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Extra Credits12 Mar 2014

Games You Might Not Have Tried: Cyberpunk - Find New Games - Extra Credits

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
The Shadowrun series, spanning the SNES, Genesis, and modern Shadowrun Returns, is a cornerstone of the genre, with the latter specifically noted for its community-driven modding toolkit.
02
System Shock 2 is identified as a seminal title and the spiritual predecessor to the BioShock franchise.
03
Hacker simulation games like Uplink and Hacker Evolution provide distinct mechanical approaches to the genre, contrasting with traditional RPG or point-and-click structures.
04
Snatcher is highlighted for its strong narrative parallels to the film Blade Runner, while Gemini Rue is recommended for its noir-inspired, point-and-click gameplay.
05
Niche or older titles such as the FMV-based Burn:Cycle and the strategy game Chaos Overlords are considered essential for understanding the historical breadth of cyberpunk gaming despite their dated mechanics.
06
A deeper appreciation of the genre's thematic roots is often found in its literary origins, specifically William Gibson’s Burning Chrome.

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Transcript

Do you like dystopian noir near futures where technology makes anything possible? James does. In fact, he loves cyberpunk, so he has just been itching to bring you this games you might not have tried cyberpunk edition. Same rules as usual apply. You won't be finding any of the Deus Ex series or Syndicate on here because if you love cyberpunk, you probably already tried those. Also, you might notice a couple of recommendations on specialty lists like this one were featured on previous games you might not have tried episodes. I'm putting these here anyway because they're good underplayed cyberpunk games and we can't just assume that everyone who clicks on this video is a seasoned pro like you who's seen every episode. Here we go. Snatcher. You know what Kojima did before the Metal Gear Solid series? He created a Blade Runner-esque cyberpunk adventure game and it's kind of awesome. If you like Kojima but have always wanted to see a little bit more of a straightforward narrative from him or if

you've just wanted to see him full-on embrace the sci-fi cyberpunk elements he's always shown in the Metal Gear series, here's one for you. Shadowrun for the Super Nintendo. One of those forgotten greats in the annals of the SNES RPGs, this game falls more in the vein of some of the Black Isle or Origin work than the JRPGs you mostly find on that console. It's got great cyberpunk theming, the crazy Shadowrun world, an excellent noir feel, and an intriguing mystery to solve. If you're looking for cyberpunk on your Super Nintendo, you literally cannot do better than this. Shadowrun on the Genesis. If you want more 16-bit cyberpunk, there was a Shadowrun made for the Genesis as well and though the title's the same, these are completely different games. This one's more of an open world adventure with an overarching mystery for you to unravel while you explore to

your heart's content. It's a little bit more difficult than this NES version and the beginning can be really punishing, so just be warned. It actually gets a lot easier when the world opens up and you get to explore. So, don't get discouraged if you find yourself out of clips and desperately grinding at the very beginning. It'll get easier. Shadowrun Returns Yes, Shadowrun does get three entries on this list. Because Shadowrun And nearly 20 years after its predecessor was released on the SNES, this return to the Shadowrun world, while far from perfect, is an excellent start. While the main campaign is a fun romp chock-full of cameos from the other two games and easily worth your time for anyone who's a fan of the IP or the genre. What's most exciting is the toolkit.

Shadowrun Returns is built to be easily modded, allowing anyone to create their own adventures in the Shadowrun world. Steam's already got a vibrant community on Workshop, so here's hoping we see Shadowrun Returns become more than just one additional trek through this world. System Shock 2 Normally, I wouldn't put something like this on a games you might not have tried list because I just assume everyone has played it, but James keeps running into students that haven't played it, so I'm just going to say this because it's really important. If you haven't played System Shock 2, finish this video, then go pick it up and play System Shock 2 today. There is a reason this game appears on so many best games of all time lists. And it's the spiritual predecessor to BioShock, which Ken Levine also led the design for. Seriously, just play it. Today.

Uplink. If you ever wanted to play a hacker simulation that doesn't involve all of that tedious knowing command lines, here it is. And actually, if you can get through the atrocious UI and user experience, it's got a lot more narrative to it than I was expecting when I first jumped in. There's conspiracy, and mystery, betrayal. Heck, they even have a morality meter. And they call it your Neuromancer rating. Come on, that's great. Hacker Evolution. On the reverse side, do you want a little more command line typing in your hacking experience? Try Hacker Evolution. I'll confess that I found the deep having to type in every command and every server address a bit on the tedious side, but if that's your bag, you will certainly get your fill with Hacker Evolution.

Gemini Rue. This one is a bit more Blade Runner than Cyberpunk, but I have to put this one here just for the style in the world. It's an adventure game in the old LucasArts point-and-click adventure game sense. And this means it's probably not for most of you out there, but for those of you who still delve into games whose mechanics mostly involve solving logic puzzles by dragging an item from your inventory to its corresponding point on the screen, this is a fine piece of work. Once you get into it, its story is strong. It's got a great narrative device, and it's set in a world filled with all the sci-fi conspiranoia you might want. Burn Cycle What list of cyberpunk games would be complete without Burn Cycle? The FMV adventure game that came out in the

heyday of FMV games on that most glorious of systems, the CDI. It's a recipe for success. Seriously though, if you can get past the slightly hammy FMV, it's actually not a bad piece of light cyberpunk. Actually, it's probably better acted and written than Keanu Reeves' Johnny Mnemonic, for whatever that's worth. But since we're talking about it, if you love cyberpunk and you haven't read Burning Chrome, the William Gibson anthology that Johnny Mnemonic comes from and a lot of the games here draw from, it's high time you do. It's a great book and you might get more out of your playing a lot of these games knowing the roots of the genre. So, yeah. Book you might not have tried, Burning Chrome. And finally, just for fun, Chaos Overlords. I don't know if this qualifies as cyberpunk or if it just feels a little cyberpunky, but since we have no turn-based strategies on this list, here's one. If there were a gang wars version of the old Steve Jackson game Illuminati, I feel like this would be it. If you've ever asked yourself, in a

dystopic future, could I form a criminal organization out of a band of misfits and rule my city? This game lets you find out. Well, until next time, enjoy the cyberpunky goodness. We'll see you next week. Woo!

Summary

The primary purpose of this analysis is to curate a list of underplayed or overlooked video games within the cyberpunk genre. The selection focuses on titles that offer distinct gameplay experiences or narrative depth, intentionally excluding mainstream staples like the Deus Ex or Syndicate series to ensure the recommendations remain fresh for enthusiasts. The scope covers a broad historical range of gaming, spanning from early console titles to modern PC indie releases, emphasizing the genre's evolution through various mechanical styles, including RPGs, point-and-click adventures, and simulation games.

Key recommendations include Snatcher, noted for its Blade Runner-esque narrative, and the Shadowrun series, which is highlighted for its diverse iterations across the SNES, Genesis, and the modern Shadowrun Returns. The latter is specifically praised for its modding toolkit, which fosters community-driven content. Other notable mentions include System Shock 2, identified as a seminal title and spiritual predecessor to BioShock; Uplink and Hacker Evolution, which offer contrasting approaches to hacker simulations; and Gemini Rue, which utilizes classic point-and-click mechanics to deliver a noir-inspired sci-fi experience.

The analysis concludes that while some titles, such as the FMV-based Burn:Cycle or the strategy-focused Chaos Overlords, may feature dated mechanics or niche appeal, they remain essential for understanding the breadth of the genre. Furthermore, the inclusion of William Gibson’s Burning Chrome serves as a foundational recommendation, suggesting that a deeper appreciation of cyberpunk gaming is often rooted in the literary origins of the genre. The overall thesis posits that these lesser-known titles provide significant value to players seeking to explore the thematic and stylistic variety inherent in dystopian, near-future settings.