Playing as a regular human, or even a superhuman, is always fun, but there is an undeniable appeal to when video games allow the player to take control of a cyborg. Whether it is a human who has been cybernetically augmented or a synthetic being that closely resembles a human, it instantly catches gamers' attention.
Over the years, games have featuredcyborgs as playable charactersin all kinds of stories. From epic dramas to action spectacles, these games feature cyborgs as heroes, villains, and even in-between, with enhanced strength, high-tech weapons, and in some cases, thought-provoking concepts that showcase cyborgs as more than machines.
7Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Wacky Hack-And-Slash Spin-Off
Foregoing all the stealth and thought-provoking storytellingof theMetal Gear Solidgames,Metal Gear Rising: Revengeanceis the series' spin-off starring Raiden. He’s been rebuilt into a super-powered cyborg with super speed and unstoppable blades, and he’s going on an over-the-top adventure.
The thing that has turnedMetal Gear Risinginto a cult classic was also what made the game divisive upon its release. It’s just Raiden hacking and slashing enemies for several hours, encountering silly villains and engaging in fast-paced battles that feel straight out of an anime in the best way possible. It’s very much notMetal Gear Solid,but that’s not a bad thing.
Depicting the Future War,Terminator: Resistancestands out from themanyTerminatorgames out therefor being extremely faithful to the original film while still providing an exciting game to play through. The main campaign focuses on a lone resistance fighter, but developer Teyon later added a second campaign that allowed players to take control of a Terminator in a direct prequel to the first movie.
It’s not often that games allow players to control the main villain, butTerminator: Resistancepulled it off. With the signature red scanning mode and seemingly unlimited strength, theInfiltrator Modecampaign is pure power fantasy as the Terminator mows down legions of humans to complete its objective.
What was originally a DLC forFar Cry 3became so famous thatFar Cry 3: Blood Dragonwas eventually sold as its own game and was given an anime adaptation by Netflix. It is an over-the-top first-person shooter that pays homage to classic 80s action films, includingThe Terminator. The main character, Rex, is even played byTerminatoralumni Michael Biehn, and is a cybernetic warrior.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragonis short but sweet, providing an adrenaline-fueledcampaign that can be beatenin just a few quick hours. However, it never loses its fun factor thanks to its breakneck pace, neon visuals, and tongue-in-cheek storytelling. told via NES-style cutscenes.
From Teyon, the same developers asTerminator: Resistance,RoboCop: Rogue Citybrings another classic 80s franchise to life and, this time,provides a direct sequel to the movies, with Peter Weller returning to the titular role. The gameplay of RoboCop himself looks, sounds, and feels authentic to the movies, from Weller’s performance to the character controlling like an unstoppable tank.
InRoboCop: Rogue City, the player goes through a retro-futuristic version of Detroit, solving crimes, doing detective work, and gunning down over-the-top gangsters controlling the streets. The entire time, it feels like a realRoboCop 4,thanks to the sound effects, the satire on society, and the tight gameplay that is an authentic first-person take onRoboCop.
Inspired byBlade RunnerandAliens, the androids inDetroit: Become Humanare so close to humans that they evolve to have emotions and desires. This results in some of them becoming killers while others simply seek to rise up in revolt against their human overlords to become recognized as a race of sentient beings.
With three cybernetic protagonists to play across three interconnected storylines,Detroit: Become Humanhad been praised for featuring hundreds of branching paths withplayer choices that truly matter. Also, the game features powerful storytelling and acting that feels like a high-budget movie or television series, keeping the player on edge from beginning to end.
Living the life of a criminal in video game form is fun already, but living as a cybernetically augmented criminal inCyberpunk 2077is on a whole other level. While it had one of the more infamous launches, CD Projekt Red stuck to their guns and fixedCyberpunk 2077via various patches and a DLC expansion that transformed it into a different game.
In its current state,Cyberpunk 2077provides a stand-out RPG experience in the world of Night City that tells many stories ranging from the outlandish to the realistic. It immerses the player through addictive gameplay and a world that feels alive, with the presence ofaction-stars like Keanu Reevesand Idris Elba being the greatest bonuses.
Mixing action and stealth for the player to choose between on nearly every mission,Deus Ex: Human Revolutionis the often-praised reboot of theDeus Exfranchise. Adam Jensen is often considered one of the best video game protagonists ever and, of course, he is a hero who is physically more machine than man.
Seeing howDeus Ex: Human Revolutionis all about a cyborg detective in a dystopian future version of Detroit, the game is inspired bytheRoboCopmovies but takes a far darker and more serious tone. Adam Jensen is given plenty of cybernetic upgrades that turn him into a cyborg superhero, embroiling him in a story of crime, espionage, and conspiracy that continues on with an equally good sequel.
