Technology merging with biological entities has always been a sci-fi staple, and this also stretches in video games. Protagonists and antagonists with robotic appendages or cybernetic implants give off a veritable mix of cool, techy factor with some danger, intrigue, and in some cases, utter fear.
And what better media to have cyborgs in than in video games; a platform where players can live out what it feels like to have cybernetic parts and see how amazing it is to break the limits of human physiology? With that in mind, here are some of the best cyborgs in video games.
10 V: Cyberpunk 2077
V, short for Valerie or Vincent, is the main protagonist in Cyberpunk 2077. Apart from V’s appearance, strengths, and perks, players get to choose what V’s lifepath is and how they would earn notoriety in Night City.
Much like the denizens in Night City, V is a cyborg since they are fitted with various cybernetic augments that aid in their mercenary exploits. These are called Cyberware, the Ballistic Coprocessor amplifies V’s firearms. Meanwhile, Cyberoptics greatly enhances V’s vision by adding better clarity, zoom, as well as various filters which let V see Night City in whatever way they please.
9 Rex “Power” Colt: Far Cry 3 - Blood Dragon
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon proudly wears its theme of 80s action heroes, and Rex “Power” Colt is the game’s standard-bearer. He is a former soldier who was seemingly killed in action, only to have his body experimented on with cybernetic implants. These not only prolonged his life, but made him into a one-man cyborg army whose mission is to investigate what happened to Colonel Sloan.
Being a cyborg, Rex is equipped with an augmented eye that vastly increases his sight and ability to shoot down targets. He also possesses a robotic arm that aids him in further dispatching enemies. This, along with his knack of spitting out cheesy one-liners during missions makes him the ultimate cyber-commando.
8 Jax Briggs: Mortal Kombat Series
One of the more recognizable Mortal Kombat characters, Jax Briggs is a soldier with cybernetically enhanced arms. He leads the Outer World Investigation Agency which deals with extradimensional defense.
As a fighter, Jax utilizes his cybernetic arms alongside his military and boxing training. His arms allow him to deal devastating blows: he can smash the ground with such force that it causes tremors, he can blast enemies with sonic energy, stunning them and allowing him to utilize his boxing to pulverize his target with ease.
7 Genji: Overwatch Series
Genji is the ultimate cyborg ninja in the Overwatch series. In a game where almost all characters use some form of a gun, Genji opts to use shurikens and his katana to wreak havoc in the battlefield.
Already having trained with the ways of ninjutsu, Genji’s cybernetic body greatly amplifies his abilities: he can deflect incoming bullets and projectiles with his katana back to his enemies, throw his shurikens with inhuman range and power, and he can dash in and out to quickly slice up his targets.
6 Raiden: Metal Gear Series
Among the memorable characters in the Metal Gear franchise, Raiden has become the de facto cyborg ninja that most people recognize, thanks to his solo game, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.
A former child soldier, Raiden was pivotal in the events that happened in Metal Gear Solid 2 and was forcefully undergone cybernetic experimentation during his mission to uncover and topple the secret organization The Patriots.
Raiden’s cybernetic body gives him superhuman strength, speed, durability, and endurance. He wields a katana with deadly precision and skill, thanks to his training and his cybernetic augments. This allows him to slice and tear through swathes of enemies foolish enough to stand in his way.
5 Yoshimitsu: Tekken Series
Yoshimitsu is one of the perennial characters in the Tekken series. He is the only character in Tekken to wield a weapon during matches. Alongside his katana, Yoshimitsu is a member of the Manji Clan, a thief guild that steals from shady organizations and gives their loot to the poor.
Also known as the Mechanized Space Ninja, Yoshimitsu has always obscured his true identity by donning a multitude of masks and outlandish outfits. In combat, Yoshimitsu utilizes his knowledge of ninjutsu and his cybernetically-altered body to bamboozle opponents until he gets the victory.
4 Nathan “Rad” Spencer: Bionic Commando Series
A former member of the Federal States of America’s armed forces, Nathan Spencer’s career in the military ended abruptly due to a freak accident involving a grenade that saw his left arm get dismembered. While rehabbing his injury, Nathan accepted to become the first test subject to have a bionic arm replace his lost one.
Nathan took to his new bionic arm quickly: he can use his new arm to swing around during missions, grab enemies from a distance and hurl them, and it also gives him limited super strength. This has led Nathan Spencer to have a slew of games under his belt, alongside some cameos in fighting games, namely, Marvel vs Capcom 3.
3 Adam Jensen: Deus Ex - Human Revolution, Deus Ex - Mankind Divided
Adam Jensen is a top police officer and SWAT team member who was implanted with cybernetic augments due to his unique genetic makeup. During his time as Head of Security in Sarif Industries, the laboratory was attacked by Tyrants, a cybernetically enhanced black ops team, to steal some valuable research.
The attack left Adam for dead, but he was saved by getting the most advanced augmentations Sarif Industries had. His cybernetic parts include nanoceramic blades hidden on his arms he uses for close quarters combat; his torso and organs have been enhanced with cybernetics to maximize their function and give Adam superhuman attributes.
Most notably, his head augment allows him to hack virtually any device or mainframe to download top secret information. His experience in law enforcement, combat, and infiltration are greatly enhanced thanks to his cybernetic implants.
2 Big Daddy: Bioshock, Bioshock 2
These hulking behemoths are the stuff of nightmares for players when exploring The Rapture in the Bioshock games. Big Daddies are genetically enhanced humans who had their skins grafted into armored diving suits. Their main task is to protect Little Sisters as they traverse The Rapture collecting ADAM from corpses.
Encountering a Big Daddy can be a deadly one since they are highly durable thanks to their armored diving suit. They also dish out the punishment real hard: the Bouncer type is particularly notorious for having a massive drill installed on one of their hands. Some even have harpoons implemented on their hands to yank players towards them or fire at a distance.
1 Master Chief: Halo Series
Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, or more popularly known as Master Chief, is the main protagonist of the critically-acclaimed Halo franchise, both in the video game trilogy and in the series. He is the most decorated soldier in the United Nations Space Command and is the standout commando who came out of the SPARTAN-II Program.
As a child, John was selected to be part of the SPARTAN-II Program where candidates undergo biological and mechanical augmentation. In the military, Master Chief was pivotal in stopping the Covenant and the Flood from enslaving and desecrating the galaxy.
Master Chief is an excellent tactician and a capable leader, often leading troops to missions. His augments, namely his AI companion Cortana and the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor, boost his combat skills exponentially, specifically when engaging in ranged combat against The Covenant and the Flood.