Now that the dust has settled on Cyberpunk 2077’s disastrous launch, patches and updates have started to reveal what is a truly incredible game.
Granted, it’s not perfect, and the occasional bug pops up to leave you internally sighing, but overall the game provides a wonderfully immersive experience in a world that’s abrim with things to see and places to explore.
Part of what makes the game so great is the characters. You can’t help but become emotionally attached to some of them. So, we’ve had a go at ranking the best characters in Cyberpunk 2077 in this completely objective list. Let us know your favorites in the comment section below!
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Who are the best characters in Cyberpunk 2077?
10. V
It feels like cheating to start off with the main playable character and protagonist, but V is definitely worthy of a mention. I chose to play as the male version of V, and the voice acting was superb. I hear the same is also true of the female V.
While controlling V, it was the first time in a long while that I really grew attached to my character, and I genuinely liked playing as them.
This might be because of the stylistic choice to only allow first-person perspective – something I (incorrectly) thought would be a mistake – but is more probably down to the fact that V has good dialogue options, and you can mould your character to behave in a way similar to how you might act in the same situation.
9. Rogue Anderson
I personally feel that Rogue is a very average character whose conversations always seemed to bore me and with whom I had to pry my fingers away from the “Skip Ahead” button. It’s not so much that she was written badly, it’s more the case that I found her character boring.
With that being said, though, there’s no denying that Rogue is integral to the multiple story arcs and plays a big role in the game. Without Rogue, you wouldn’t meet Panam, for example, and you also wouldn’t be able to delve into Johnny Silverhand’s past so thoroughly (some may think that’s a good thing!).
Either way, the game as a whole would not be as good without her, so Rogue has to be one of the best characters in Cyberpunk 2077.
8. Viktor Vector
This may be controversial, as I know that a lot of people love Viktor Vector, but for me I think the fanfare is overdone. I mean, I like Viktor’s character, don’t get me wrong, but I never felt any sort of attachment to him.
Viktor is a nice man, and he helps V out in immeasurable ways. Yet, his strong connection to V is only ever implied, as opposed to made within the game. For me, this made it very hard to warm too much to Viktor.
That being said, Viktor is a constant in the game, and a friendly face that I was always happy to see. For the reasons already stated, though, I can’t put him higher in this best Cyberpunk 2077 characters list.
7. Johnny Silverhand
Whether you like or loathe Johnny Silverhand, there’s no denying that he’s entertaining. Granted, he’s self-serving, misogynistic, and generally just a bit of a wally, but he adds value to the game and (oftentimes) injects some much needed humor to some of the slower missions.
I don’t think that Johnny is even meant to be likeable, and the character plays on this. His blasé attitude towards life and death is apparent whenever he appears, and is something that Keanu Reeves portrays well, despite some of the criticism that came his way.
As with the aforementioned Rogue, Johnny Silverhand is not one of my personal favorites, but he definitely makes the game better, and for that reason he has to be included as one of the best characters in Cyberpunk 2077.
6. River Ward
Purely from the perspective of the side quests he provides, River is easily one of the best characters in Cyberpunk 2077. I say that as someone who did not romance the character and feel the clarification is necessary as many have reported that the romancing of River is lacklustre and poorly played out.
The side quest with River very much had that Deckard/Blade Runner-vibe to it, something that I enjoyed very much. The detective work is depressing but engaging, and you encounter the lowest form of low along the way.
Without giving too much away, this was one of the best side quests in the game, and one that I couldn’t wait to get to the bottom of.
5. Delamain
For many, Delamain tops the list of the best characters in Cyberpunk 2077, and it’s easy to see why. I think of Delamain as the C3PO of Night City, with his android tendencies so obviously shadowing his attempts to appear human, often with comedic effect.
Delamain’s side quests are among the best in the game, and provide a much needed chuckle in a game that can get quite dark at times.
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4. Jackie Welles
Perhaps it’s true that Jackie is in this list by virtue of being the first character in the game that you became emotionally attached to, but that still counts for something.
When you first enter Night City, Jackie serves as a beacon of hope and teaches V that not everybody is out for themselves. Jackie is kind, loyal, and loveable, all wrapped up into one tidy package of braun and charm. Plus, he leaves his very nice Arch motorcycle to V…
3. Goro Takemura
Goro is one of the characters that I spent most of the time getting to know simultaneously wondering if I liked him or not. This is, of course, intentional on the part of the writers, with V’s inner monologue even making a point of telling him not to trust Goro.
After some time, though, Takemura’s dignity and integrity shine through, and it is his adherence to his values that make him so likeable.
Without giving too much away about Takemura, his story gets more interesting with each mission, and there is a reason why he is considered to be a favorite among so many players.
2. Judy Alvarez
Judy is another one of those characters in the game that will leave you thinking about them long after you stop playing.
You first meet Judy through Evelyn, and initially I got the impression that Evelyn would be the bigger character of the two. This was not the case, and rightfully so, too.
The thing about Judy is that she felt so real: the rebellious exterior that masked great insecurity; her blind ambition to do the right thing while not seeing the problems that lay ahead; and a sense of loneliness and resignation to the horrible nature of Night City that leaves a bitter undertone to her dialogue.
All these things made her authentic, and it’s this authenticity that resonates with so many players, and why she has gained a committed following since the game was released. For sure, Judy’s story is one that will keep you gripped throughout.
1. Panam Palmer
For me, Panam is easily the best character in Cyberpunk 2077. From the first moment you interact with her it is clear that she will play an important role in V’s story.
The emotional connection built with Panam feels very real, and you couldn’t help but smile when you receive a text message from her. The only complaint I’d have about Panam’s character is how quickly she goes from cold to hot with how she feels about V when they first meet. It was a little confusing, but this could also be explained by her highly strung nature.
It’s testament to the writing team how quickly the player is able to feel emotionally connected to Panam, and that’s not because she’s the perfect character, but because she feels very real. Panam, like everyone, is flawed. On the one hand you have a caring and tenacious character who gets the job done, but on the other hand, she could easily be described as selfish, blindly pursuing her goals no matter who gets hurt along the way.
This complexity in personality is what makes Panam one of the best characters in Cyberpunk 2077. That and, of course, the fact the she’s a beer-chugging hottie with a penchant for doing the no-pants dance in high grade military tanks.
Get in Touch
Who do you think are the best characters in Cyberpunk 2077? Do you agree with our list? Let us know in the comment section below!
For any enquiries, contact me at richard@blogofgames.com
If you’re new to the game and are looking for some tips, check out the great YouTube video below by Upper Echelon Gamers.