Thanks to the release of CD Projekt Red’s divisiveCyberpunk 2077and the subsequent mainstream attention that it has received, the cyberpunk genre of gaming has found itself in the gaming industry’s attention once again. The resurgence was a long time coming, as aftera strong showing in the 90swith games likeSystem Shock 2andRise Of The Dragon, the genre began to fade and had a noticeable drop in relevancy during the 2000s.
RELATED:10 Forgotten Games from the 2000s That Deserve Remakes
The 2000s may not have been densely packed in terms of pure cyberpunk releases, but there were a few excellent games that implemented cyberpunk themes and are certainly worth revisiting for anyone who has recently gained an interest in the genre’s unique, futuristic settings.
8Messiah
Messiahwas released in the year 2000 and offers one of the most unique cyberpunk experiences available. Players control a putto named Bob, who is sent to earth by God to try and save the earth from its crime-ridden cyberpunk state.
Messiahwon’t have players controlling the flying putto for the game’s entire8-hour runtime, as the religious figure can possess other life forms, predominantly humans, frequently turning the game into a third-person shooter.
7Fear Effect
Fear Effectwas released in February 2000 on PlayStation 1 by Eidos Interactive. The game is best known today for its implementation of cel-shading graphics, becoming one of the first video games ever to incorporate the style.
RELATED:10 Games To Play After Cyberpunk 2077
The cel-shaded graphics, along with the game’s well-written script and memorable setting, madeFear Effectone of the most cinematic experiences of its year. Anyone wanting to try the game for the first time is in luck, asa teaser trailer for a remake was revealed on YouTube in 2017.
6Jak II
Platforming games had a huge drop in relevancy during the 2000s, far more than that of the cyberpunk genre.Mascot characters like Crash and Spyrostruggled to perform on sixth-generation consoles, and mainstream audiences were predominantly opting for titles that provided a sense of realism. One platforming title that did find success on PlayStation 2 wasJak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacywhich truly felt like the next generation of platforming in 2001.
However, the series wouldn’t stick to old-school platforming in wholesome settings for long, and the franchise so took a sharp turn into a more gritty world with gun-fighting action. Naughty Dog clearly still had its younger audience in mind withJak 2, so the cyberpunk themes aren’t explored in as much detail as other games, though the cartoony setting offers a different perspective of the cyberpunk genre that is worth playing for fans.
5Perfect Dark
In 1997 Rare released one of the most influential first-person shooters of all time withGoldenEye 007.The game revolutionized multiplayer gaming on home consoles and influenced numerous games over the decade after its release. Consequently, there were enormous expectations when Rare announced that its next first-person shooter was releasing in 2000:Perfect Dark.
LikeJak 2,Perfect Darkdoesn’t explore its cyberpunk themes in as great of detail as some other games on this list, though the classic shooter is still worth considering for its gameplay alone.
4Mirror’s Edge
Mirror’s Edgeimplements a unique interpretation of the cyberpunk genre visually, with the dark, gloomy tones of most cyberpunk games being replaced with bright, colorful environments that look almost dream-like.
RELATED:10 Parkour-Heavy Games To Play While Waiting For Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time Remake
Electronic Arts’Mirror’s Edgeimmediately turned heads when its first trailer was released. Along with the visuals, gamers were encapsulated by the fluid, freerunning movement and immersive first-person perspective that looked unlike anything seen before.Mirror’s Edgedidn’t reach the groundbreaking heights that many were expecting it to, but it’s stilla solid 6-hour adventurethat will keep players engaged throughout.
3Anachronox
Role-playing gameAnachronoxwas released in 2001 and put players in the shoes of a struggling private investigator who is forced to find work in crime-ridden areas. The game stands out with its excellent storytelling, humor, and voice acting that makes the RPG an engrossing experience.
Unfortunately, the game suffers from some performance and graphical issues that harm the overall product and were likely responsible for the gamenot surpassing an 80 score on Metacritic.
2Deus Ex
Deus Exsits alongsideSystem Shock 2as the most iconic name in the cyberpunk genre’s gaming history. Along with its incredible cyberpunk setting, the game is fondly remembered for its fantastic action RPG elements that go above and beyond many games from its time period and make players feel as though they’re truly having an effect on the world around them.
Deus Ex’s quality didn’t go unnoticed following its release, exemplified by the game’s excellentMetascore of 90and numerous award wins, includingExcellence in Game Design from the Game Developers Choice Awards.
1Deus Ex: Invisible War
Considering theDeus Exfranchise’s influence on the cyberpunk genre in gaming, it feels unfair only to include one of the series' games on this list.Deus Ex: Invisible Warhit stores just over three years after its critically acclaimed predecessor, and although it didn’t quite manage to reach the high expectations set upon it, it’s still a fantastic cyberpunk game that is often underrated due to comparisons with its other entries its iconic series.
