Six years after a chaotic launch, Cyberpunk 2077 has finally returned in a version that truly deserves a closer look. Thanks to Update 2.0 and the Phantom Liberty expansion, CD Projekt Red’s RPG has gained depth, intensity and consistency. [web:23][web:83]
A comeback no one really expected
When Cyberpunk 2077 was released in December 2020, the verdict was brutal: the game had potential, but it was too technically damaged to win everyone over. Since then, CD Projekt Red has clearly taken the time to rebuild its project, turning it into a much more solid action RPG and, above all, a much more enjoyable game to play. [web:50][web:23]
What stands out most is that the current version has almost nothing in common with the launch version. The gameplay overhaul delivered by Update 2.0 changed everything, while Phantom Liberty provided the extra content and storytelling the game needed to enjoy a genuine second wind. [web:23][web:45]
Night City still makes an impression
The game’s biggest selling point remains Night City. The city is still visually breathtaking, with its neon lights, run-down neighborhoods, luxury districts and atmosphere somewhere between fascination and unease. Even after several years, it retains a strong identity, and it is clearly one of the game’s greatest strengths. [web:46]
That said, it is not perfect. Night City does not always react with the subtlety one might expect from an open world of this ambition, but it remains compelling enough to make you want to lose yourself in it for hours. [web:49]
The gameplay finally has some bite
Update 2.0’s greatest achievement was putting gameplay back at the heart of the experience. The skill trees were redesigned, cyberware became far more interesting to use, vehicle combat was added, and the police are now much more believable than before. [web:23]
In short, we finally have a system that genuinely rewards builds and playstyles. Whether you prefer stealth, hacking or direct confrontation, the gameplay feels more responsive, readable and satisfying than before. [web:23][web:44]
The game remains imperfect in certain areas of overall responsiveness, and a few technical or behavioral flaws can still remind you where it came from. This is real progress, not a magical revolution. [web:44][web:49]
Phantom Liberty changes the tone
With Phantom Liberty, CD Projekt Red did more than simply add another expansion. The studio built a genuine standalone slice of the game, set in Dogtown, with a tenser, more political and more focused atmosphere. [web:45][web:83]
The presence of Solomon Reed, played by Idris Elba, immediately gives the whole experience more weight. The story works extremely well, the stakes are clear, and the writing benefits from a stronger overall sense of control than the launch version of the main campaign. [web:45][web:59]
The amount of content is also worth highlighting. According to JV’s review, the expansion includes 13 main missions, 17 side quests and around twenty hours of gameplay, placing it well above the level of a merely cosmetic DLC. [web:59]
Strengths and weaknesses
What we liked
- Night City remains a memorable and instantly recognizable setting. [web:46]
- The 2.0 overhaul genuinely improves the gameplay and builds. [web:23]
- Phantom Liberty is a strong, substantial and well-written expansion. [web:45][web:59]
- The game’s redemption is deserved, because the work that went into it is clear to see. [web:50][web:23]
What we liked less
- The open world can still feel less alive than it should. [web:49]
- A few technical or optimization issues can still make themselves felt. [web:44][web:75]
- The experience is much better with Phantom Liberty, which makes the base game feel somewhat less complete without the expansion. [web:45]
Verdict
In 2026, Cyberpunk 2077 is no longer a game you make excuses for: it is a game you can recommend. It has finally found its identity, rhythm and true value, largely thanks to Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty, which allowed it to deliver on its original promises. [web:23][web:45]
It is not a perfect open world or a flawless RPG, but today it is a genuinely solid, ambitious and far more polished experience than its launch suggested. And for that alone, its renaissance is real. [web:49][web:50]
