Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 received a native PlayStation 5 version in 2022, by which time it already had a rocky launch and a long string of fixes behind it. The player takes on the role of a mercenary named V, who craves a reputation in the megalopolis of Night City, and instead unwittingly gets the personality of the long-dead rebel Johnny Silverhand, played by Keanu Reeves, uploaded into their head. What follows is at once a crime story, a meditation on identity, and a tour of one of the most densely populated open worlds ever made.

The game combines a first-person shooter with RPG character building: implants alter the body's abilities, hacking programs let you take out cameras and enemies remotely, and most missions can be completed quietly, through force, or via the net. The side jobs are among the best-written content the genre offers, and several of them outshine the main storyline. The major 2.0 update overhauled the skill trees, police behavior, and vehicle combat, changing the game enough that it's worth returning to even for those who played it earlier. A character can be built as a stealthy hacker, an armored brawler with arm implants, or a sniper, with the choice reflected in the dialogue options available.

The native PS5 version added a ray-tracing mode as well as a smooth-performance option, fast loading, and haptic feedback that distinguishes individual weapons. Driving around the city gained pursuits and motorcycle combat in later updates. Night City glows with neon, holograms, and advertising to the point that simply walking the streets works as an experience in itself, and the soundtrack blending industrial, synth music, and rock tracks from fictional bands is among what players remember longest. Reception shifted over time from disappointment to acclaim, helped by the Phantom Liberty expansion. Today, Cyberpunk 2077 is often cited as an example that even a very troubled launch can be fixed through persistent work.