It’s 2025, nearly half a decade since Cyberpunk 2077 launched — and boy, what a launch it was. Despite seven years of development and multiple delays, CD Projekt Red’s magnum opus arrived riddled with bugs, jank, poor optimization, and an unfinished world. For many, myself included, it was unplayable, especially on last-gen consoles or even a 2070 Super on PC back in 2020.

But here’s the thing — CDPR refused to let Cyberpunk 2077 be brought down by one of gaming's biggest disasters. After eight major updates, countless minor ones, game-changing improvements, and an expansion that redefined expectations, Cyberpunk 2077 has finally become the game it was always meant to be. If you skipped it or dropped it back then, 2025 is the perfect time to jump back into Night City and experience the masterpiece that rose from the ashes.

5 Night City is more full of life than ever before

A living, breathing world

Back in 2020, Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City felt more like a neon-painted canvas rather than a real, breathing world. The streets weren’t nearly as packed as promised, and even then, there was very little going on beneath the surface — NPCs were robotic, and they kept T-posing on me for some reason; interactions were minimal, and the city’s promised dynamic chaos was nowhere to be found. Now, however, that’s all changed. Gangs now roam the streets, getting into shootouts with each other and the NCPD. Police scanners are always active, gang hotspots keep things unpredictable, and fights can break out at any moment.

And if you want to take it up a notch on PC, one of the best mods you can use is Night City ALIVE, which pushes immersion even further. The city’s vibrancy isn’t just about action, though — characters like Panam, Kerry, Johnny, Jackie, and Judy bring the world to life through their writing and presence alone. Their stories, combined with the revitalized city, make Cyberpunk 2077’s side content some of the best in any open-world game.

4 Combat finally hits like it should

Every playstyle feels like a power fantasy

I never cared for the combat in Cyberpunk 2077 when I first played it in 2020 — guns were king, and everything else just sort of… existed. Melee combat was an afterthought, netrunning was clunky, and stealth was straight-up broken — the promised freedom of approaching every encounter in any way was simply not there. To add to that, enemies glitched through floors, sitting targets refused to be taken down, and the AI system would’ve made the AI enemies of Colonial Marines look competent.

It’s a completely different story now, and combat in Cyberpunk 2077 has been an absolute joy ever since update 2.0. Whether you’re hacking enemies from a distance, slicing them up in melee, or mowing them down as a tanky juggernaut, every approach feels rewarding and, more importantly, welcome. The addition of finishers, refined AI, and even MaxTac — facing off with whom makes me feel like I'm playing one of the hardest video-game bosses ever — makes the experience more dynamic. Combat makes or breaks a game, and while there are plenty of great games with no combat, Cyberpunk 2077 certainly benefits from the freedom players have in fighting.

3 A world built on stories, big and small

Night City refused to let go

A great story isn’t something you play through — it’s something that lingers, making the entire experience unforgettable for players. That’s exactly what makes Cyberpunk 2077 the masterpiece that it is. The main campaign pulls you in with its high-stakes narrative, but it’s the game’s side content that turns Night City into an experience rather than just a setting or environment. Even the vending machines in Night City have more personality than most NPCs in other games, and as you interact with the world in countless ways, you realize that every moment matters in Cyberpunk 2077.

Then, there are the characters. Keanu Reeves' inclusion in the game as rockerboy Johnny Silverhand still remains one of the greatest video game reveals of all time. However, beyond that, Cyberpunk offers great romanceable characters with whom we create genuine and meaningful bonds. The game weaves personal stories into its cybernetic chaos with masterful skill. Every side quest in the game adds a layer to Night City’s ever-evolving narrative, and the choices you make leave a lasting impact. Every single story in Cyberpunk is worth telling, and that alone is reason enough to keep coming back to the game, as well as Night City’s beautiful tapestry.

2 The Phantom Liberty expansion is an entirely new game

Another city inside Night City

Over the course of roughly three years, Cyberpunk 2077 became a fantastic experience. It was in 2023, however, that the game’s crown jewel came out to complete the experience — Phantom Liberty, the expansion. One of the best DLCs ever made, Phantom Liberty elevates the entire game with a spy-thriller narrative that pulls you into a high-stakes world of deceit, espionage, and impossible choices. Furthermore, the expansion came with its own brand-new main location, Dogtown. This isn’t just another district but rather a war zone brimming with politics and power struggles.

Idris Elba leads the charge in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and all the performances in the expansion are top-notch. The soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful, and the story keeps you on edge until the very end. Phantom Liberty alone is worth sinking 60+ hours into, making the entire, fully-fledged Cyberpunk 2077 experience an unforgettable thrill ride for anyone who might have missed out on the base game or the expansion.

1 The game’s skill tree is better built than ever

Building the merc I was meant to be

The original skill tree in Cyberpunk 2077 might have been as impactful as a wet noodle, where perks barely mattered, and armor was, for some reason, tied to very questionable fashion choices. Trying to carve out a unique playstyle felt like forcing a square peg in a cybernetic hole. But now? The overhaul has turned progression into a meaningful journey, letting you build your ideal merc with precision. I wanted to be a stealthy Netrunner who could use guns expertly when required, thanks to the Deus Ex-itch in my heart that will never completely go away. Thankfully, the game allowed me to do exactly that, and that holds true for every type of player.

Want to be an untouchable Netrunner frying enemies from across the room? A cybernetic war machine shrugging off bullets or a samurai slicing through corpos? It isn’t just possible now in Cyberpunk 2077 — it’s rewarding. Armor is finally separate from clothing, thankfully, so I no longer have to sacrifice style for stats, either. Then, there’s the Relic skill tree added through the DLC, which refined and offered new powers that pushed my character’s customizations even further beyond. Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t a full RPG, but that works in its favor — Night City shapes you as much as you shape it.

Should you replay Cyberpunk 2077 in 2025?

Whether you played Cyberpunk at launch, before Update 2.0, or skipped Phantom Liberty, there’s never been a better time to start over. Night City is no longer just a stunning backdrop — it’s a living, breathing world filled with chaos, conflict, and unforgettable stories. Combat is razor-sharp, skill trees are more refined, and the characters are richer than ever.

Yes, Cyberpunk 2077 is still one of the best-looking games ever made, but its greatest achievement is everything else it gets right now. If you’ve never played it or gave up in 2020 — this isn’t just a redemption arc. It’s a masterpiece reborn.