Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Review Thread

Game Information

Game Title: Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Platforms:

  • PC (Sep 26, 2023)
  • PlayStation 5 (Sep 26, 2023)
  • Xbox Series X/S (Sep 26, 2023)

Trailers:

Developer: CD PROJEKT RED

Publisher: CD PROJEKT SA

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 90 average - 98% recommended - 57 reviews

Critic Reviews

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Buy

Video Review - Quote not available


AltChar - Semir Omerovic - 97 / 100

If CD Projekt Red had to make amends for the disappointing launch of Cyberpunk 2077, they certainly have done that with Phantom Liberty. Simply preem.


Arabhardware - Ahmed Yousry - Arabic - 9.5 / 10

CD Projekt RED redeems themselves by offering one of the best expansions in gaming history. This is THE Definitive Cyberpunk experience!


Atomix - Alberto Desfassiaux - Spanish - 96 / 100

Phantom Liberty and the update 2.0 are simply fantastic. Returning to the world of Cyberpunk 2077 has been a real treat. The is no real reason to not play this expansion.


Attack of the Fanboy - Diego Perez - 3.5 / 5

Phantom Liberty has some great moments, but it’s ultimately a by-the-numbers spy thriller with an uninteresting cast that can’t be saved by celebrity star power.


But Why Tho? - Jason Payne - 9 / 10

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is a captivating spy story that deftly grapples with the tension between loyalty and betrayal that will please fans of spy films and the world that CD Projekt Red has already built in the base game.


Cerealkillerz - Steve Brieller - German - 8.6 / 10

Phantom Liberty adds a thrilling story and the new area Dogtown to Cyberpunk 2077. The add-on and the 2.0 update really justify hopping back into night city. Although, there’s still potential within CP2077 that can be unraveled, Phantom Liberty is definitely worth a try.


Checkpoint Gaming - Tom Quirk - 8 / 10

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is a strong and very engaging paid expansion that offers many hours of new content. Idris Elba’s Solomon Reed is an excellent addition to the setting, and his movie star charisma does a lot to elevate the expansion’s tense sci-fi political thriller tale. Accompanied by the long-awaited 2.0 update, substantially overhauling the Cyberpunk 2077 base game for the better and allowing the game to finally reach its full potential, Phantom Liberty might not bring as many new gameplay innovations on its own, but what it does bring feels like a worthwhile addition to the base game and something fans of Cyberpunk 2077 will definitely want to check out.


ComicBook.com - Cade Onder - 4 / 5

While some of Cyberpunk 2077’s issues still linger, and the new content isn’t without its own flaws, CD Projekt Red has done a commendable job at making me like a game I previously had disdain for. Phantom Liberty continues to prove CD Projekt Red has a deft hand for high-quality storytelling and has now shown it can provide strong RPG gameplay to match.


Destructoid - Eric Van Allen - 8.5 / 10

Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty is a great expansion, with a conclusion that easily secures it a spot on CD Projekt Red’s track record for great expansions.


Digital Trends - Jesse Lennox - 4 / 5

With a strong spy story and performances to match, Phantom Liberty gives Cyberpunk 2077 the extra chapter it needed.


Everyeye.it - Riccardo Cantù - Italian - 8.5 / 10

A rich expansion


Fextralife - Castielle - 8.5 / 10

Phantom Liberty continues to show that CDPR will always support their most ambitious title to date: Cyberpunk 2077, and does so in phenomenal fashion. From interesting characters, intriguing plot lines and new mechanics, Phantom Liberty is sure to win over fans of the franchise, and many who had previously given up on the game.


Final Weapon - Saras Rajpal - 4.5 / 5

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty adds several new mechanics and features that fans have been hoping for since the game was released in 2020. Phantom Liberty is one of the best expansions I’ve played in years, with a brand new story, fantastic characters, and an exciting new area of Night City. It’s a shame that this is the only expansion being added to the game and that we have to wait years to see what’s next for the franchise.


Forbes - Paul Tassi - 10 / 10

Phantom Liberty is a thoroughly excellent swan song for the tumultuous saga of Cyberpunk 2077. And after playing, you will be glad that CDPR has already greenlit a sequel, despite the fact that the initial release could have sunk the entire company. It’s a redemption story on the level of No Man’s Sky or Final Fantasy XIV, and deserves to be experienced for yourself, no matter what you may have thought of Cyberpunk three years back.


Game Informer - Wesley LeBlanc - 8.5 / 10

While Phantom Liberty doesn’t stand head and shoulders above the rest of the Cyberpunk package, it slots in nicely, like a preem piece of cyberware you’ve been waiting to be in stock.


GameGrin - Mike Crewe - 9.5 / 10

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is, quite simply, a must-play. With an engaging narrative and fascinating new locale, this thoroughly gripping expansion will be sure to delight anyone looking to dive back into Night City.


GamePro - Stephan Zielke - German - 94 / 100

Phantom Liberty delivers the ultimate cyberpunk experience with fascinating characters, a thrilling story and varied gameplay.


GameSpot - Michael Higham - 10 / 10

Phantom Liberty embodies the best of Cyberpunk 2077 for a thrilling RPG-shooter with an evocative story, compelling side content, and unforgettable conclusions.


Gamepur - Zack Palm - 8.5 / 10

Phantom Liberty feels like a fresh start to Cyberpunk 2077, and it’s only unfortunate that many of the more uplifting changes took three years to finally see the light of day. The story Phantom Liberty and the playground of Dogtown makes it a fun way to return to Cyberpunk 2077, especially for someone who hasn’t touched it too much since the fatal launch and didn’t get too far after going back to it a year or two later.

Phantom Liberty is an incredibly fun expansion; even the smaller size of Dogtown is a good way to kick things off despite the immense size of the base game. I think the best way to experience this expansion is with a fresh save, starting from the beginning, but those who want to jump into it to check out the new area and see all the changes CD Projekt Red made won’t be disappointed.


Gamer Escape - Justin Mercer - 8 / 10

The end result here is a balancing act—a little of column A and a little of column B. Phantom Liberty’s main questline absolutely explores a more espionage-tinted angle than its base game counterpart with, but there was a concerted effort to intertwine them in a way that still feels seamless. Its side quests may not feel like anything new, but the level design and encounters have never been better.

In that sense, Phantom Liberty is Cyberpunk 2077 distilled. If you enjoyed the base game, it’s hard to see you being dissatisfied with this expansion. And even if you aren’t enticed by any of the new content on offer, Update 2.0 has brought net improvements to the overall gameplay that make it more than worth taking another trip through Night City.


Gamer Guides - Ben Chard - 8 / 10

A great follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077 with a stellar cast that brings a thrilling story to the streets of Dogtown. The gameplay changes bring it up to a better standard, but if you are not a fan of the original, don’t expect Phantom Liberty to change your mind.


Gamersky - Chinese - 8.9 / 10

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty has done well within its existing framework, improving on the original Cyberpunk 2077 in a number of ways. The main story is seamlessly integrated into Night City, while the side quests offer more variety and choice than the original. The 2.0 update has improved several systems, addressing some of the issues with the original mechanics, improving the gameplay and giving players a more satisfying experience.


GamesRadar+ - Sam Loveridge - 4.5 / 5

Between the 2.0 Update and Phantom Liberty, Cyberpunk 2077 is a different game now. It not only looks more beautiful than ever, but it’s also vast. The Phantom Liberty expansion adds 13 core missions, 17 new side quests and gigs, and a brand new ending for the base game. That’s a lot of content without even thinking about what’s been added in the three years between now and launch.


GamingBolt - Shubhankar Parijat - 9 / 10

Phantom Liberty is what Cyberpunk 2077 should have been three years ago. It’s an incredible expansion that boasts a gripping story, compelling characters, engaging moment-to-moment gameplay, and significantly improved progression mechanics. It’s so good that it uplifts all of Cyberpunk 2077, finally making good on the lofty promises CD Projekt RED made for the base game all those years ago.


GamingTrend - David Flynn - 95 / 100

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty represents the best the game has to offer. The main quest is tense and thrilling, with amazing characters played by fantastic actors and twists around every corner. Every quest gives you something unique and interesting to do, including side quests. Dogtown is gorgeous, deadly, and deep.


God is a Geek - Mick Fraser - 10 / 10

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is a masterclass in how to develop DLC. It slots in and out of the main story seamlessly but still manages to feel utterly essential and compelling.


Hardcore Gamer - Chris Shive - 4.5 / 5

Cyberpunk 2077 had an unfortunate launch and as a result there are many who have written off a game that should have been remembered as being one of the top games of 2020.


IGN - Matthew Kim - 9 / 10

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty completes an immense turnaround for CD Projekt Red’s future RPG kickstarted with the anime spinoff, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and its latest 2.0 Update.


IGN Italy - Stefano Castagnola - Italian - 8.2 / 10

Phantom Liberty is a good expansion that adds an intriguing storyline filled with memorable characters and that, together with the 2.0 version, manages to also improve the gameplay, adding new features and changing existing ones that help Cyberpunk come closer to what we were promised years ago.


INVEN - Kyuman Kim - Korean - 9 / 10

This spy thriller unfolds in the new location called ‘Dogtown,’ where astonishing twists and truths remain elusive. Additionally, the outcomes that vary based on player choices offer a fresh experience not quite felt in the base game


Impulsegamer - Branden Zavaleta - 4.5 / 5

It’s a great DLC, one worth playing the main game for, so long as you can forgive a few bugs.


Kotaku - Unscored

Phantom Liberty is a succinct summation of the best parts of Cyberpunk 2077 and all the strife it took to reach this point.


Metro GameCentral - Nick Gillett - 8 / 10

A taut, characterful headrush of an expansion that completes Cyberpunk 2077’s redemption and re-establishes it as one of the great open world adventures of the generation.


Multiplayer First - James Lara - 9.5 / 10

it’s clear after playing through the expansion that CDPR has been listening to its fans. With Phantom Liberty, they have finally delivered the much-demanded experience players have asked for since launch. I’ll gladly say that Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty, alongside the 2.0 update, might be one of the best gaming experiences I’ve played all year, and looking back, there’ve been tons of amazing games this year.


PC Gamer - Ted Litchfield - 87 / 100

Phantom Liberty doesn’t reinvent Cyberpunk 2077, but it is CD Projekt firing on all cylinders to tell a great RPG story.


PCGamesN - Will Nelson - 9 / 10

Phantom Liberty is a fitting send-off for V, Night City, and Cyberpunk 2077 as a whole. CD Projekt Red has delivered a dense and impactful expansion to one of the medium’s best cityscapes, even if its branching narrative structure stumbles.


PSX Brasil - Paulo Roberto Montanaro - Portuguese - 90 / 100

Some of its worst problems are solved by adding new narrative layers, improving problematic systems, and ultimately taking the game to the level we expected at launch.


Polygon - Toussaint Egan - Unscored

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty almost corrects the past


Press Start - Brodie Gibbons - 10 / 10

On the back of Phantom Liberty, along with a really substantial rebuild of all of the game’s core systems, Cyberpunk 2077 manages to wash its hands of its past failures and emerges as the genuine article. At last, it’s the intoxicating escape I once thought it was and stands out, to me, as the premiere role-playing resort in what might very well be a modern golden age for the genre.


Prima Games - Daniel Wenerowicz - 9.5 / 10

Dogtown completes the full Cyberware package that Cyberpunk fans have been waiting for.


Push Square - Robert Ramsey - 9 / 10

Phantom Liberty is often Cyberpunk 2077 at its very best. A gripping narrative complete with great characters adds another dimension to the open world RPG, while the main mission and side quest design remains top notch throughout. It’s a tremendous expansion that delivers a truly memorable experience.


Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Graham Smith - Unscored

A brilliantly written and performed spy-thriller set in the middle of Night City and of Cyberpunk 2077’s overarching story.


SECTOR.sk - Peter Dragula - Slovak - 9 / 10

The Phantom Liberty expansion is perfect final piece to the Cyberpunk 2077 game. Brings a new city district, a dark spy story with interesting choices and varied missions. Adds Irdis Elba, Keanu Reeves and stunning visuals.


Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 9 / 10

A fitting end for a saga that is reaching 3 years. This expansion builds on the strength of the base game and provides thrilling twists and turns, accompanied by the biggest changes to the base game yet.


Stevivor - Matt Gosper - 9 / 10

If this is the finale of Cyberpunk 2077’s redemption arc, it’s a damn impressive one. I’m excited to see what a sequel built from the ground up with these lessons learned will be like, but until then I’ll keep poking around Night City to see what’s new.


TechRaptor - Jason Rodriguez - 9 / 10

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty offers an exhilarating romp in the dystopian setting of Night City and Dogtown, and it’s further bolstered by numerous changes from Update 2.0. Those who played the base game years ago would find a satisfying conclusion to V’s story, while newcomers would be treated to a quintessential futuristic RPG experience like no other.


Tom’s Guide - Tony Polanco - 4.5 / 5

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty features a thrilling new storyline and overhauled gameplay mechanics. Thanks to this robust expansion, Cyberpunk 2077 has finally achieved its potential.


TrueAchievements - Ian Stokes - 9 / 10

Is this the big shift that will win over people who bounced off Cyberpunk 2077 at launch? No. Instead what Phantom Liberty represents is a small slice of the best that Cyberpunk 2077 and CD Projekt Red has to offer.


TrueGaming - حسين الموسى - Arabic - 9 / 10

Phantom Liberty brings an action packed story, top notch voice-acting, new side missions and a new district location complemented by a major update that overhauls the mechanics of the entire game granting more focused character builds and allowing you to approach combat situations ever so lethally.


Try Hard Guides - Erik Hodges - 10 / 10

Phantom Liberty and the 2.0 Update feel like a totally new launch for Cyberpunk 2077. With a new, hostile, and alien district and story for V to explore, along with huge overhauls to the base game, you’d struggle not to find something new and exciting to do in Night City, no matter how many playthroughs you’ve done so far. Phantom Liberty sets an amazing precedent for what an RPG game expansion could be and gives me hope that CD Projekt red will continue pumping time and love into this fantastic game.


VideoGamer - Antony Terence - 9 / 10

Back with a vengeance, Phantom Liberty builds on the high notes of Cyberpunk 2077 to deliver a gripping storyline packed with both heartfelt moments and refined RPG systems.


Wccftech - Alessio Palumbo - 9.2 / 10

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty builds upon what was an already great game to deliver more fantastic storytelling (with a spy thriller theme, this time around), exciting combat, and very high-quality side content. The perk tree overhaul is a major improvement to progression, and additions like vehicle combat and the overhauled police system are very welcome, albeit not game-changing. If you’ve been holding out on Cyberpunk 2077 until now, you’ll find a huge game with over 120 hours of quality content and an incredibly immersive game world to literally lose yourself in.


WellPlayed - Nathan Hennessy - 10 / 10

CD Projekt Red completes its redemption arc with an essential, meaty, and ultra-fine-tuned DLC expansion that elevates every aspect of Cyberpunk 2077.


Windows Central - Samuel Tolbert - 4.5 / 5

CD Projekt RED brings a thrilling race against time where you must save the president and go undercover, all while trusting no one. Combined with the free but accompanying 2.0 update, Phantom Liberty delivers an experience that even disappointed players of the base game should definitely check out.


Worth Playing - Chris “Atom” DeAngelus - 9 / 10

At the end of the day, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty DLC probably won’t change your mind if you just disliked the base game. If you even remotely enjoyed the original, then Phantom Liberty is an excellent DLC. It contains some of the best story missions, a host of cool new weapons, and a lot of time with Elba. The fact it carries over into the main story and offers a completely different endgame path is also very cool and means that it’s a worthwhile experience - even for those who have seen everything the original has to offer.


XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 9.2 / 10

Phantom Liberty caps off a miraculous comeback for Cyberpunk


OfficialThunderbolt,

I’ll give the console version a go. I just wished the console version supported the keyboard & mouse. The Windows version supports the keyboard and mouse, but the Windows version has a binding arbitration clause in its EULA that is not present in the console version, so I won’t buy the Windows version.

Stillhart,

This is the funnies thing I’ve read all week. Thanks!

stagen,
@stagen@feddit.dk avatar

You know, I’m kind of relieved it’s being so well recieved. I feel like CDPR could use some positivity.

RaivoKulli,

makes amends

redemption

redemption arc

I guess they’re talking about the update since saying how 30€ DLC is their redemption would be too ridiculous even for gaming world. Still, giving some of the shit you promised years after the launch is hardly a “redemption” imo. It should’ve been there from the get-go and giving it now, way late, is least they could do.

averyminya,

While some of Cyberpunk 2077’s issues still linger,

Curious what ComicBook.com means by this.

lowleveldata,

We have big reviews for DLCs now? Or is this a special case?

Stillhart,

This is an “expansion” not a “DLC” according to CDPR. It’s a lot bigger than your normal DLC. Up to you if you think that’s enough.

I think it’s also a chance for them to try to find some redemption. Journalists have a lot to sink their teeth into with the whole meta story of the game so I think that might have added some encouragement.

RaivoKulli,

How is a paid DLC any sort of redemption for shit that should’ve been in the game from the get-go? If it was free it would easier to understand but it seems like it’s 30€?

derin,
@derin@lemmy.beru.co avatar

It’s 30 hours of new content with a new area, story, and characters?

The actual 2.0 update is free and deploying for all players, regardless of whether you own Phantom Liberty or not.

RaivoKulli,

You pay to get new content? What a true redemption arc lmao

derin,
@derin@lemmy.beru.co avatar

Yes, it’s new content with a price tag associated with it.

If you don’t want the new content, enjoy the fixes and new game systems got free.

RaivoKulli,

It’s not a redemption arc to get (years later) fixes to stuff that should’ve worked at launch and game systens that were advertised to be there from the get-go.

Idk if I just hold those companies to higher standard but this doesn’t redeem them in my eyes. This just means they weren’t as dogshit as they could’ve been if they just bailed. But they still lied and released a shit product. That shouldn’t have happened in the first place.

derin,
@derin@lemmy.beru.co avatar

Sure, the fixes should have been there earlier.

Claidheamh,

If everything was there from the get-go, how would there be a redemption arc? There would be nothing to redeem.

A redemption arc is when someone or something starts bad or reviled, and eventually comes to be seen through other eyes. Looks like that applies to CDPR and Cyberpunk to me.

RaivoKulli,

Redemption arc would mean from bad to good. Not dogshit to slightly less dogshit. Maybe if they had given the DLC for free as an apology or something, but just fixing some of the issues years later isn’t a redemption arc.

Claidheamh,

Well I’m having plenty of fun with it, and I haven’t even installed 2.0. If it was a release from this year it would be my second favourite after Baldur’s Gate. So I strongly disagree with your dogshit assertion. If the DLC and 2.0 make it better then it’s for sure a redemption arc. And from the looks of OpenCritic, seems like a very universal feeling.

RaivoKulli,

I’m talking about the company. They’re dogshit for releasing it in the state they did and slightly less so for ultimately fixing at least some issues and giving some of the promised features.

If the DLC and 2.0 make it better then it’s for sure a redemption arc

Not even close. Especially with the DLC, how would making paid DLC in any way redeem the company?

Stillhart,

“Slightly less dogshit”? Have you played 2.0 yet? Have you even played 1.6? Doesn’t sound like it. They put in a ton of fixes an QoL in the last two years and this latest patch is just one more FREE update. They didn’t “fix some of the issues years later”. They fixed most of the issues over the last two years and now are providing optional new content. The redemption is that after fixing all that, the new content is apparently free from the issues that plagued the original launch.

And it’s VERY clear from the way you’re talking that nothing they do could redeem them in your eyes. I’m pretty sure they didn’t shit in your breakfast cereal so you can stop acting like they did. It was one bad launch, not a pattern of bad games or anything like that. And they worked hard to remedy the issue. Just because you want MORE free stuff than the content they’ve added in the last two years, doesn’t make them a bad company. Kinda makes you sound bad tho…

RaivoKulli,

I’m just going to quote another comment I wrote about this for starters

I’m talking about the company. They’re dogshit for releasing it in the state they did and slightly less so for ultimately fixing at least some issues and giving some of the promised features.

If the DLC and 2.0 make it better then it’s for sure a redemption arc

Not even close. Especially with the DLC, how would making paid DLC in any way redeem the company?

I’m not giving them kudos for finally fixing stuff and bringing stuff they should’ve had in the first place. Much less calling bare minimum like that a “redemption arc”.

And it’s VERY clear from the way you’re talking that nothing they do could redeem them in your eyes.

They bungled the false advertising, hype and overall the state the game was in launch so bad that it sure is hard. Then again, all big gaming companies are dogshit like that and I haven’t seen anyone else coming back either. And people keep forgiving them, buying their games and nothing changes. CDPR just had a bigger fall than the rest, coming off the Witcher 3 hype and having created the massive hype for 2077.

It was one bad launch, not a pattern of bad games or anything like that.

It was a massive overhyping and misleading of customers. Then releasing the game in a such a bad state. I just don’t like it when any company does that,

Kinda makes you sound bad tho…

I’m devastated.

jordanlund,
@jordanlund@lemmy.one avatar

26th? I thought it was the 21st?

AHorseWithNoNeigh,
@AHorseWithNoNeigh@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

21st for the update. 26th for the DLC.

jordanlund,
@jordanlund@lemmy.one avatar

Aha! Makes sense!

dingus,
@dingus@lemmy.ml avatar

I think it would be interesting to compare these reviews to the same publications reviews of Cyberpunk 2077 in it’s pre-release review period.

Ethereal87, (edited )
@Ethereal87@beehaw.org avatar

Here’s kind of your easiest parallel thread from Reddit at the time to see if anyone’s interested what overlap might be there.

scrapped

(go use Hot Saucerman’s link instead!)

dingus, (edited )
@dingus@lemmy.ml avatar

Pretty sure that’s an April Fools thread.

EDIT: Looks like the original CP2077 review thread got nuked. There’s a follow-up from a few days after it released.

Original megathread: old.reddit.com/r/…/cyberpunk_2077_review_thread/

Post-release megathread: reddit.com/…/cyberpunk_2077_review_thread_2_postl…

Ethereal87,
@Ethereal87@beehaw.org avatar

Ahh nuts, you’re right. It was harder to find the right one than I expected and didn’t even realize it was an April Fools joke. Thanks for the correction!

Stillhart,

“Hot Saucerman” is my favorite of the many. Solid reference!

dingus,
@dingus@lemmy.ml avatar

Yacht Rockerman, Shock Jockerman, and Trick Shotterman are pretty high up there, too.

Also, the one he never used because I made it up myself: Snot Flickerman.

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