Dive into the world of Cyberpunk with this overview—from the roots of the sci-fiction genre and the groundbreaking tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG); to the high-tech chaos of the hit game, Cyberpunk 2077. This will be a complete beginner’s guide to the franchise: its lineage, history, and evolution. Wake up, Samurai; this is going to be a fun one.
What Is "Cyberpunk"?
Most gamers have heard of Cyberpunk 2077: the open-world action role-playing video game set in a dystopian, technologically-advanced future. You might have heard about Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, the 2022 anime which heavily references the game. However, far fewer people know that the game originated from a tabletop game released in 1988. So then: where did the franchise start?
First, it's important to note that the Cyberpunk world did not appear out of nowhere. The title's name derives from the cyberpunk genre (with a lowercase "c"). Examples you might have heard about include: the 1977 comic series, Judge Dredd; the 1982 film, Bladerunner; the 1989 manga, Ghost in the Shell; and many more.
Essentially, cyberpunk media is a part of the science-fiction genre, and depicts a dark and gritty future. Common elements like corporate greed, societal decay, and technological advancements have warped basic conceptions of humanity. Cyborgs plague crime-ridden cities, and hackers wreak digital havoc on the world. To better please their corporate and government overlords, the average person replaces their own body with cybernetic parts. In short, to invoke this genre is to ask: what does it mean to be human, when our minds, bodies, and souls are all replaceable?
The Tabletop Game
"Got the Metal beneath my skin–I'm chippin' in..."
With those themes in mind, the specific Cyberpunk world we're discussing originated from editions of the 1988 tabletop game (most notably "Cyberpunk 2020," after the year it attempted to depict). The game was created by Mike Pondsmith, who was among the first to adapt the genre into the medium of tabletop role-playing games (or "TTRPG"). The game takes place in the dystopian and violence-riddled Night City, where corporate interests, street gangs, and mercenaries all struggle to survive.
Chief among Cyberpunk's features is "cyberwear," which refers to any number of technological enhancements players can acquire for their characters. Cyberwear range from cosmetic touches, like color-changing hair and "chem skin"; utility tools like cyber-optic eyes and scanners; or weapons like folding "mantis blades," and arm-mounted grenade launchers. Other noteworthy systems include "netrunning," which allows players to hack into technology and explore a dangerous online internet.
As is the case in more traditional fantasy TTRPGs like Pathfinder, characters made in Cyberpunk 2020 can change their appearance and capabilities greatly. However, technology—not magic—is the supreme force at play.
With countless factions, skills, and customization options, Cyberpunk 2020 and its expansions are top-tier specimens of tabletop gaming and worldbuilding, and are worth exploring for any avid TTRPG enthusiasts. Of particular relevance is the tabletop's gritty tones, which are best-complemented with Michael Ghelfi Studios' own take on themed audio. Likewise, the Opus platform has plenty of moody audio elements that are perfect for your themed sessions.
Cyberpunk 2077: The Video Game
Cyberpunk 2020 is a magnificent TTRPG in its own right, and was ripe for adaption into a digital medium. Enter CD PROJEKT RED, best known for the series of video games, The Witcher (which we briefly explored in a previous history of TTRPGs). In 2020, CD PROJEKT RED released Cyberpunk 2077: an open-world action-RPG that skillfully encapsulates the genre.
Cyberpunk 2077 is set in the ever-dystopian Night City some 50 years after the events of the TTRPG. At first, the game seemed destined for success. This was evident from years of exponentially-growing hype, and casting choices such as the actor, Keanu Reeves. His likeness and voice was used for Johnny Silverhand, a major character from the TTRPG and a driving force within the game's story.
However, Cyberpunk 2077's release was fraught with controversy. Generally, many criticized its buggy gameplay; poor visual performance (especially on console versions); and the game's lack of several features—like customizable cars—which were implied during the game's promotion, but absent upon release.
While initial reception was harsh, the gaming world has slowly warmed up to Cyberpunk 2077. Multiple patches addressed the game's technical shortcomings, and thereby allowed the game's intricate atmosphere and stunning visuals to shine. At present, the game exists in a much better state than it did at launch. While its action gameplay is engaging and fun, the game's story, worldbuilding, visuals, and even its music are poignant works that faithfully complement the themes of cyberpunk fiction.
The Extended Universe
This universe extends beyond its tabletop expansions and video games. Notably, in 2022, the anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners debuted on Netflix. Consisting of a ten episodes within a single season, the miniseries is an unfiltered, action-packed romp set right before the events of the video game. In total, Edgerunners is as thrilling as it is heart-wrenching, and adeptly explores not just broader cyberpunk themes, but also the Night City setting—including various in-game locations.
In addition, those interested in exploring this futuristic world can read comic books set in-universe. The first such comic was Trauma Team. It focuses on the Trauma Team; the finest medical first responders that insurance can buy. Medics in the Trauma Team are equal parts soldier and savior; they deal or deny death with comparable levels of surgical precision. As long as you pay the premiums, that is...
In Conclusion
If this overview was anything to go by, it's safe to say that Cyberpunk is here to stay. What's more is that several new projects are on the horizon. As of recently, CD PROJEKT RED has announced that a sequel has entered pre-production. Furthermore, Netflix has signaled that a new anime is in the works. So, whether you're a fan of TTRPGs, an avid gamer, or a fan of the science-fiction genre, Cyberpunk is something worth chippin' in for.
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