AAA games from big developers, like CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077, often release merch, like tabletop games, to keep the hype going and attract potential new players. The quality of such board games varies, but Cyberpunk 2077‘s Gangs of Night City seems to be a good one to pick up. It’s no surprise, as it’s created by CMON, one of the biggest publishers in the board game sphere, whose other hit games include Cthulu Death May Die, Zombicide, and tie-ins like Kick-Ass: The Board Game. Gangs of Night City‘s gameplay is similar to turn-based strategy titles like Civilization and Age of Empires, and it would be an excellent inspiration for a Cyberpunk 2077 video game in the same genre.
Cyberpunk 2077‘s tabletop game was released back on February 9, 2024, with a suggested retail price of $109.99 USD, but fans can get it for well below $100 now. The game’s main objective is to rack up more street cred than the other players. They can do this by growing their gang’s influence by battling other factions, recruiting new members, grabbing territory, and even taking on corporations using card-driven scenarios. The set also comes with figurines featuring the franchise’s popular characters, like Johnny Silverhand.
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The Case for a Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City Video Game
Cyberpunk 2077‘s tabletop game is already a neat alternative way to get the Night City experience. However, it could also be a great video game spin-off for major platforms and handheld consoles.
Night City’s Gangs are Diverse and Filled With Interesting Personalities
A game’s factions are excellent tools for setting up conflicts and building the player characters’ identity. Cyberpunk 2077 does a great job of ensuring that each gang in Night City has a distinct identity and solid leadership. A great example of this is the Voodoo Boys, a Pacifica-based group of Haitians known for their exceptional Netrunning skills. One of their leaders, Maman Brigitte, is one of the most prominent Netrunners in Night City. She’s known for her expeditions to the Blackwall to find ways to communicate and ally with the rogue intelligences beyond it.
A Civilization-style game featuring leaders like Maman Brigitte and her gang of Voodoo Boys is a great way to see another side of the conflicts that plague the town. Players won’t be on the outside looking in, like V in the main game. They’ll be running and growing the gangs of Night City themselves, which gives them a closer look at each gang’s inner workings and relationships in Cyberpunk 2077. Those who like the franchise’s story and want a slower-paced game may also benefit from playing a turn-based strategy spin-off.
It’s a Great Way to Introduce the Cyberpunk 2077 Franchise to More Platforms
What’s cool about turn-based strategy games is that they don’t need a lot of fancy graphics to perform well, as players aren’t necessarily looking for an immersive experience like in RPGs. As such, they’re easy to port into handheld and mobile platforms. Spin-off games like the construction and management sim Fallout Shelter have become quite successful in recent years because they’re easy to run and play on almost any modern device. It also helps that it tides fans over from the lack of new mainline Fallout game releases in the past years. A well-made Cyberpunk 2077 game in this genre can potentially open the franchise to an even larger audience.
CD Projekt Red also has some experience developing spin-offs like Gwent, Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, and The Witcher: Monster Slayer. All of these offer gameplay experiences that differ from those of their mainline counterparts. Therefore, a turn-based strategy game or something similar would be a welcome possibility for the Cyberpunk 2077 franchise in the future.
- Released
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December 10, 2020
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol