Summary
Cyberpunk 2077has become one of the best single-player RPG experiences available after years of bug fixes and enhancements. As CD Projekt Red’s successor toThe Witcher 3, the game had absolutely massive shoes to fill.The Witcherseries became famous because of the third entry’s super detailed open world, rich side quests, and incredible cast of characters.Cyberpunk 2077created a living world as well, and for the most part, its side quests and characters tell compelling stories too, with the Phantom Liberty expansion making the experience even better. One place the game fell short, however, is in regard to its in-world mini-games and activities.
The Witcher 3introduced players to the game of Gwent.Gwentis an in-world card game that Geralt can play against various opponents littered around the open world. Winning a match in the game is typically rewarded with a new card, and some merchants may sell them as well. Playing Gwent and earning cards is an often addicting cycle, and the game became one of the reasons that people pick up and playThe Witcher 3. The mini-game is so beloved that CD Projekt released a standalone game in the form ofGwent: The Witcher CardGame, though this version has different rules for balancing purposes.
Gwent Is An Instrumental Part of The Witcher 3
Not only is Gwent an entertaining side activity, it also helps to build the game’s world. Gwent’s cards pull fromThe Witcher 3’s folkloreand mythology, showing the importance of certain figures and occasionally poking fun at characters in the story. Additionally, Gwent is a game played by NPCs. It gives Geralt something to do with the common folk, merchants, and other people of the places he goes to. The world ofThe Witcheris an often bleak one, so it makes sense that the people in it would want some sort of hobby to escape into. In this way, Gwent serves as a way to ground Geralt in the world as another person in spite of his incredible abilities.
Gwent succeeds in making the common people ofThe Witcher3’s world feel real while providing players with side content to partake in.The standaloneGwentgame received its final update, but it is still played, and many new RPGs are still trying to recapture the success of the original version fromThe Witcher 3with similar mini-games. It is a surprise, then, that CD Projekt Red hasn’t tried its hand at recapturing the magic of Gwent.Cyberpunk 2077could have benefited from the inclusion of a compelling mini-game for a number of reasons, perhaps even more thanThe Witcher 3did.
The Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Needs A Compelling Mini-Game
The world ofCyberpunk 2077is a futuristic one, and while there is plenty of conflict within it, life inNight Cityis not dissimilar to modern-day life for most of its citizens. There are clubs and bars around the city, and while walking around, players can see plenty of people in the streets, but interactivity with these locations and various NPCs is often limited. Adding an in-game side activity similar to Gwent would do a lot to make the world and its people feel more alive. A Gwent-style mini-game would also give players another activity to do and become invested in, since grinding Gwent inThe Witcher 3was a hefty undertaking in its own right.
A Great Mini-Game Could Help Cement Cyberpunk’s Legacy
Cyberpunk 2077is known for being one of the biggest comeback stories in the history of the gaming medium. After a disastrous launch, CD Projekt succeeded in fixing its game and turning it into a hit with fans and critics alike. Withthe release of Phantom Liberty, the game’s reputation was mostly restored, but a great sequel will be needed to truly let the series live up to its full potential. The inclusion of a compelling side activity in the sequel that, like Gwent, is worth picking the game up to play would help cement the legacy of theCyberpunkseries as one of greatness.
Cyberpunk 2077
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Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
