Cyberpunk 2077 just entered the Xbox Game Pass, and I know plenty of you are still getting it on other platforms too. If you’re new to the game, you’re probably wondering what implications this choice will have for the rest of the story. Here, I’ll give you a very brief explanation of what this choice entails and which is the “best” out of the three.
What Do the Lifepaths Change?
The most significant difference between the three lifepaths is how they handle the intro sequence. Each has its own very distinct 20 to 30-minute intro that teaches you the basic controls and helps you get acclimated to the game’s world.
No matter which one you pick, you’ll eventually reach the same prologue with the combat and stealth tutorial. From that point forward, the lifepaths offer:
- Unique dialogue options for flavor
- Special outcomes for some quests
- A handful of exclusive rewards
- Varying starting outfits
They actually don’t have too many deviations from a purely gameplay standpoint, so picking a lifepath is mainly a matter of whichever you think is the most appealing.
That said, your playthrough will have a subtle but noticeable difference in vibes based on your choice. Dialogue, even unmarked ones, can actually vary based on your lifepath and other factors (such as your attributes), making the game a lot more immersive. Let’s go over each of the paths, starting with my personal favorite.
Corpo Lifepath – Cold and Ruthless
The cyberpunk genre is rooted in corporate shenanigans, and this lifepath puts you right in the middle of it all as a counter-intel agent for one of the most powerful megacorpos in the world. V’s corpo dialogue options make them come off as somebody who is extremely knowledgeable about the corporate climate and even a bit about Night City’s seedy underground.
Without spoiling anything, I view it as the most “canon” choice for reasons that I can’t say without spoiling the first few hours. It turns V into a badass whose initial downfall wasn’t necessarily their fault, and the way their intro ties into the entire prologue questline just feels so seamless and natural.
Gameplay-wise, there’s at least one moment I remember where this lifepath lets you dupe your way into a heavily-guarded facility. It turns an important quest into, almost literally, a walk in the park, whereas a non-corpo V would have to sneak or fight their way in.
You can also get a special gun from an exclusive quest, depending on how you complete it. It’s not overpowered or anything, so you won’t be missing out without it.
Street Kid Lifepath – The Smalltime Solo
In the street kid lifepath, you’re just a smalltime merc living in one of Night City’s districts. True to its name, this version of V grew up in the lower rungs of society, so they’ve been around gangs, crime, the whole shebang.
This is the one I went with in my very first playthrough on launch because it definitely feels the most fitting from a punk standpoint. You immediately get a glimpse of what you’ll be doing throughout the game as a hired gun… and the potential consequences of messing up.
You’re not a big shot yet, but the local fixers know you, and you have a pretty good idea of how respect is earned in the streets. This path is the very definition of “zero to hero”, and it’s the best choice if you’re trying to play V as somebody who aspires to be among the legends of this grim metropolis.
As far as I know, it has the least amount of gameplay-specific differences. However, it does offer a lot of interesting dialogue, making it the best option for roleplaying purposes. Bonus points for it embodying the entire “down with corpos” mindset that you’ll get to experience through most of the game.
Nomad Lifepath – The Independent Newcomer
The nomad lifepath is a special one, as it starts in a unique area outside of Night City. You’re a former member of a nomad clan who’s now running solo, and your ticket to the metropolis is a seemingly easy smuggling job.
Funnily enough, it’s the best choice if you want to learn more about Night City. It makes sense for information to be spoon-fed to this version of V because they’re a complete outsider. Your character will occasionally go “what’s that?” or go on a quick tangent like “even nomads know about this” that’ll reveal some interesting lore tidbits.
For gameplay purposes, nomad is pretty good if you want to collect as many vehicles as possible. This path’s intro starts you off with a scrappy car that you lose afterwards, but you can reclaim it later at a cheap price. You can also get a slightly tuned version of the motorcycle that you get for free through progressing the story.
So, Which Lifepath Should You Choose?
I know it’s cliche advice, but picking what you think seems the coolest is generally the best way to go about it for a first playthrough. Cyberpunk 2077 is highly replayable and has a ton of variations in quest outcomes, character builds, and endings. Unless you’re done with just one go at it, I’m sure you’ll be coming back for more.
If you’re dead set on finding the “best”, you can try playing through all three intros before committing to a save file. This should give you a pretty good feel for how each version of V will be throughout the game, and it won’t take you more than an hour to achieve this.
Personally, I’d go with street kid for the thematic fit in your first playthrough. If you care about the roleplaying aspect, it’s the one that I feel truly fits V’s desire to reach the top. It even aligns well with one of your early companions in the game.
Just remember, the differences are often very subtle and have no lasting impact on the main plot (side quests are a different story). I’m a bit biased as I’ve already played Cyberpunk 2077 several times since it first came out, and I really advise people to play through the game with different builds to experience everything it has to offer.
Lifepaths aside, even something as simple as having low intelligence can lead to very different conversations in certain parts of the game. There’s this one quest where V’s stats will determine whether they recognize a cyberdeck or embarrassingly refer to it as “some kind of box”, and that’s just one of the many subtle differences you’re gonna encounter.
Anyways, have fun! You’re gonna be in it for the long haul if you plan on completing it 100%.