As initial launches go, CD Projekt Red’s highly-anticipated Cyberpunk 2077 had an infamously bad one. With refund demands, game-breaking glitches, and even a temporary halt to sales on certain platforms, Cyberpunk 2077 had a bit of a rough ride at first. Fan disappointment was palpable, and criticism of the game largely centered around its failure to deliver on the hype and its far-from-ready launch state. Luckily the developer has been working hard to turn the game around, and Cyberpunk 2077 is in a much better state now than it was in 2020.
Although CD Projekt Red has dedicated a lot of time and effort to improving the title with massive updates and patches as well as the upcoming DLC, the modding community has also been busy creating some truly amazing add-ons to help elevate the whole Cyberpunk 2077 experience. The mods run the full range from exceedingly silly to certifiably genius, but there are some particular ones that fans should try out if they want to get the best Cyberpunk 2077 experience possible.
A Third-Person Perspective
The active modding community for Cyberpunk 2077 has already done so much to help improve the game, from gameplay improvements to aesthetic changes, and alongside CD Projekt Red’s updates, it has helped to completely turn around the game’s fortunes. One of the better changes that fans have implemented is a third-person view into the traditionally first-person title. While first-person perspective can be great for combat and immersion, many players want to see their V in action, especially after they spend such a long time tweaking their appearance and adding cool augmentations. Work on this mod may be ongoing, but it really adds a great dimension to the gameplay.
Car Customization
Vehicles are a crucial function in Cyberpunk 2077 as a way to experience the vast setting and get around the map quickly and stylishly. Players can usually add to their collection of cars by purchasing them from fixers, but some can be earned through missions or even stolen. Regardless of how they’re acquired, the Car Modification Shop adds a bunch of customization options, so players can really make their vehicles their own, from upgrading functionality to individualizing their look.
Catching The Metro
The metro system seems like one of the many casualties of Cyberpunk 2077’s development, with either promised or hoped-for features failing to make it into the final game for budget reasons or time constraints. It’s a shame for fans that feel like Cyberpunk 2077 was so close to being an incredible game, and just needed a little more time to percolate before it was launched. Although getting around Night City by car can be fun, some players prefer an alternate form of transport. Night City boasts several metro stations that otherwise don’t seem to serve a function, but the metro mod allows players to get inside one of the cars and travel across the region while taking in the views in either a third or first-person view. This feature is by no means perfect, but it’s a great addition to the game and makes Cyberpunk 2077’s vibrant city setting feel more alive and functional.
Crowd Behavior And Police Spawns
One of the main aspects of Cyberpunk 2077 is its roleplaying. While players can spend a long time crafting their own unique V as they make a name for themselves and build relationships with NPCs, some elements of the role-playing can feel a little shallow. Night City is an incredibly diverse location, but sometimes the crowds can feel a little two-dimensional, and this really hinders a player’s immersion. Some of the updates have strived to improve AI and crowd behaviors, but the Alternate Crowd Behavior mod really steps this up a level and makes the NPCs feel more realistic.
The function and frequency of the police in Night City is another element that came under fire, with players feeling like they didn’t have scaled responses to specific player actions. The Enhanced Police mod allows police to spawn close to the player, or further away depending on the threat level, making it a more satisfying and challenging feature and improving the authenticity of the world.
NPC Backstories
Similar to the Watchdog mechanic, The Kiroshi Opticals Crowd Scanner allows players to use V's scanning function to highlight NPCs and reveal a procedurally generated backstory based on their appearance and other factors. While it is by no means an extensive exploration of their character, nor will it really exist outside the player's own headcanon, it's still a really fun tool to help flesh out the inhabitants of Night City and make V feel like they're really peeking inside these people's lives.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.