Cyberpunk 2077: is it still worth playing?

Cyberpunk 2077: why the first hours are a slog and why it's worth pushing through

Anyone who's played it: does it get better or does it stay the same? That's the question on the mind of anyone who, three hours in, hits a wall of obscure terms —tecs, corps, neuros— and a mechanic that seems designed so that nobody understands anything. The game sells an open cyberpunk world, but the reality is a jumble of implicit tutorials and lore that never quite clicks.

The learning curve is real (and it hurts)

The first thing that hits you is the initial chaos. While your implants get hacked and you lose health without knowing why, it feels like you're fighting the interface itself. The lore is extensive and unfamiliar, and the main story doesn't bother to explain it: you have to piece things together on your own. Story-driven side quests help, but the repetitive gigs are a trap many recommend skipping. The key, they say, is to focus on the main quest and let the story pull you along.

Does it change with levels and upgrades?

Yes, and a lot. Once you start leveling up and equipping decent implants, the range of possibilities explodes. You can build a hacker who takes out enemies without them knowing where it came from, a ninja who slows down time, or a punching machine that leaves no one standing. The sense of power is addictive, but getting there takes patience.

Those who have finished it highlight that the narrative, especially in the side quests and the Phantom Liberty expansion, elevates the whole thing to a work of art. It poses philosophical dilemmas about identity and humanity that leave no one indifferent. However, the worldbuilding also gets criticized: lots of filler data that affects nothing, and weapon scaling that absurdly favors pistols.

The unsettling context: fiction or near reality?

Beyond the gameplay, some point out that the Cyberpunk 2077 universe isn't all that dystopian. Corporations like Arasaka (or Militech) already have real parallels in companies like Palantir, whose economic and political power blurs the lines of government. Night City, with its mega corporations running wild, doesn't seem so far away. That uncomfortable realism adds a layer of reflection that some players value above the mechanics.

In short, if you're willing to get past the three hours of initial chaos and let the story carry you, Cyberpunk 2077 transforms into an experience that justifies the effort. If not, you delete it after thirty minutes and spare yourself the ordeal. Like everything in life, it's a matter of patience.