Summary
Gamers who don’t have the firmest grip on indie games may have missed 2022’sCitizen Sleeper, a narrative-driven RPG set in a dystopian cyberpunk world. WhileCitizen Sleeper’s gameplay is rather differentfrom most mainstream, western RPGs, its narrative themes, tone, and atmosphere are incredibly relevant, and might click withCyberpunk 2077fans.
Science fiction has offered a general framework for countless games over the decades, with developers using the genre to tell thought-provoking stories, craft inventive worlds, and design outside-the-box gameplay. All three of these things are offered in abundance byCyberpunk 2077which, despite its controversial launch, manages to present a visually dazzling and narratively engaging experience rooted in the most important conventions of the cyberpunk sub-genre, which touts ‘high-tech, low-life’ as its central theme. Massive, AAA games in this particular flavor are hard to come by, but they are a bit more common in the indie scene, and few are as affecting and memorable asCitizen Sleeper.
Citizen Sleeper Is Perfect for Fans of Sci-Fi Games Like Cyberpunk 2077
Games likeCyberpunk 2077are all about their setting and central, oftentimes existential questions, such as what it means to be human, or what concepts like morality mean in a world transformed by technology and rampant capitalism.Citizen Sleeperlives in this creative space, putting players in the role of a Sleeper, an android that is experiencing life through the digitized consciousness of a human being, a mental copy of someone who sold the ‘rights’ to their mind to Essen-Arp, a space-faring megacorporation.
Citizen Sleeperfits the cyberpunk genreto a tee, meditating on the nature of consciousness and identity while serving as a biting critique of unfettered capitalism aided by technology that advances too fast for human ethics to keep up. In both of these ways, the game has a lot in common withCyberpunk 2077, which explores transhumanism through the digital ‘soul’ of Johnny Silverhand (not to mention the widespread adoption of cybernetic enhancements), while showing how industry and modern society can lead to environmental destruction and gross inequality. ForCyberpunk 2077fans who want more of this thematic sustenance,Citizen Sleeperwill be a pleasant surprise.
Citizen Sleeper Is Reminiscent of Cyberpunk 2077’s Themes, But Not Its Gameplay
For players who fell in love withCyberpunk 2077’s first-person shooter mechanics, next-gen graphics, or open-world exploration,Citizen Sleepermight be a slightly harder sell. The game is virtually all dialog, with the gameplay boiling down to resource, time, and quest management, which are impacted by six dice that get rolled every in-game morning. This gameplay isn’t as intense as a shootout, certainly, but the long-term decision-making thatCitizen Sleeperoffers encourages critical thinking and strategy, which meshes nicely with its RPG elements.
WhenCitizen Sleeperis at its best, players will feel like they are clearing objectives by the skin of their teeth, which leads to an experience that is tense and immersive, if simplistic mechanically. While it’s not as robust or sprawling as RPGs likeBaldur’s Gate 3,Citizen Sleeperrewards playerswho understand the rules of the game and think through each decision carefully, which makes it surprisingly engaging, even beyond its stellar narrative.
Still, it’s not a direct replacement forCyberpunk 2077’s fast-paced action, sprawling upgrade trees, and cinematic narrative. Rather, it’s an experience that is aided by a sense of imagination and a willingness to embrace a different sort of role-playing framework, one that is more akin to the likes ofDisco Elysiumand other CRPGs without combat. ForCyberpunk 2077fans open to a rich science-fiction narrative that explores similar themes, but with a radically different presentation and gameplay fundamentals,Citizen Sleepermight be a perfect fit.
Cyberpunk 2077
WHERE TO PLAY
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
