Cyberpunk 2077offers an open-ended mission structure that allows players to carve their own path through Night City. However, the freedom to take on quests in almost any order can create inconsistencies in character interactions and story beats.
While some players may charge through main story missions, others might explore side content first, leading to vastly different experiences. Optimizing a mission order forCyberpunk 2077can enhance the narrative flow, improve immersion, and ensure players don’t miss key interactions.
Cyberpunk 2077’s Best Mission Order for Story
Rather than following a strict optimal path, progression inCyberpunk 2077benefits from an approach that prioritizes story coherence. The main story missions should generally be completed in a structured order before diving into too much side content. Playing through"Playing for Time" and “Automatic Love” early ensures that V’s struggle with the Relicremains a central focus, preventing the narrative from feeling disjointed. Meanwhile, waiting too long to complete major character quests can make their arcs feel rushed or disconnected. A well-paced progression allows for deeper character development and a more immersive story.
Side quests tied tosignificant characters, such as Panam, Judy, River, or Kerry, are best completed at strategic points to maintain a natural flow. For instance, tackling Panam’s questline before too much of the main story unfolds allows her storyline to develop alongside V’s. This would also make the emotional stakes of the story even greater, as each of the characters has intimate moments affected by V’s dilemma and give heartfelt reactions.
Meanwhile, cause-and-effect missions like “Life’s Work” and “Stadium Love” influence later encounters, making them crucial to complete in an order that maximizes impact. Roleplaying choices also shape the best mission order. AStreet Kid Vmight prioritize gang-related gigs in Heywood, while a Corpo V might first engage in espionage missions that align with their background. This would also help to bring out the game’s origin story dialogue options more.
Cyberpunk 2077’s Best Progression for Roleplaying
Beyond just narrative cohesion, structuring a playthrough around roleplaying can makeCyberpunk 2077feel even more personal. A player focused on a romance route should prioritize their chosen partner’s quests early to develop the relationship naturally. For example,players looking to romance Judy should engage with her storylineas soon as it becomes available, rather than saving it for later. Likewise, those invested in Johnny Silverhand’s influence over V might space out key story beats, allowing his arc to feel more organic rather than a series of back-to-back interactions.
Playstyle also affects optimal mission order.Netrunners benefit from completing gigs that unlock cyberware upgrades early, giving them an edge in hacking-based encounters. Meanwhile, solo builds that focus on brute strength and melee combat might seek out missions that reward high-end weapons and armor. Even smaller choices, such as prioritizing specific Fixers or regions, help craft a more immersive experience that aligns with how the player envisions V’s journey.
Cyberpunk 2077’s Mission Availability Issues
Despiteimprovements through patches,Cyberpunk 2077still suffers from mission availability inconsistencies. Certain quests rely on holo calls that take time to appear, leading to awkward gaps in progression. Players often find themselves waiting or reloading saves just to trigger the next step in a questline. This disrupts immersion, particularly when trying to follow a structured mission order. Additionally, some missions unlock based on arbitrary conditions rather than logical progression, causing frustration for those attempting a well-paced run.
Time-sensitive missions inCyberpunk 2077also add another layer of unpredictability. Some gigs and side quests disappear if players advance the main story too far, leading to missed content. A lack of clear indicators for when a quest might expire can result in unintentional progression roadblocks. While the game offers freedom, it sometimes comes at the cost of accessibility for players trying to experience everything in a single playthrough.
Cyberpunk 2077’s Future Could Improve Progression
CD Projekt Red’s nextCyberpunkgame, currently known asProject Orion, could refine progression with smarter mission management systems. A dynamic mission log that clearly outlines upcoming quests and wait times for holo calls would prevent the current frustration of stalled progress. Additionally, implementing a system that allows players to manually initiate calls to trigger quests would remove unnecessary downtime. Ensuring that all missions unlock through logical story progression rather than arbitrary timers would further streamline the experience.
Reducing time-based mission failures would also be a valuable improvement. Instead of certain gigs disappearing without warning, the game could implement a system where expired missions transition into alternative outcomes rather than simply vanishing. This would preserve player choice while maintaining a more natural mission structure. IfCyberpunk 2077’ssuccessor adopts these refinements, it could offer a more cohesive experience without sacrificing the freedom that defines the franchise.
