It’s been quite a while since a game like Cyberpunk 2077 has come around. Until recently, it’s a game that is more ambitious than well-executed. For many months after its release, it even disappeared from the marketplace. The damage has been done, fixed, and fixed again. Now finally, it seems like Cyberpunk 2077 has found stability. It is essentially the game developer CD Projekt Red imagined it to be.
Welcome to Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is a first-person action role-playing game. Its original release date was December 2020. The massive open-world game with stunning visuals and intricate characters is available on PlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. While the game runs on all these platforms, it seems better suited for newer-gen consoles.
In Cyberpunk 2077, players take the role of V, a customizable mercenary looking for a once-in-a-lifetime upgrade in a world that lives on them. The goal is to make your way up in the world by pulling jobs while getting to experience the wonders of Night City. In a world where upgrading yourself and modifications are a must it’s not surprising there’s more to this game than the original offering.
Add-ons
With all the game’s trials and tribulations, developers pushed back any additional content. Now even that is coming to fruition with the Phantom Liberty DLC expansion releasing on September 26, 2023. This will be the first expansion for the game, but not the first addition to it. Many mods are available for the game from individual fans and users. Now, even CD Projekt Red is a part of the modding action.
These mods add to various aspects of the game to make it more interesting, give players something for sticking with the game, and sometimes make the game function better. Mods for Cyberpunk 2077 are available only on the PC version.
A Unique Opportunity
The situation with Cyberpunk 2077 is unique because of the game’s struggles. Mods not only make the game more diverse or allow for interesting replays, but here they can make the game playable. This is part of the reason why CD Projekt Red has released official modding tools to make modding Cyberpunk 2077 easier.
The toolkit is called REDMod and allows you to create anything you can think of and put it in the game. All you have to do is use the tools to craft it. You can download the kit off CD Projekt Red’s site or Steam for free. These mods work with existing mods and are made to make the process more accessible. The developer seems to support the mod game and wants to see what players can do. Now users who may have been previously intimidated by the process have an officially supported way of experimenting and seeing what they come up with.
The Easy Way
Crafting your own mod isn’t for everyone, though. Luckily, there are plenty of mods already out there you can easily download and install for free. Most of these have simple instructions, and some even have FAQs in their links. These mods can also be uninstalled easily if you don’t like them or if they cause a dip in performance. Note that many of these mods require installing other mods first to act as a foundation. The instructions on the mod page usually detail the system and mod requirements.
In the world of Night City, fueled by upgrades and enhancements, it’s only logical that there are many diverse mods that users can make to alter the world. With so many to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. To make things easier and give you a place to start, here are 5 Cyberpunk 2077 mods you should try today.
5 Best Cyberpunk 2077 Mods
- Drone Companions
- Let There Be Flight
- HD Reworked Project
- Wall Hang
- Unlock Night City
Robot Recruits
Cyberpunk 2077 is a single-player game, but that doesn’t mean you must travel Night City alone. The Drone Companion mod allows you to recruit or build your own posse of robots. The mod adds the TechDeck, which gives you the components to construct multiple drone buddies.
The robots in the game are a frequent enemy but never friendly. Why not hire some robotic backup of your own to even the odds? You could even pit your bots against the enemy and sit back and watch the fun.
Your drones vary in rareness, quality, and diversity. Flying drones that take to the skies, like Hunter-Killers from T2, are an easy choice. Bi-pedal blasters that look like Chappie makes for a fun ride-along companion. If you like to go overboard, there are giant ED-209 models you can also craft and set to kill. Don’t forget to outfit these companions with unique weapons and abilities like invisibility for maximum effectiveness.
Finally, Flying Cars
The Let There Be Flight mod gives you everything you need to take your vehicle to the skies. It adds thrusters, sound effects, and all the visuals required for flying cars in Cyberpunk 2077.
This mod allows you to soar above enemies and beat traffic. Regular driving in the game is clunky and challenging. Trying to just get from one point to another can lead to unwanted heat, confrontations, and wasted time. Flying adds another flight simulator-like aspect and lets you view the city from a new perspective.
There is a better vehicle handling mod to compensate for the clunky maneuvering currently present in the game. Why even bother, though, when you can take to the skies like Doc Brown in Back to the Future II? Sadly, there’s no time traveling yet.
There’s also a Blade Runner spinner mod, so you can literally look like a cop in the universe Cyberpunk essentially is based on and contains so many easter eggs for.
Texture, Texture, Texture
The HD Reworked Project mod targets both visual and performance texture upgrades. This mod makes the game look and run smoother. It provides crisp upgrades to the environment, like walls, terrain, vegetation, and graffiti.
This mod comes from Halk Hogan, who successfully retextured The Witcher 3 through a mod. The mod should up your game experience without causing a dip in performance. The only thing required is enough video card memory. Luckily there are two versions of this mod to accommodate any memory level and computer specifications.
There is the balanced version for those who don’t have as much memory or power behind their PC. This mod should run smoothly despite not having top-end displays. The ultra-quality mod pushes the boundaries of 2K and 4K displays. Those with the space and power should choose this version to take full advantage of the upgrade.
Wall Hang
This mod is strictly for fun. Keanu Reeves is in the game, so why not add a little Matrix flair. The Wall Hang mod allows you to move like you know kung fu. Wall Hang essentially adds three basic movements that can be used to traverse Night City, enhance combat, or just make you look like a crazy person.
Hang allows you to hang on walls when you touch them until you perform your next action. If your next action is performed quickly you can string them together to move across or up the wall similar to a wall run in parkour or The Matrix. Jumping gives you the chance to jump off a wall after you touch it. This clearly opens up some unique movement options.
Crawl gives you a chance to move like Spider-Man, sticking to the wall or ceiling after you make contact with it. This may be best suited for opening up stealth options. Crawling on the wall or ceiling may also make you look like a crazy person.
These moves combine to add an experience similar to games like Assassin’s Creed or Mirror’s Edge.
Unlock Night City
Night City is massive, and Cyberpunk 2077 is a long and immersive game. There are nooks and crannies everywhere to discover something new or get into more trouble. With that said, there is always room for more, right?
The Unlock Night City mod allows you to open every door and space in the game. With this mod enabled you get to explore more of the world than ever. Doors locked after completing missions, NPC apartments, and anywhere else you haven’t thought of are now options.
This mod doesn’t change how the game plays precisely, but it gives you another reason to return to the city. Cyberpunk 2077 has its flaws, but expansiveness is not one of them. Use the mod to get a little more fun and snooping around out of your game no matter how far you’ve played.
For The Best
Unfortunately, these mods aren’t available for the game’s console versions. They add a new level of difficulty, interest, and customization to an already vast experience. Cyberpunk 2077, for the most part, has come into its own. Those who stuck with the game or jumped on after the many fixes have a game worth playing.
These mods created by players can almost serve as side missions or DLC for a game that doesn’t yet have any. They are good for the game and, although they may take some time to sort through, worthwhile. Once you pick your mod, follow the instructions and test it out. Mods can easily be swapped out though some will require additional mods before they work correctly.
Best of all, these mods are still coming. The support from CD Projekt Red means that mods are here to stay and may turn into something even more serious. Try out these five mods today, and if you don’t agree they’re the best, try another five tomorrow!