There are a lot of video games out there where you get to play as a cyborg. But they are mostly undiscussed or misunderstood. This mostly comes from a mix-up between the concept of an android and a cyborg among the sci-fi media.
For the current list at hand, we will be looking at the former in some of the top video games over the years.
Cyborg In Video Games
Cyberpunk 2077
Definitely, the very first game that immediately comes to mind is Cyberpunk 2077. Developed by CD Projekt Red and released after having one of the greatest runs with their Witcher game franchise.
Cyberpunk 2077 is based on the popular tabletop RPG, and it took a while before it got released. But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows right away. The reception for the game was awful as it was marred by problems and bugs.
Eventually, the game received enough fixes and even an expansion that completely changed its trajectory. Thus making it one of the best video games where one can play as a cyborg.
Deus Ex
Cyberpunk 2077 takes a lot of influences from the Deus Ex series, and it does so rightfully. Deus Ex is the game that introduced proper sci-fi cyberpunk storytelling and setting in video games. While also popularizing the immersive-sim genre.
Developed by Ion Storm and published by Eidos Interactive, the series has become a cult classic in the grand scheme of the video game industry. It is even getting a remake, which has stirred a lot of controversial opinions from fans, including the original director.
In the game, you step into the shoes of JC Denton, an augmented agent working undercover to fight terrorism. It is definitely one of the most important games that allows you to play as a cyborg.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Hideo Kojima elevated the Metal Gear franchise to new heights with Metal Gear Solid on the PlayStation. It showed the world that games can truly be an artistic medium of interactive storytelling. Years later, the franchise is still thriving and is better than ever.
Unfortunately, that’s not the same for a particular Metal Gear spinoff that could have equally had its mark in history. But Konami refused to pursue the prospects any further. Yeah, we are definitely talking about Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.
It is one of the best hack-and-slash games one can ever find that involves a cyborg ninja. This also ties in with the rest of the greater Metal Gear franchise plot.
Ghostrunner
We did say that Metal Gear Rising is one of the best hack-and-slash games involving ninja cyborgs. But we did not say it was the only one around. In 2020, the first-person action platformer, Ghostrunner, turned new tides by taking us through something similar.
Except this time, players aren’t just slicing and dicing the enemies up. Players have to actively move and platform through dangerous locales. A slight mistake may cause disaster and reset players to the previous checkpoint.
You play as the titular Ghostrunner, a cyborg ninja who has one mission to complete for humanity. Save everyone by defeating the Keymaster.
Far Cry: Blood Dragon
Far Cry 3 is one of the most well-celebrated games in the franchise for its memorable story and characters. The same can’t be said about its equally great spinoff. Far Cry: Blood Dragon was originally supposed to be a DLC to the original Far Cry 3.
But Ubisoft eventually decided to release it as a separate standalone title, and honestly, that worked. Far Cry: Blood Dragon is far too separate and different from the mainline title. Thematically, the game is a parody of the retro-futuristic craze from the 80s, in a style similar to Duke Nukem.
You play as a cyborg commando named Rex ‘Power’ Colt, whose mission is to save the world from the bad guys in the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic future.
Bionic Commando
Capcom is well known among its fans for being home to some of the richest video game IPs. Unfortunately, most of them lie dormant to date. One of these is the Bionic Commando franchise, which is mostly known because of Spencer in Marvel vs Capcom 3.
Bionic Commando was originally created for the Arcade and NES back in 1987 as a platformer. You play as a commando who has been artificially augmented with a cyborg arm. Players are able to use it as a grappling hook and as a weapon to shoot and punch targets.
The franchise was not always dead. In 2009, the series saw a resurgence as a new third-person action game. If you are looking for a lesser-known action game that stars a cyborg character, then this one is a great pick.
Mortal Kombat
Fighting games are a sort of grey area if you are looking for a game with cyborg characters. Because genre isn’t about focusing on one particular character, there’s a huge roster to consider. Regardless, there are fighting games that have cyborg characters who are equally important to the discussion.
Case in point, Jax Briggs from the Mortal Kombat franchise, who is fairly popular in the games. Jax is one of the many protagonist characters in the games, acting as a special operative commander under Sonya Blade.
Together with the rest of the cast, he is one of the many protectors of Earthrealm from invading forces. He weilds multiple artificial implants on his arm, which make them superpowered. His fighting style in the games is mostly dependent on upper-body strength.
