Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a genre exploring the intersection of technology and humanity, the ways people use technology as a form of control, and the ways they use it to rebel against that control and find freedom. Dystopian corporate societies, sprawling neon cityscapes, tranhumanist themes like integrating machine parts into human bodies, and virtual cyberspace, or the internet as a place you can visit, are all hallmarks of cyberpunk. Cyberpunk TTRPGs often feature an oppressed underclass rebelling against their dystopian society by turning its own technology against it. Hackers who rob banking systems, street warriors with black-market cybernetic modifications and stolen military gear, and self-taught engineers who hotwire proprietary technology would all be at home as heroes of a cyberpunk game.
Popular Cyberpunk RPGs
:Otherscape
In the not-so-distant future, the constant bombardment of technological stimuli, known as the Noise, have made human minds so overloaded and numb, that previously hidden occult forces can now operate in the open. :Otherscape is a fantasy-cyberpunk role-playing game that combines supernatural powers inspired by mythology and legend with the gritty neon-lit streets of a sprawling futuristic Megacity. It takes your game group on a rollercoaster ride of gunfights, vehicle chases, cyberspace heists, urban wasteland exploration, clashes of mythology and technology, faction wars, and philosophical questions about the nature of being human — and how to transcend it.
CY_BORG
The world is ending. ⸐ Again and again and again and again and again a̶n̴͗d̵̥͒ ̸̎ă̶ġ̸a̵̢͗i̶͙̓n̸̡̔ ă̵̢̫̥̺̻̞n̵͔̽̿̏̓͋͠͝d̴̢̪̟͊ ̵̡̺̖̰̯͖̞̓̑̐̈́̍̋a̶̤̘̖͗͐̀̔̚̚g̴̛͇̻̦̻͇̲̈́̏à̷̩̫͒ḯ̷̡̱̀̀̀͠ṇ̶̦̔͜. Constantly in flux; shifting, distorting, always reborn as something worse. Destruction by ecological catastrophes, the fallout of history’s belligerence; by modern man-made Miseries or the blood spilled by the reckless machine of capitalist supremacy. Mankind’s greatest ability truly is to destroy itself in creative ways. Designer demise, consumer-customized death, endlessly on repeat. Poisonous space rocks, nuclear weapons, cyclical revolutions, warring nations, warring corporations, warring neighbors; pandemics, tsunamis, volcanoes. In between it all: direct person-machine interfaces, tactical neural implants, and bacteria from outer space hijacking intercellular nanorobotics. And the sky is full of ads. Everyone is interfaced/injected/infected/infested with something. Everyone wants something from everyone else. Everyone is a liar and a cheat. Everyone wants more creds. Welcome to the year 20X3. Welcome to the City of Y!̸͆̅̌”̶͌̉#̸͇̞̻̌̚”̶̨̻̘̇̉̊͆̈́͒̌̆̓̕͜#̶̖̣̘̻͖̥͕̙̀̃̈́́̄̕̕͜͠2̶̧̻̺̝̥̮̣̒͒̂͐͐̍́́͘̕̕4̴̿̌’̷̛̙͍̠̙̿ The Cy.
Blade Runner: The Roleplaying Game
A neon-noir wonderland that’ll take your breath away. One way or another. An evocative world of conflicts and contrasts that dares to ask the hard questions and investigate the powers of empathy, the poisons of fear, and the burdens of being human during inhumane times. An iconic and unforgiving playground of endless possibilities that picks you up, slaps you in the face, and tells you to wake up. Time to live. Or time to die. Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game propels you into the streets of Los Angeles as Blade Runners with unique specialties, personalities – and memories. The game pushes the boundaries of investigative gameplay in tabletop RPGs, giving you a range of tools to solve an array of cases far beyond retiring Replicants. Beyond the core casework, the RPG showcases the key themes of Blade Runner – sci-fi action, corporate intrigue, existential character drama, and moral conflict. It challenges you to question your friends, empathize with your enemies, and explore the poisons and perseverance of hope and humanity during inhumane times.
Frequently asked questions about Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk Reviews and Actual Plays
Cyberpunk RED Live Play
Legendary designer Mike Pondsmith runs his game Cyberpunk RED for a party including Matthew Lillard and Luke Gygax.
CY_BORG: Reaper Repo
Mystery Quest plays CY_BORG, the cyberpunk version of Mörk Borg!
Shadowrun: Corporate SINs
Hyper RPG plays the classic cyberpunk fantasy game Shadowrun.