Despite cyberpunk as a genre originating in the 1960s, many popular modern video games, such as the recent Stray and Cyberpunk 2077, continue to use this still relevant subgenre. Cyberpunk combines futuristic computer science and technology, "cyber," with a dystopian society filled with social outcasts, "punk."

With the large number of games that feature rebels fighting against evil corporations in futuristic societies, it can be hard to know which ones are worth a playthrough. According to Metacritic, however, titles such as Transistor stand out among the rest.

Observer (2017) - 86

A screenshot of Janus Jurkowuski and Daniel Lazarski from the game Observer

Developed by the Polish developer Bloober Team, who's best known for creating horror titles such as Layers of Fear, Blair Witch, and The Medium, Observer is a 2017 psychological horror game that's set in 2084 Krakow, Poland after a "digital plague" known as the nanophage led to the deaths of thousands. Taking advantage of this chaos, the mega-corporation Chiron took control of Poland and established a police force known as "Observers," who are allowed to hack into the minds of citizens.

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Detective Daniel Lazarski, who is the protagonist and one of these observers, receives a distress call from his estranged son, Adam, and visits his apartment to investigate. Shortly after discovering a headless corpse, the apartment complex is put into lockdown, and Daniel is forced to uncover this mystery on his own. While the story is a little weak, the game makes up for it with its stunningly surreal visuals and detailed environments.

Shadowrun: Dragonfall Director's Cut (2014) - 87

A screenshot from the game Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut

Beginning in 1989, Shadowrun is a popular tabletop RPG franchise that combines both the cyberpunk and dungeon punk sub-genres. After magic returned in 2012, some humans gained magical abilities while others mutated into various fantasy creatures, and mythical beasts such as dragons have re-awoken as well. Meanwhile, mega-corporations have basically taken over the world, and players are "shadowrunners" or mercenaries who are hired by these corporations.

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In this franchise, one of the video games is the 2014 tactical RPG Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut, which was originally created as a DLC for Shadowrun Returns. As a player customized shadowrunner, the player joins a group in the anarchic futuristic Berlin, Germany and discovers that a legendary dragon known as Firewing may actually still be alive.

Jak II (2003) - 87

A promotional image of Jak and Daxter from the game Jak II

Developed by Naughty Dog, who have created several popular franchises such as Crash Bandicoot, Uncharted, and The Last of Us, Jak II is a 2003 third-person shooter open-world platformer and the second installment in the Jak and Daxter series. Although the original 2001 game Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy had a light-hearted tropical island setting, this sequel transports the protagonists to a dystopian city known as Haven.

In this new cyberpunk-esque setting, Jak is arrested by the Krimzon Guard, which is the city's corrupt law enforcers that are controlled by the tyrannical Baron Praxis. After being subjected to experiments for two years, his friend Daxter, who became an otter-weasel hybrid in the first game, rescues him. Using Jak's new powers, the duo joins an underground resistance movement to save the city.

Cruelty Squad (2021) - 89

A screenshot from the game Cruelty Squad

Released in 2021, Cruelty Squad is a surreal FPS that deliberately uses eye-straining low-poly. Combining both the cyberpunk and biopunk genres, the game follows a biologically augmented assassin who lives in a dystopian world controlled by mega-corporations.

After being discharged from a death squad, the player is hired by the titular Cruelty Squad, which is tasked with accomplishing various contract killings for its host conglomerate. By selling sewage fish and human organs on the stock market, the player can obtain biological implants that upgrade their character. Using these upgrades and the many unlockable weapons, players can complete the sandbox-like missions in unique ways.

Deus Ex (2000) - 90

A screenshot from the game Deus Ex

Directed by Warren Spector, who is also known for his work on System Shock, Thief: The Dark Project, and Ultima Underworld, Deus Ex is a 2000 action RPG and the first entry in the iconic Deus Ex franchise. Set within a future dystopia where all conspiracy theories are true, the game follows JC Denton who's a new agent in the fictional United Nations Anti-Terrorist Coalition (UNATCO).

Using the superhuman abilities caused by his nano-augmentations, JC slowly uncovers the truths behind UNATCO and the worldwide lethal pandemic known as "Gray Death." Depending on the player's choices, they can solve missions in various ways and obtain one of several endings.

Final Fantasy VII (1997) - 92

A promotional image featuring Cloud for the 1997 game Final Fantasy VII

One of the best cyberpunk-themed games is Final Fantasy VII, which is a 1997 PS1 game that was largely responsible for making JRPGs a popular genre in the west. As a stoic mercenary named Cloud Strife, the player joins a group of eco-terrorists known as AVALANCHE as they try to stop the mega-corporation Shinra from draining the Planet's Lifestream.

During his journey, Cloud makes some new friends, learns devastating truths about his past, and meets a man named Sephiroth who plans to use the Lifestream to transform into a god-like being. Though the plot itself is already cyberpunk-esque, the player can truly feel the genre's vibe while exploring the detailed city of Midgar.

System Shock 2 (1999) - 92

A screenshot from the game System Shock 2

Speaking of historic games, one of the most historically significant FPS games is the 1999 System Shock 2. In this action survival horror RPG, the player is an amnesiac soldier who awakens on a spaceship, the Von Braun, which is owned by the re-established corporation TriOptimum and has been overrun by an alien hive mind known as the Many.

With the help of his new illegal implants and another survivor, Dr. Janice Polito, the protagonist navigates the ship in order to destroy the Many. But, the player eventually discovers that Dr. Polito is actually the evil A.I. SHODAN in disguise, and is forced to fight her as well.

Transistor (2014) - 93

A screenshot of Red and her murdered lover at the start of the game Transistor

Similarly to other award-winning titles from Supergiant Games, such as Hades, Bastion, and Pyre, the 2014 tactical action RPG Transistor is filled with gorgeous visuals, outstanding music, interesting characters, and an in-depth story. Set within the futuristic city of Cloudbank, the player controls a famous singer named Red who loses both her lover and her voice during an attack on her life by a robotic force known as the Process.

Taking the titular sword from her lover's corpse, Red uses the Transistor to kill the people responsible for his death and uncover the secrets behind the Process, why they attacked her, and the Transistor itself. Throughout the isometric levels, the player will be able to use the Transistor to freeze time and gain other special abilities to help her battle various foes.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) - 96

Raiden aiming his gun in Metal Gear Solid 2

Even towards the beginning of his career, famous video game creator Hideo Kojima was already heavily inspired by the cyberpunk genre, which is demonstrated by one of his first games: the 1988 visual novel adventure game Snatcher. Because of this, it's not surprising that the sub-genre would seep into his other games, like the 2001 stealth action game Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

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After an environmental cleanup facility called the Big Shell is attacked by a group of terrorists known as the Sons of Liberty, the game follows a rookie agent named Raiden as he tries to stop the terrorists. But, as the game continues, he slowly uncovers the truths behind the facility, his own past, and a secret organization known as the Patriots.

Perfect Dark (2000) - 97

Joanna Dark on the cover of the original Perfect Dark for N64.

Inspired by cyberpunk classics such as Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell, Perfect Dark is a 2000 N64 FPS and a spiritual successor to Rare's previous N64 FPS GoldenEye 007. In this game, two companies on Earth, The Carrington Institute and dataDyne, are on opposing sides in an interstellar war between two alien races: the Maians and the Skedar.

The game follows Joanna Dark, who is a secret agent that works for The Carrington Institute and whose perfect training scores have given her the titular nickname "Perfect Dark." To save the planet, Joanna must stop dataDyne from helping the Skedar obtain a powerful sea vessel.

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