Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty expands the open-world action-adventure RPG experience of the base game, plunging you into a spy-thriller narrative set in the gritty underbelly of Night City. As a mercenary named V, you navigate high-stakes espionage, forging alliances amid political intrigue and cybernetic enhancements that define your survival in this dystopian metropolis.
Gameplay
In this RPG, you customize V with cybernetic upgrades that alter combat, stealth, and exploration approaches. Mechanics revolve around skill trees that let you specialize in areas like netrunning for hacking systems or body modifications for brute force encounters. Combat blends gunplay with melee options, where quickhacks disrupt enemies or vehicular chases add tension. Choices in dialogues and missions influence outcomes, creating branching paths that affect relationships and story arcs. Exploration encourages scavenging for gear in a vast urban landscape filled with hidden secrets and dynamic events.
Phantom Liberty introduces a new skill tree for unique playstyles, alongside fresh weapons and cyberware suited for infiltration tasks. You tackle gigs that demand precise timing, such as breaking into secure facilities or outmaneuvering guards, all while managing resources like health boosters and ammo in intense firefights.
Game Modes
The game focuses on a single-player campaign, with the main story mode driving the narrative through a series of connected missions. Phantom Liberty adds a dedicated expansion mode centered on espionage operations, including covert intelligence tasks like extractions and infiltrations in the Dogtown district.
Side content comes in the form of gigs, which are shorter, optional jobs that test specific skills, from hacking corporate networks to eliminating targets. These provide variety without shifting to multiplayer formats, keeping the emphasis on solo progression and world-building.
Factions and Mechanics
Several key factions shape the conflicts in Phantom Liberty. The NUSA, or New United States of America, plays a central role with its president entangled in a crash-landing crisis. Barghest, a militia group led by Colonel Hansen, controls Dogtown through loyal soldiers enforcing order in the chaotic zone.
Mechanics tied to these groups involve alliance-building, where your decisions sway loyalties and unlock faction-specific quests. Netrunners and mercenaries from these sides challenge you in battles that require adapting to their tactics, such as countering hacks or navigating militia patrols.
Is It Worth Playing?
With recent updates like version 2.3 adding new vehicles, side jobs, and customization options, the game remains in a polished state as of 2026. Player reception has improved significantly, earning a Metacritic score of 89 for the PC version of Phantom Liberty and very positive ratings on platforms where it's available.
This expansion suits those who enjoy narrative-driven RPGs with deep choice systems and cyberpunk themes. If you prefer story-rich single-player experiences over competitive multiplayer, it offers compelling value through its revamped mechanics and engaging plot. For newcomers, starting with the base game enhances the full impact, making it a strong pick for fans of immersive worlds.
