Waypoint · Open Country
Cyberpunk 2077: a first evening in Night City
Two to three hours: a life path, the prologue, and the first drive across the city. Ignore the side jobs until you have met Johnny.
Pick the Street Kid life path
It is the most grounded opening and puts you in the city fastest. Nomad and Corpo are good for a second run.
Play the prologue straight through
It is a linear couple of hours that teaches shooting, hacking and conversation choices in order. Do not wander yet.
Put your first points into Reflexes or Intelligence
Reflexes for gunplay, Intelligence for hacking. Either is a full way to play; mixing both early makes you average at each.
Do the main job until the heist
The heist is the end of the beginning. Stop after it; the story needs a night to settle.
Set graphics before you commit
On PC, try the quality preset first, then turn down ray tracing if the frame rate stutters. On console, pick performance mode for combat.
Leave Phantom Liberty for later
The expansion unlocks after the heist. It is best played mid-story, not first.
Before you go
- Scanning (hold the scan button) reveals everything worth knowing in a room.
- The phone messages are worth reading; some of the best writing is in them.
- You can respec skills, not attributes; choose attributes carefully.
- There is no shop, so every eddie you earn goes on gear or cars.
Read the full Cyberpunk 2077 chart entry for the bearings, the toll and who it suits.