: Shadow Fallmakes up for that with tight controls and a hyper-advanced cyberpunk world.Killzone: Shadow Fallshowed players what new consoles were going to provide with modern shooters. It’s best to view it less likeThe Last Of Us, and more akin toshooters in the same vein asDoom Eternal, where the whole idea is to have fun killing enemies with high-tech guns.
6Mega Man Legends (1997)
Also known asMega Man 64on the Nintendo 64,Mega Man Legendsreceived unfair backlash due to the change from a 2D action platformer to an open-world action RPG. Is it different and even a little awkward to get used to the control? Yes, but once that steep learning curve is passed,Mega Man Legendsis a really fun RPG that deserves more appreciation.
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Rather than the standardMega Manaffair of running and gunning, there are tons of main and side missions to accomplish across the island nation that Mega Man is stuck on. This world is so advanced that even the ancient underground dungeons are technological, while the world is a mix of cyberpunk and contemporary. Plus, Mega Man can unlock a variety of high-tech tools to equip or upgrade, leading to a game filled with a surprising amount of content.
5Spider-Man: Edge Of Time (2011)
Most gamers and Marvel fans fondly rememberSpider-Man: Shattered Dimensionsasone of the best Spider-Man games, since it did theSpider-Verseconcept before it was cool. However, most tend to forget thatShattered Dimensionshad a sequel in the form ofSpider-Man: Edge Of Time. This time it focuses purely on Peter Parker and the future Spider-Man Miguel O’Hara from the year 2099.
Both Spider-Men go on a time-warping journey, fighting villains and exploring the super bright and neon future version of New York City. With plenty of twists and turns alongside effective combat for both versions of Spider-Man, fans ofShattered Dimensionsshould findEdge Of Timeand give it a shot.
4System Shock (1994)
In many ways,System Shockand its sequel are the precursors to theBioShockgames. They mix fast-paced action with dark atmospheric exploration of a dilapidated utopian world, all while a threatening voice guides the player.
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System Shock 2is often considered to be a superior sequel, since it takes everything that made the first game so good and dials it up. Sadly, with games like theBioShocktrilogy, many have forgotten about theSystem Shockgames. WithSystem Shockgetting a remake in the future, now is the perfect time to rediscover the two cult gems.
3Blade Runner (1997)
The movieBlade Runneris one of the biggest pioneers when it comes to the cyberpunk subgenre, but surprisingly, not many games were made based on the film. In 1997, though, there was a point-and-click adventure title that told its own story within the same universe as theBlade Runnermovie. The story runs parallel to the story of the film, even connecting to it a few times.
Fans of earlypoint-and-click titles such asMystorGrim Fandangowill enjoy this one. It mixes the puzzle-solving elements with an engaging story that stays loyal to the source material, while giving fans the closest things to aBlade Runnersequel beforeBlade Runner 2049ever existed.
2Tron 2.0 (2002)
Tron 2.0was the officially-made sequel to the originalTronfrom 1982 in video game form. Bruce Boxleitner returned to voice Alan, and the story featured Alan’s son being pulled into the Grid to face off a threat in an even more powerful version ofthe world inside of a video game.
Where the film sequelTron Legacyupgraded the visuals to fit a more modern style,Tron 2.0keeps the neon look of the 1982 movie and makes it into a massive world for the player to experience in an intuitive first-person shooter. The developers cleverly thought out how the Grid technology works in the form of weapons, and the story truly feels like a genuine attempt to expand the lore established in the first film.
1Binary Domain (2012)
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, the third-person shooter genre had become a bit too saturated. Many companies were trying their best to replicate the likes of what theGears Of WarandResident Eviltitles had practically perfected. One diamond in the rough was a shooter calledBinary Domain, which quickly vanished into obscurity despite good reviews.
The setting is very cyberpunk with the city looking straight out of something likeGhost In The Shellori,Robot.It even features a similar concept asi,Robot,with an advanced robot sect that begins rising up to fight their oppressors. It mixes sci-fi, action, and horror, and delivers a strong shooter with dialogue options, squad commands, and a plethora of different enemies to keep things fresh and tension-filled.
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