Summary

Cyberpunk 2077is arguably one of the best games of the last decade. Not only is the game set in a futuristic dystopian societyrun by evil corporations, but the narrative presented to players is also quite enticing and immersive.

Throughout the game, players will have the chance to get to know V more in-depth and learn things about them that will help them decide what ending they want for their character. On top of this,Cyberpunk 2077has amazing game mechanics andCyberware for V’s arms, legs, and body in general, which can help make the experience more complex. However, sometimes even the hardest difficulty isn’t enough and additional steps are required for players who want a challenge. Here are some ways tomake aCyberpunk 2077playthrough as hard as possible.

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8Don’t Use Skill Points

Staying At Base Stats Can Be Challenging

One of the best ways to reduce the difficulty ofCyberpunk 2077is to use skill points and upgrade skills as the story progresses. This not only allows players to spend points on the abilities they’re interested in, but also makes them stronger.

By forgoing spending skill points, players can face a true challenge as they remain at the base level and with the minimum skills available. Avoiding this, along withany kind of leg Cyberwareor any other augmentation can go a long way.

César Diego Ruiz from Cyberpunk 2077 Beat the Brat quest

7Focus On Stealth

Remain Undetected And Restart A Mission If Spotted

While the combat mechanics ofCyberpunk 2077are designed to deliver a thrilling and adrenaline-rushing experience to players through a first-person perspective, those looking for a challenge can also attempt to complete the game using nothing but a Stealth approach.

Naturally, this will not always be possible, as some situations will require V to engage in combat. However, in several others, a discrete approach is usually best and will challenge players who want to have a harder experience.Using the right perkscan make V stealthier and balance the playing field.

The Rasetsu Sniper Rifle in Cyberpunk 2077

6Stick To Basic Gear

No Upgrades Means A Greater Challenge

As players progress through the story ofCyberpunk 2077, they’ll have the chance to not only get more powerful weapons, but also upgrade those that they already own. While upgrading constantly is one of thebest decisions V can make, players can also choose to keep their weapons at their base stats, making the gameplay experience more demanding.

In the mid-to-late stages of the game, some enemies are more resilient to damage, so keeping players' weapons at base stats will mean that a lot more shots will be required to bring them down.

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5Try A Permadeath Run

Dying Means Restarting The Game

Games with Permadeath mechanics are usually very fun, as they challenge players to hone their skills to survive insurmountable odds. AlthoughCyberpunk 2077does not have this game mechanic built in, players can implement it into their gameplay experience by manually restarting their game if they die.

This can raise the stakes significantly and force players to think about their every move twice, just like they do when it comes to theromance options in the game. Naturally, bugs and glitches don’t count, but everything else does, so sticking to the rules, no matter how frustrating it might be, is key to making this work.

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4Avoid Fast Travel

Explore Night City And The Outskirts On Foot Or A Vehicle

In titles with maps as large as the one inCyberpunk 2077, the possibility of fast travel is not a luxury, but rather a necessity to keep things interesting. Foregoing the use of fast travel will make the game a bit frustrating, but it can also boost the play time significantly and challenge players to explore every corner of Night City.

Taking their time to traverse Night City on foot or vehicle will also help players take in all the splendor of the urban areas, and might even prevent them from makinga mistake that could cost them the best ending.

MaxTac from Cyberpunk 2077 Firing a Pistol

3Use Mods To Increase Difficulty

Sometimes, The Base Game Just Doesn’t Cut It

Provided the options listed so far are not enough to satisfy those players who really want a challenging experience, mods might be the one thing they need to scratch their itch. ModdingCyberpunk 2077can be a great option to shake things up. However, it can also be dangerous and corrupt saved files or create game-breaking glitches if players are not careful.

Ideally, players should only install mods from official sources that have been tested thoroughly, as doing otherwise could be catastrophic and do more harm than good.

Cyberware menu in Cyberpunk 2077

2Use Minimal Cyberware

Stick To V’s Natural Body

As players progress through the game, they’ll gain access tovarious Cyberware upgradesthat can allow them to fight better, move quicker, and have an advantage over their enemies. Many of these bodily augmentations are not cheap or easy to come by, but if players save enough Eddies and have patience, it’s mostly guaranteed that their effort will pay off.

Those who want to have a very challenging experience should forego the use of Cyberware unless it’s necessary to complete a mission, as this will force V to fight with nothing but what was given to them at birth.

Beat on the Brat quest Kabuki twins in Cyberpunk 2077

1Try A Pacifist Run

Not Every Situation Requires Bloodshed

Lastly, there’s the option of choosing a path of non-violence. For a game that’s designed to pack a lot of action and allow players to make the most out of its outstanding FPS mechanics, suggesting a pacifist run might not make sense.

This might arguably make the gameplay experience a lot more boring, but also much more challenging. Players looking to make their playthrough as hard as possible should try to avoid conflict whenever they can or stick to non-lethal approaches if the opportunity to do so presents itself.

Cyberpunk 2077 Tag Page Cover Art

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