Cyberpunk 2077 is the best overall fit if you want first-person combat combined with a deep RPG: you can build around guns, ranged weapons, hacking, cybernetic implants, or stealth while moving through an open-world story. Choose Ghostrunner instead if your priority is rapid, demanding first-person melee in a cyberpunk setting. They are not interchangeable recommendations: one emphasizes build variety and an open-world RPG, while the other is a focused first-person slasher.
The short answer
There are two useful answers to “Which cyberpunk games have first-person combat?” depending on what you mean by combat-first.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition - PlayStation 5 | $49.69 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Cyberpunk 2077 - Xbox One | $43.43 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Cyberpunk 2077 - PlayStation 4 | $34.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultimate Edition) | $64.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The World of Cyberpunk 2077 | $32.47 | Buy on Amazon |
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| Game | Best for | Combat emphasis | Structure | Important caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Players who want the widest range of first-person combat builds | Firearms, ranged attacks, hacking, implants, and stealth | Open-world action-adventure RPG with skills, perks, jobs, choices, and exploration | On PlayStation, the PS4 version stopped receiving support after its November 8, 2022, patch; later patches and Phantom Liberty require PS5 |
| Ghostrunner | Players who want fast, punishing first-person melee | High-speed slashing and movement-focused encounters | A cyberpunk action/slasher experience; PlayStation’s official description does not establish a comparable open-world RPG structure | Confirm current platform and edition availability in your regional store |
If you want a game like Cyberpunk 2077 but focused more narrowly on combat, Ghostrunner is the clearest alternative in this guide. If you want combat to coexist with character progression, story decisions, side jobs, and an explorable city, Cyberpunk 2077 remains the broader match.
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Cyberpunk 2077: the broadest first-person combat sandbox
Cyberpunk 2077 puts you in the role of V, a mercenary in Night City. Its official game description presents combat as a system you can shape rather than a single prescribed style. You can invest in skills and perks, upgrade weapons, hack opponents and systems, install body-enhancing implants, fight at range, or approach encounters stealthily.
#1 Best Overall
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- CREATE YOUR OWN CYBERPUNK: Become an urban outlaw equipped with cybernetic enhancements and build your legend on the streets of Night City. · EXPLORE THE CITY OF THE FUTURE: Night City is packed to the brim with things to do, places to see, and people to meet. And it’s up to you where to go, when to go, and how to get there.
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That breadth matters because the game does not treat first-person shooting as an isolated mode. Combat decisions connect to character development, equipment upgrades, missions, relationships, and story choices. A player who enjoys experimenting with builds can make different encounters feel substantially different without leaving the same campaign.
Guns and ranged attacks
Firearms are the most immediate route into Cyberpunk 2077’s combat. The official description specifically identifies guns-blazing encounters and ranged attacks, so the game supports players who expect a conventional first-person weapon perspective. Weapon upgrades provide a progression layer: your arsenal is not static, and equipment choices can support the way you have invested in V.
No official game listing establishes a fixed weapon count, damage benchmark, or universal best loadout. Treat the appeal as flexibility rather than a promise that every weapon category plays identically. The practical question is whether you want to keep changing weapons and perks as your character develops or prefer a tightly constrained combat loop.
Hacking and cybernetic implants
Hacking gives Cyberpunk 2077 a combat option that is not simply “shoot faster.” The official game page lists hacking and body-enhancing implants alongside weapons. These systems let you pursue a technology-driven approach, combining equipment and character investment instead of relying only on aim and ammunition.
Implants also reinforce the RPG identity. They are part of a broader progression framework in which your character’s capabilities can be improved over time. Because the official game page does not specify a single optimal implant path, choose upgrades according to the kind of encounters you enjoy: direct firefights, ranged engagements, or a more covert approach.
Stealth as a genuine alternative
Stealth is explicitly included among the game’s possible approaches. That makes Cyberpunk 2077 a useful recommendation for players who want first-person combat but do not want every mission to become an open firefight. You can decide whether an encounter should be loud, ranged, technology-assisted, or quiet, then develop V around that preference.
Rank #2
- Cyberpunk 2077 is an open world, an action adventure story set in night city
- Become a cyberpunk, an urban mercenary equipped with cybernetic enhancements and build your legend on the streets of Night city
- Take the riskiest job of your life and go after a prototype implant that is the key to immortality
This is the key distinction from a dedicated slasher. Cyberpunk 2077 asks you to manage combat style as part of a larger role-playing character, while Ghostrunner is built around the immediacy of first-person melee.
Why the open world changes the combat experience
The official PlayStation description calls Cyberpunk 2077 an open-world action-adventure. It also describes V as a mercenary outlaw and says that relationships and choices shape the story and world. As a result, combat sits alongside exploration, jobs, narrative decisions, and character relationships.
- Choose Cyberpunk 2077 if you want missions to be connected to a continuing character build.
- Choose it if you enjoy deciding whether to fight directly, attack from range, hack, or remain unseen.
- Choose it if story consequences and an explorable city are part of what makes combat meaningful to you.
The trade-off is focus. Because the game combines combat with RPG progression and an open-world campaign, it is not designed as a pure sequence of combat trials. Players seeking constant, high-speed melee may find Ghostrunner a better fit.
Ghostrunner: first-person cyberpunk melee at full speed
Ghostrunner is described by PlayStation as a “hardcore first-person slasher” set in a grim cyberpunk megastructure. Its defining proposition is fast-paced, violent combat centered on melee slashing. That makes it the stronger recommendation when your first question is not “How many builds can I make?” but “How quickly can I move, strike, and react?”
What its combat emphasis means
A first-person slasher puts the weapon and the player’s reactions at the center of each encounter. Ghostrunner’s PlayStation description establishes rapid action and melee combat; it does not present the game as a firearm-focused RPG with the same combination of hacking, implants, and open-world jobs described for Cyberpunk 2077.
Expect a more concentrated combat identity. PlayStation’s description supports recommending Ghostrunner for players who want speed, close-range attacks, and a demanding cyberpunk action setting. It does not support claiming that Ghostrunner offers Cyberpunk 2077’s character-build breadth, narrative structure, or open-world scale.
Rank #3
- Brand New Sealed Product: This PlayStation 4 game arrives in factory-sealed condition, ensuring you receive an authentic, untouched copy of Cyberpunk 2077 with all original packaging and materials intact
- Immersive Open World Experience: Experience the dark future of Night City, a sprawling metropolis where you can explore diverse districts, engage with complex characters, and shape your own story in a richly detailed cyberpunk universe
- Deep Character Customization Options: Create your own unique mercenary with extensive customization options for appearance, skills, and playstyle, allowing you to approach missions through combat, stealth, or hacking based on your preferences
- PlayStation 4 Physical Disc Format: Specifically designed for Sony PlayStation 4 console, this physical disc version delivers the complete Cyberpunk 2077 experience optimized for PS4 hardware and gameplay
- Action-Packed Gameplay Mechanics: Engage in intense first-person combat with an arsenal of futuristic weapons and cybernetic enhancements, while making choices that impact the narrative and determine the fate of Night City's inhabitants
Who should pick Ghostrunner
- Players who consider fast melee more important than firearm variety.
- Players who want a cyberpunk setting without making an open-world RPG the main attraction.
- Players looking for a distinctly different answer to “What games are like Cyberpunk 2077 but focus more on combat?”
If those priorities sound right, Ghostrunner is not a lesser version of Cyberpunk 2077; it is a different design. Its value is concentration: PlayStation’s official description foregrounds first-person slashing and speed rather than a broad set of RPG systems.
Cyberpunk 2077 and Ghostrunner compared directly
| Decision point | Cyberpunk 2077 | Ghostrunner |
|---|---|---|
| Primary combat identity | First-person firearms and ranged combat, with hacking, implants, and stealth options | Fast-paced first-person slasher with melee combat |
| Role-playing depth | Skills, perks, upgradeable weapons, implants, and a character progression framework | Not established as a comparable RPG system by PlayStation’s official description |
| World structure | Open-world action-adventure with jobs, exploration, relationships, and choices | Cyberpunk action/slasher in a megastructure; open-world RPG structure is not established by PlayStation’s official description |
| Best reason to buy | You want one campaign that supports several combat approaches | You want speed and first-person melee to dominate the experience |
| Combat question it answers | “How can I build and play my mercenary?” | “Can I survive a fast, close-range cyberpunk fight?” |
| Platform information in the cited material | PlayStation lists PS4 and PS5 editions; the Ultimate Edition page lists PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2 | PlayStation’s description is for PlayStation; verify the current store listing for your platform and territory |
Which game should you choose?
Pick Cyberpunk 2077 when build variety matters most
Cyberpunk 2077 is the safer choice if you want to change your mind during a long campaign. Its official materials explicitly combine weapons, hacking, implants, ranged attacks, and stealth with skills and perks. You can therefore treat combat as a role-playing decision: develop V toward the methods you find most satisfying, then let missions and story choices provide the larger context.
Pick Ghostrunner when speed and melee are non-negotiable
Ghostrunner is the better match when your ideal cyberpunk game is a first-person slasher rather than an open-world RPG. PlayStation’s official description’s “hardcore first-person slasher” wording is the clearest signal: rapid, violent melee action is the point, not one option among many competing systems.
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Both games use cyberpunk worlds, but that shared aesthetic should not make you expect the same experience. Cyberpunk 2077 combines combat with a city, jobs, relationships, and choices. Ghostrunner’s PlayStation description supports a focused action proposition in a grim megastructure. Decide whether you want breadth around combat or intensity within combat.
PlayStation edition and support details
PlayStation’s official page lists Cyberpunk 2077 editions for PS4 and PS5, but it also gives a support warning that should affect any purchase decision. The PS4 version received its last patch on November 8, 2022 and is no longer supported. PS5 is required for patches released after that date and for Phantom Liberty on PlayStation.
In practical terms, do not buy the PS4 edition expecting the same ongoing update path as PS5. If you want the expansion or later patches on a PlayStation console, plan around the PS5 requirement stated on the official page. Confirm the exact entitlement shown by your regional store before checkout, especially when buying a cross-generation listing.
Rank #4
- THE ULTIMATE CYBERPUNK 2077 EXPERIENCE - Includes the critically acclaimed spy thriller expansion Phantom Liberty
- CREATE YOUR OWN CYBERPUNK
- Explore the city of the future – you decide when you want to go where and how to get there
- Decide how the story ends – your choices in the main game as well as in the spy thriller adventure Phantom Liberty lead to a complex web of consequences
What the Ultimate Edition includes
The publisher describes Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition as containing every gameplay update and all previously released content, including Phantom Liberty. Its platform list includes PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2, with physical and digital options displayed by the publisher.
Availability and included content can vary by platform and territory. Store pages may present different versions, upgrade paths, or physical-versus-digital options, so check the live listing for your country and platform rather than assuming that every box or download has identical entitlements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Phantom Liberty: what it adds
Phantom Liberty is a spy-thriller expansion that takes V to Dogtown. CD PROJEKT RED’s September 25, 2023, launch announcement describes a new story and district, a skill tree, gigs, side quests, weapons, items, boss fights, and additional open-world activities.
The announcement stated that Phantom Liberty was available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC through Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and GeForce Now at launch. That is a dated availability statement, not a guarantee of every current storefront arrangement. Verify the live listing when you purchase.
Game Director Gabe Amatangelo described the expansion this way: “Phantom Liberty is the culmination of years of hard work on the part of all of our teams.” The quotation comes from CD PROJEKT RED’s launch announcement dated September 25, 2023.
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Best Value
Audio and controller features on PlayStation
PlayStation says 3D audio works through a compatible headset or through TV speakers. A headset is therefore optional, not a requirement for the game’s spatial-audio feature. The same page describes DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers for the PS5 version.
- Use a compatible headset if you prefer private audio or already own one.
- Use TV speakers if you do not want to buy extra hardware; the official page says they can support 3D audio.
- Check that you are playing the PS5 edition when evaluating PS5-specific DualSense features.
A practical buying checklist
- Define your combat priority. Select Cyberpunk 2077 for guns, ranged attacks, hacking, implants, stealth, and build progression. Select Ghostrunner for fast first-person melee.
- Check your platform. Confirm the exact console or PC storefront before selecting an edition. Do not assume that a title’s availability or upgrade rights are identical across regions.
- On PlayStation, check generation support. The official page says PS4 stopped receiving patches after November 8, 2022, and that PS5 is required for later patches and Phantom Liberty.
- Compare edition contents. The publisher says Ultimate Edition includes all gameplay updates and previously released content, including Phantom Liberty. Read the live listing to confirm what your platform and territory receive.
- Decide whether you need extra audio hardware. A compatible headset is optional because TV speakers can also provide 3D audio on PlayStation’s described setup.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming every cyberpunk game plays like Cyberpunk 2077
A cyberpunk setting does not imply an open-world RPG, firearms, or hacking. Ghostrunner’s official description points to a first-person slasher, so compare combat priorities rather than buying on atmosphere alone.
Buying PS4 for access to later support
The PlayStation page explicitly says the PS4 version is no longer supported and identifies PS5 as required for patches after November 8, 2022, and for Phantom Liberty. Treat generation as a feature decision, not merely a price difference.
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Assuming an edition includes the same content everywhere
Ultimate Edition’s publisher description is broad, but store availability, physical packaging, and regional listings can differ. Verify the exact product page attached to your account and platform.
Buying a headset because it seems mandatory
PlayStation states that 3D audio can use TV speakers as well as a compatible headset. Buy a headset for comfort or privacy, not because the feature requires one.
Final recommendation by player type
| If you want… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A first-person cyberpunk RPG with many combat approaches | Cyberpunk 2077 | It combines firearms, ranged attacks, hacking, implants, stealth, skills, perks, and an open-world campaign. |
| A focused, high-speed melee challenge | Ghostrunner | PlayStation describes it as a hardcore first-person slasher in a grim cyberpunk megastructure. |
| The expansion and released content in one purchase | Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition | The publisher says it includes every gameplay update and previously released content, including Phantom Liberty; confirm the regional listing. |
| Cyberpunk 2077 content on a supported PlayStation generation | PS5 edition | The official PlayStation page says PS5 is required for patches after November 8, 2022, and for Phantom Liberty. |
Choose Cyberpunk 2077 for breadth: it lets first-person combat, character progression, and an open-world story reinforce one another. Choose Ghostrunner for focus: it puts fast melee action at the center of a cyberpunk setting. That playstyle distinction is more useful than treating either game as a universal winner.
Quick Recap
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