When it comes to role playing, there are plenty of systems that invite you to slay dragons or explore alien worlds. But few can capture the gritty apocalyptic future quite like the Cyberpunk RPG system.
Introduced in the late 1980s and now having gone through multiple editions, the Cyberpunk RPG has kept its position as the definitive game of the “dark future”. But while the system itself isn’t too complicated to learn, it can be a bit overwhelming to those new to the gameplay.
We love how the Cyberpunk RPG system brings a unique gaming experience that has now inspired video games, novels, and even a hit anime. But when it comes to the OG game, you’ve got to play it to believe it.
What Is The Cyberpunk RPG?
Before we get into rules, let’s get a short primer on the game itself. Cyberpunk is a tabletop roleplaying game originally created by Mike Pondsmith and published by R. Talsorian Games in 1988.
Rather than dragons and castles, Cyberpunk drops players into a dystopian future where corporate power rules over government authority and technology has advanced to incredible heights (but only for those who can afford it).
The game’s setting is Night City – the perfect playground for your adventures. It’s a sprawling metropolis filled with gangs, corporate assassins, and rebels known as “Edgerunners.”
Currently in its Cyberpunk RED edition (set in 2045), the game has evolved through several iterations, including the original Cyberpunk (set in 2013), the iconic Cyberpunk 2020, and the controversial Cyberpunk V3.0.
The timeline now connects to the popular Cyberpunk 2077 video game, with the Edgerunners Mission Kit bringing the game up to 2077’s timeline.
Core Mechanics of Cyberpunk RPG
The Interlock System
At the heart of most Cyberpunk editions is the Interlock system – a rules framework designed to be straightforward but still captures the danger and grit of the game’s setting.
Task resolution follows a simple formula: Add your relevant attribute + skill + a d10 roll.
If your total meets or exceeds the difficulty value set by the Game Master, your action succeeds. This creates a bell curve that favors competence but still keeps things unpredictable.
Character Roles
One of the most distinctive features of Cyberpunk is its massive character role system. Rather than giving you just generic classes to pick from and customize, players choose from specialized roles that each come with a unique special ability:
- Solo: Combat specialists who excel at combat awareness
- Netrunner: Hackers who navigate the virtual reality of the NET
- Tech: Mechanics and inventors who fix and craft gear
- Medtech: Doctors who patch up the wounded
- Fixer: Dealers and brokers who know where to get things
- Rockerboy: Musicians and performers who inspire the masses
- Media: Journalists who dig for the truth
- Nomad: Wasteland experts and vehicle specialists
- Exec: Corporate operatives with company resources
- Lawman: Police officers maintaining some semblance of order
Each role gives you a different way to approach a game, and allows for even more customization and gameplay options. It’s one of our favorite aspects of the game by far.
Friday Night Firefight (FNFF)
Combat in Cyberpunk is known as “Friday Night Firefight.” The action is all about lethality and realism. Cyberpunk maintains danger at all levels – a well-placed bullet can take down even the most experienced character.
This focus on deadliness means players need to rely on tactics, teamwork, and sometimes knowing when to run rather than fight. Cover is your friend, and charging in guns blazing is often a quick way to death.
Netrunning
Another key aspect of Cyberpunk RPG is Netrunning. This hacking system has evolved across editions – and in Cyberpunk RED, netrunning has been streamlined to keep hackers integrated with the rest of the team. This allows Netrunners to tackle digital threats alongside their teammates rather than separating for solo hacking sessions.
The modern version treats networks like virtual dungeons, with Black ICE security programs serving as the monsters in digital corridors, just waiting to fry an unwary hacker’s brain.
Why Play Cyberpunk?
It Offers A Gritty, Lethal Gameplay Style
Cyberpunk delivers if you crave a system where actions have consequences and danger feels real. The combat system doesn’t pull punches – players have to plan and think tactically, use their environment, and sometimes know when to run to survive.
Strong Themes and Atmosphere Make It Unique
Few games deliver such a consistent aesthetic and mood. Cyberpunk isn’t just about rolling dice; it’s about immersing yourself in a world where corporations control everything. Technology is both salvation and a curse (much like modern life), and maintaining your humanity in a dehumanizing world is the ultimate struggle.
Cyberpunk Goes Style Over Substance
The Cyberpunk ethos is all about attitude. It’s not just what you can do but how you look doing it. The game encourages players to develop distinct personalities, fashion sense, and approaches to problems that define their characters beyond mere statistics.
Top Cyberpunk Titles To Try
Cyberpunk RED
The current flagship edition of the game, Cyberpunk RED takes place in 2045. With streamlined rules and a modern approach to gameplay, this is a great entry point for new players that longtime fans will still love.
Tales of the RED: Hope Reborn
The first full campaign book for Cyberpunk RED, Hope Reborn centers on a classic Night City institution – The Forlorn Hope bar. Through six interconnected jobs covering every style of play, your crew will determine whether this edgerunner haven survives or dies in the Time of the Red.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Mission Kit
For fans of the Netflix anime, this kit bridges the gap between Cyberpunk RED and the 2077 timeline. With updated rules for quickhacks, new cyberware options, and a complete adventure set after the events of the show, it’s the perfect way to channel your inner David Martinez or Lucy.
Try Cyberpunk Now on DriveThruRPG
The Cyberpunk RPG offers a unique gaming experience where survival isn’t guaranteed, and your choices can do more than just earn you a few credits. We love the gameplay for its authentic yet gritty feel, and the Edgerunners Mission Kit brings even more depth to the already immersive world.
Want to give it a try yourself? Check out our complete collection of Cyberpunk RPG titles today and discover why this legendary system has remained a favorite among tabletop gamers for over three decades.
