Dex

Dex is one of those games that feels like it was made by people who genuinely love cyberpunk. It wears its influences proudly, such as Neuromancer, Blade Runner, Deus Ex, classic dystopian sci-fi and somehow turns all of that into a great 2D RPG of its own. Harbor Prime is the real star. Neon streets, grimy back alleys, corporations, hackers, augmentation, underground resistance, shady characters and a constant feeling that something much bigger is happening behind the scenes. The hand-drawn / pixel-art presentation gives the whole thing the feeling of an interactive cyberpunk graphic novel. And underneath the atmosphere is a surprisingly good RPG. You can build Dex around combat, guns, stealth, hacking, charisma, lockpicking and augmentations, and your choices can change how you approach quests and their outcomes. The side quests are especially good at making the city feel like a real place rather than a collection of game levels. The hacking / cyberspace system is a fantastic idea too. It isn't always perfectly executed, could be better, but being able to jack into systems, disable security, manipulate technology and literally enter cyberspace is exactly the kind of thing I want from a cyberpunk RPG. The soundtrack deserves a special mention as well. It does a fantastic job of selling the dystopian atmosphere. Is Dex perfect? Absolutely not. The combat can feel clunky, the hacking minigame can be frustrating and a bit weird, and there are some rough edges and bugs. But honestly, those flaws never stopped me from wanting to explore another part of Harbor Prime or see where another quest would take me (unlike some enfuriating things in The Ancent but I digress). Dex isn't the biggest or most polished cyberpunk RPG you'll ever play. It's something I appreciate more: a small, passionate, genuinely cyberpunk game with personality.If you're a fan of cyberpunk, old-school RPGs, Deus Ex-style character building, neon dystopias and stories about corporations, hackers and human augmentation, go with it, you won't regret it.