Should You Play Cyberpunk 2077 in 2026? A Resounding Yes.

Even with its flaws, Cyberpunk 2077 absolutely delivers an incredible experience worth diving into for most gamers. The immersive open world, engaging stories, and vastly improved technical state make Night City an unforgettable virtual mecca to get lost in despite some lingering issues.

When it first launched in December 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 was plagued by bugs, performance issues and missing features – especially on consoles. It was a crashing disappointment after years of immense hype. But developer CD Projekt Red has released over 15 major patches and hotfixes since then to rectify the rocky launch. These have addressed thousands of bugs, improved graphics options, revamped driving physics, added new customization options and side activities, and optimized performance across platforms.

While problems still occasionally crop up, the consensus is that the game is in a much more stable and optimized state compared to launch. So let‘s dive deeper into the current state of Cyberpunk 2077 and whether it‘s worth playing in 2022.

Cyberpunk 2077‘s Redemption Arc

Cyberpunk 2077 was unquestionably one of the most anticipated games in years. The hype cycle began years before its release, driven by:

• CD Projekt Red‘s pedigree after the success of The Witcher 3
• Keanu Reeves‘ involvement and breathtaking E3 reveal
• Promises of an immersive open world cyberpunk RPG epic

But this immense hype backfired spectacularly. On December 10, 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 launched in an unplayable state marred by:

• Rampant bugs and glitches
• Horrific performance, especially on consoles
• Absent or broken features like AI and physics
• Game-breaking crashes halting progress

The backlash from fans and critics was immense. Sony even pulled the game from the PlayStation store.

Platform	Metacritic Score at Launch
PC	86
PS4	55
Xbox One	57

But CDPR worked extensively over the following year to deliver patches and hotfixes. Major updates like 1.2 and 1.3 fixed thousands of bugs, while 1.5 and 1.6 focused on tech upgrades, AI, driving, and open world polish.

Now in April 2022, Cyberpunk 2077‘s Metacritic score has rebounded to:

Platform	Metacritic Score April 2022
PC	86
PS5	78
Xbox Series X	S

While not perfect, the game now delivers largely on its promise depending on your platform and expectations.

Night City Shines in 2022

Where Cyberpunk 2077 truly shines even back at launch was its immersive open world and engaging stories. And the improvements over the last year have allowed these strengths to shine brighter than ever:

The Open World is Incredible to Explore

Night City remains one of the most impressive game worlds brought to life. The different districts, gang factions, architecture styles, and vibrant sights make open world exploration an absolute joy.

Driving around the city streets and stopping off at shops, bars, and hidden spots never gets old. There are so many hidden gems and routes to discover beyond just following the minimap.

The city really feels lived in – with citizens going about their lives and reacting to your actions. The sights and sounds are incredibly lifelike and immerse you into this futuristic cyberpunk society.

Stories, Quests, and Characters Come Alive

But Night City is more than just an incredible backdrop – the characters you meet and stories you embark on are even more rewarding.

Well-written narratives that tackle thought-provoking themes of transhumanism and corporate power run throughout the strong main campaign and robust side quests.

Complex characters like Johnny Silverhand and Judy Alvarez are highlights – their distinct personalities, ideologies, and relationship dynamics are top notch. Their character arcs and questlines providing incredibly rewarding moments and emotional payoff.

Night City wouldn‘t nearly be as impactful without the stories and characters that inhabit it. And CDPR‘s writing and narrative design remains exceptional.

Jaw-Dropping Visual Presentation

And tying this all together is the jaw-dropping visual presentation – Cyberpunk 2077 is easily one of the most gorgeous and visually impressive games ever made.

Ray tracing and native 4K support on PC allow Cyberpunk‘s lighting, textures, and details to absolutely shine. From the cityscapes to the character and tech designs, the game is a breathtaking spectacle to behold.

The first time stepping out into the open world remains a goosebumps moment as you‘re flooded by the sights and density of Night City in all its glory.

Some minor graphical bugs still occasionally manifest here and there. But the scope and attention to detail poured into Cyberpunk 2077‘s visuals are astounding accomplishments that immerse you wholly into the world.

Growing Pains Still Persist

However, despite how far it‘s come, Cyberpunk 2077 still exhibits some frustrating weaknesses that persist in dampening the overall experience.

Braindead AI Hampers Immersion

The simplistic AI routines for pedestrians and enemies remain an immersion-breaking point in Night City. Seeing NPCs cower mindlessly during shootouts or perform illogical actions damages the credibility of this seemingly living open world.

Their behavioral patterns are far too limited, making crowds feel like old-school JRPG towns rather than a bustling, dense futuristic city. It‘s an area where Cyberpunk frequently kills your suspension of disbelief.

Some updates have provided minor AI improvements, but much deeper revamps are still needed.

RPG Systems Lack Depth

Cyberpunk also struggles to fully deliver the truly deep RPG experience it seemed to promise. The hacking, loot, crafting, and skill systems all feel quite basic and unpolished without much viable build variety.

Compared to genre benchmarks like Deus Ex or Fallout: New Vegas, the RPG systems here seem like an afterthought rather than a core backbone. It definitely steers far more into the action-adventure lane.

The lack of varied, meaningful player choices beyond combat also minimizes the sense of agency and roleplaying freedom.

Last-Gen Consoles Remain Flawed

And while next-gen consoles and PC run Cyberpunk 2077 quite smoothly now, last-gen systems continue to struggle.

PS4 and Xbox One versions are certainly playable now but retain distracting pop-in, framerate dips, crashes, and visual downgrades. If you only own a last-gen console, I‘d recommend still waiting for the major next-gen upgrade patch before diving in.

The Verdict – Night City is Worth Visiting in 2022

Despite these lingering flaws, I firmly believe Cyberpunk 2077 is absolutely worth playing and experiencing first-hand for any fan of story-driven, open world games. The breadth of content and phenomenal artistic execution outweigh the rough edges.

Could its AI, physics, RPG mechanics, and last-gen performance be better? Absolutely. But even in its current form, exploring Night City and following V on his/her journey remains one of the most memorable gaming experiences of the decade so far.

The brilliant world-building and narrative tapestry woven here shouldn‘t be missed. Just approach it from an open-world action-adventure mindset rather than expecting a flawless RPG masterwork.

I wholeheartedly recommend diving into Cyberpunk 2077 during 2022 and letting yourself become immersed in Night City‘s stories and residents. It only gets better from here as CDPR continues to refine the formula.

Who Should Play Cyberpunk 2077 in 2022?

Cyberpunk 2077 is absolutely worth playing in 2022 for:

• Open world fans – the immersive density of Night City is a dream to explore and lose yourself in.

• Story/Lore junkies – brilliant narratives and worldbuilding that will stick with you.

• FPS lovers – tight shooting and action complements the stories nicely.

• Visual fiends – few games match Cyberpunk 2077‘s visual splendor.

• PC owners – best way to experience Night City in all its ray tracing glory if you have the hardware.

But you may still want to wait if:

• You primarily enjoy mechanically deep RPGs – systems are a bit simplistic.

• You demand flawless AI routines – still some quirks and immersion breakers.

• You only own a last-gen console – major next-gen upgrade with ray tracing coming in 2022.

No matter your tastes though, Cyberpunk 2077 undoubtedly delivers a one-of-a-kind adventure.

Platform Recommendations

Based on your platform, here‘s my recommendation on playing Cyberpunk 2077:

PC

Absolutely get it if your rig meets the recommended specs. Enabling ray tracing and high FPS allows Cyberpunk 2077‘s visuals to truly shine at their peak. Just be sure to install community mods and patches to fix lingering crashes and bugs.

Verdict: 9/10

PS5 & Xbox Series X|S

Next-gen consoles provide stable 60 FPS gameplay and visuals close to PC quality. Some minor bugs still exist, but the experience is vastly smoother than last-gen systems.

Verdict: 8/10

PS4 & Xbox One

Barely recommended unless found at a deep discount. While improved, last-gen systems still struggle with performance and stability. I‘d suggest waiting for the major next-gen upgrade patch before playing here.

Verdict: 6/10

No matter your platform, Cyberpunk 2077 undoubtedly provides an incredible world, story, and aesthetic. Just be sure to approach it with calibrated expectations around gameplay systems and technical polish. Night City remains a breathtaking achievement that‘s easy to get lost in despite the flaws.

The Road Ahead for Cyberpunk

While Cyberpunk 2077 still isn‘t a masterpiece, the improvements over the past year have successfully pulled it back from the brink following its disastrous launch. It sets a strong foundation for CD Projekt Red to build upon.

And the studio has committed to keep refining Night City – a major AI overhaul is planned alongside the upcoming Phantom Liberty DLC expansion in 2024.

Cyberpunk‘s redemption arc still has a ways to go. But with continued patches and expansions, Night City may yet reach its full potential as one of gaming‘s most engaging open worlds.

I‘m excited to see what‘s still in store. Even in its current form, Cyberpunk 2077 remains one of the most impressive gaming feats of the decade with stories and characters that stay with you long after.

It deserves a fresh look in 2022. There are countless great experiences waiting in the dusty streets of Night City – go find them for yourself.

Just be sure to keep your humanity in check and watch out for any rogue AIs along the way.