Cyberpunk 2077 is played from a first-person perspective as V, a mercenary whose speech, expression, hairstyles, body shape and shifts, history and clothes are customizable. Stat categories — Body, Intellect, Reflexes, Technological, and Cool — are affected by the character classes that players believe are NetRunner (hacking), Techie (machinery), and Solo (fighting). The perk tree is divided into melee, knives, handguns, shotguns, rifles, sniper weapons, hacking, two-handed fighting, assassination, "cold blood" engineering, and athletics. V must consult the "ripperdoc" to update and buy cyberware implants; black markets sell military capabilities. The uniqueness of any given equipment is shown by a coloured tier structure. You can take cover, shoot, run, leap, double leap, and slide. Melee attacks can be dealt with by close-fighting weapons. There are three types of weapons, all of which can be configured and modified — power (standard), tech (which penetrates walls and enemies) and smart (with homing bullets). Ranged guns are designed to ricochet bullets in the direction of the target and slow them down in the time of the bullet. Four forms of damage can be caused and resisted — Physical, Thermal, EMP, and Chemical. Weapon use increases the precision and reloading speed, which are manifested in character animations. Gunsmiths fix and upgrade the weapons. The game can be completed without killing anyone, with non-lethal options for weapons and cyberware.
The open world metropolis of Night City, California consists of six regions — City Center, Watson immigrant-inhabited, affluent Westbrook, Heywood residential, Pacifica gang-infested, and Santo Domingo industrial. The surrounding area, the Badlands, can also be explored. V navigates these areas on foot and in vehicles that are either subject to a first or third-person view. V can engage in gunplay more quickly in autonomous vehicles. Pedestrians are vulnerable to car crashes. Depending on the venue, the law enforcement authorities will be notified if V commits a crime. There are radio stations available to listen to. The full day-night period and complex weather influence the actions of non-player characters (NPCs). V has an apartment and a garage. Night City features non-English - speaking characters whose languages can be converted through special implants. "Braindance" is a device that allows V to undergo other people's experiences. Branching dialogues allow interaction with NPCs and actions in quests. Experience points are gained from main quests and fuel stats, while side quests yield "street cred" unlocking skills, vendors, locations, and additional quests. Quests are taken from characters known as Fixers. Throughout the game, V is assisted by a variety of companions. Consumables, such as soft drinks, are used for healing, and items may be examined in V's inventory. Minigames include hacking, boxing, car racing, martial arts, and shooting ranges. "Game over" notifications only occur at the point of death; if the mission fails, the game moves just the same. The choice of the player leads to different endings giving every player their own unique experience.
