Sometimes I decide not to do parent guides for games because they are so obviously geared towards adults that it should be a no-brainer for parents. This game was on that list until I saw the download/purchase records it broke on release. Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the biggest video game releases in history and is sure to have your kids’ attention. The following review is short but is intended to inform parents and allow them to make quality decisions for their families.
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world, action-adventure story set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification. You play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality. You can customize your character’s cyberware, skillset and playstyle, and explore a vast city where the choices you make shape the story and the world around you. – cyberpunk.net
This video game is filled with everything that makes a game mature. There is nudity, sexual innuendo and content, violence, blood, gore, extreme language, adult themes, drug use, and mature plot and story features. In my informed opinion, there is no reason anyone under the age of 16 should be playing this game. It seems to be made for adults and has all the features that adults will look for in a video game.
I am not sensitive or prudish when it comes to movie or video game content. I am, however, cautious about content that will cause young gamers to think frivolously or casually about very serious and complex topics. The themes in Cyberpunk 2077 include gender identity and body modification, political corruption and corporate greed, violence against all types of people, enemies, police, criminals, and basically anyone else. While these topics are real and important in this day and age, there is good evidence that they should be explored by young people in the safety of trained counselors and people who have their best interest at heart. Whether it be the opinions of friends on social media or the developers of a video game, a 12-year-old isn’t equipped to unpack these complex issues as presented in this content.
What Parents Should Know
As I said, the M rating for this game is well earned. It is likely that most parents will keep their kids away from the game as much as possible. There are, however, always those parents who don’t pay attention or believe their child when they say, “Ya it has all that stuff but I just play it to have fun. Its no big deal.” I truly believe that any content consumed by our children develops their attitudes and beliefs about their world. A game like Cyberpunk 2077 is set in a world of very absolute beliefs that could be contrary to those you’re trying to instill into your family. For that reason, this game is on my no-play list for any kids or teenagers you don’t think are mature enough to handle this kind of mature content and these kinds of controversial topics.