Forget 'Cyberpunk 2077', Here's Why Johnny Silverhand Deserves His Own Game

Whatever you think of Cyberpunk 2077, there’s no doubt it’s a big title. From the amount of in-game content to its cultural impact, CD Projekt RED’s titanic RPG offers a lot for any player who dares risk entering the unfinished world of Night City. However, there’s one thing I’d like more of, and that’s the brief moments where we play as Johnny Silverhand. 

Cyberpunk 2077 is a much better experience now, as you can see here

Hands down, the best thing about Cyberpunk 2077 is Johnny Silverhand, the character played by Keanu Reeves, who resides in the protagonist's mind. He's witty, charismatic, and drives the plot thanks to being the most layered thing in the whole game.

As I mentioned, in a few rare sequences, you even play as him, and he's basically a super soldier with a Dirty Harry magnum that can kill almost anyone - or thing - that dares stand in his way. He’s basically the character many of us thought Duke Nukem was back when we were sweet summer children, before we truly understood satire. 

CD Projekt RED

What I‘m saying is Johnny Silverhand - the Chadest of Chads - deserves his own FPS game. Imagine seeing that silver arm on the screen for the length of an eight-hour-long FPS game. It could be in the style of DOOM Eternal, where he wages war as a one-man army to a blistering heavy rock soundtrack. Hell, you could even add in guitar-playing sequences where Johnny jams with his band, Samurai.

Sure, it would be a different game to Cyberpunk 2077 in terms of genre and required game mechanics, but there could still be RPG elements. Experience could be gained from playing missions - perhaps with optional side quests - and this could be used to unlock new weapons, skills or attributes. For instance, Johnny’s handgun power could be increased, or he could acquire new takedown moves to use when enemies are vulnerable.

CD Projekt RED

There are so many ways to go at a game like this, whether it be in the style of a realistic experience like 2019’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, or something more stylised like Arkane Studios’ Deathloop. All that matters, as far as I’m concerned, is that Johnny-Boy is in the spotlight. 

Look, I’m not a game dev. I’m just a gamer who loves a character that deserves more screen time. I want to play an adventure from beginning to end where Johnny Silverhand, portrayed by Keanu Reeves, is the protagonist. I want to hear his cutting one-liners delivered over a chaotic scene of his own making. I want to play as the man who told us all to “wake the f*** up”, and took our breath away in doing so.