Cyberpunk 2077 launched to a barrage of controversy, not the smallest of which was the disastrous PS4 and Xbox One versions. The former was so broken, it was pulled from the PS Store until further notice. Those who already bought it can still play the game, which runs okay on the PS5 via backwards compatibility.
Until the game is fixed, the following list will provide several alternatives to explore on the PS4. They are all science fiction and have other connections to Cyberpunk 2077, whether it be the open-world design, thematic story elements, or the immersive first-person gameplay. Time will tell if CD Projekt Red can truly fix the PS4 version with patches.
10 Fallout 4
Fallout 4 should help scratch the open-world itch. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, so it does not have the same vibe as Night City, but the world includes more dungeon-like environments encouraging exploration. Pick a direction, walk, and you are likely to find something interesting, whether it be a quest or enemy encampments. While not as good as Fallout 3, it still provides dozens of quality gaming hours.
9 Killzone: Shadow Fall
Guerrilla games sent off the Killzone franchise with the PS4 launch title, Shadow Fall. True to the company’s reputation, the first-person shooter was an early technical marvel for the console. It is a solid shooter, but does not do anything to blow you away. Still, if you enjoyed the prior games in the franchise it is worth seeing through to the end. It is unknown if the series will continue, especially since Horizon Zero Dawn is now the studio’s focus.
8 Wolfenstein: The New Order
Instead of looking into an alternate future that splits apart from real world history in the 90’s, the two recent Wolfenstein games of this generation explore a dark alternate past where the Nazis won World War II and continued their fascistic takeover of the world. The games bring up some surprisingly dark and poignant themes, far beyond what one expects from a blood-soaked shooter. They are a perfect blend of a great story and classic 90s shooter action.
7 Alien: Isolation
The prior generation was tough for fans of the Alien franchise. Aliens: Colonial Marines was a huge disappointment. Fortunately, Alien: Isolation perfectly recreates the vibes of the original film. The atmosphere sucks the player into the terrifying world and the titular enemy’s AI makes gameplay feel dynamic. While many lobbied complaints towards the bloated length, it remains one of the scariest games of the generation.
6 Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Cyberpunk 2077 draws many comparisons to Deus Ex for obvious reasons. They both take place in dystopian futures and the first-person tries to encourage experimentation.
Combat scenarios can be approached in a variety of ways. Many still consider the debut entry in the franchise to be the best, and one of the greatest games of all time, but the most recent title will satisfy until Cyberpunk 2077 returns.
5 Prey
Arkane Studios satisfies a niche audience who enjoy what is dubbed the immersive sim genre. Prey is ostensibly a reboot of a 2006 3D Realms first-person shooter of the same name, though the plot bears almost no relation except for the use of aliens. Despite this, the game is still a magnificent title drawing influence from older titles like System Shock. The range of abilities available to you helps the game stand out from other science-fiction first-person shooters.
4 No Man’s Sky
Like Cyberpunk 2077, No Man’s Sky launched to a lot of bad press. The explorable expanse was nearly infinite, but it was not fun to explore without definitive goals to work towards. Fortunately, the developer turned the ship around and headed in a promising direction. Now, No Man’s Sky is considered one of the finest, most unique living games of the generation. Many of the updates have been free, which shows how much the team cares about the player base.
3 Dishonored 2
Another cult classic from Arkane Studios, Dishonored 2 features one of the most unique science fiction worlds in gaming. The distinct architectural style makes it almost immediately identifiable.
The game is also beatable without killing a single person, and levels can even be conquered with lightning speed if one knows how to take advantage of the mechanics. Player freedom is the main point of immersive sims, and the limits are all dependent on your ingenuity.
2 XCOM 2
Anybody who has beaten an XCOM game deserves your respect. These turn-based strategy game are some of the hardest around. XCOM 2 in particular feels like it is insulting the player at many turns with super powerful foes abruptly showing up in the middle of battle. It is a magnificent game, however, and every victory is extremely rewarding. The game also includes permadeath, so one wrong move can ruin a character you spent hours building up.
1 Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain
Like Cyberpunk 2077, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain explores themes surrounding identity. Can a person truly be turned into someone else? If so, are they now the new person entirely or do they have their own distinct personality? While Cyberpunk 2077 deals with corporate greed, Phantom Pain deals with the effects global superpowers had on the world during the Cold War and the importance of language in culture. What is likely to be the last Metal Gear Solid is an incredible open-world stealth game, despite the problems surrounding development and the unfinished ending.
