How to play guide
Cyberpunk 2077 Beginner's Guide: Lifepaths, Attributes, Cyberware and Night City
A Cyberpunk 2077 starter guide: choosing a lifepath, the five attributes and perks, ripperdocs and cyberware, the scanner, Street Cred and gigs, default PC controls and common mistakes.
Cyberpunk 2077 is CD PROJEKT RED's open-world role-playing game. You play V, a mercenary with cybernetic implants in the fictional Night City. The story kicks off with a heist, and the rest of the game revolves around its consequences.
This guide is for players starting out, or wondering โwhich attribute should I invest in, what does a ripperdoc do, why is the map so busy?โ The big 2.0 update in 2023 overhauled perks, cyberware and the police system, so some older guides no longer apply. This guide follows the current version.
Below you'll find the core loop, default PC controls, first steps, practical tips, common mistakes and frequently asked questions.
Goal of the game
Cyberpunk 2077 is a first-person RPG. Alongside the main story you take on side jobs, gigs from fixers and street crimes across Night City's districts. Missions rarely have one solution: you can fight, sneak, disable enemies remotely by netrunning, or talk your way through.
Character progression runs on two tracks. Levelling up gives you Attribute and Perk points. There are five base attributes: Body, Reflexes, Technical Ability, Intelligence and Cool. According to the community wiki, Body for example raises health and improves shotguns, heavy weapons and blunt melee, and lets you force some doors open and pick intimidating dialogue. The second track is cyberware, installed by ripperdocs around the city. Jobs also earn Street Cred; the wiki says higher Street Cred brings permanent vendor discounts and new vehicles to buy.
Controls
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| W A S D | Move |
| Left Shift | Sprint |
| C / Left Ctrl (hold) | Crouch (toggle / hold); for stealth |
| Space | Jump |
| Double-tap a movement key | Dodge; can be bound to a single key in settings |
| F | Interact, pick up, enter vehicle |
| Left click / Right click | Shoot / aim |
| R | Reload |
| Tab (hold) | Scanner; pick quickhacks here |
| X | Use consumable (heal) |
| B | Holster / draw |
| V | Call your vehicle |
| T | Phone |
| M | Map |
First steps
- Pick a lifepathAt character creation you choose Nomad, Streetkid or Corpo. According to the community wiki this changes the opening chapter and adds a unique side quest and extra dialogue options. It doesn't change the main story, so pick the background you like.
- Choose a comfortable difficultyIn your first playthrough keep difficulty low or normal while you learn combat and menus. It can be changed mid-game, so lower it if you get stuck.
- Focus on one playstyleRather than spreading points across all five attributes, stack one or two. Cool and Reflexes suit stealth and blades, Intelligence suits remote hacking, Body suits a tough close-range build.
- Make scanning a habitBefore entering an area, hold Tab to scan enemies, cameras and interactive objects. Scanning tags enemies, and netrunners select quickhacks from this screen.
- Don't skip your first ripperdocEarly in the story you meet the ripperdoc Viktor. Cyberware is one of the strongest progression paths; spend your eurodollars on implants that support your playstyle.
- Take gigs from fixersFixers call you with job offers. Gigs bring money, experience and Street Cred. Doing a few nearby gigs before pushing the main story makes your character stronger.
- Learn to call your carNight City is big. Press V to summon your vehicle, set a waypoint on the map and follow navigation. Use fast travel points you've unlocked too.
- Track your Street CredAccording to the wiki Street Cred caps at 50 and grants up to 15% permanent vendor discounts in total. Some gigs and vendor items require a certain level.
Tips and tactics
- Bind dodge to one keyBy default you dodge by double-tapping a movement key, which can trigger by accident. You can assign dodge to a single key in the controls settings, which many players prefer.
- Hide bodies when sneakingIf others spot a downed enemy the alarm goes off. When playing stealthily, carry bodies into containers such as lockers or dumpsters.
- Watch item qualityItems come in quality tiers. According to the wiki, higher cyberware tiers become purchasable at certain character levels. Consider upgrading existing cyberware at a ripperdoc as well.
- Keep consumables readyX gives quick healing in combat. The wiki says health only regenerates to a certain percentage outside combat, and food and drink grant regeneration buffs.
- Read dialogue optionsSome dialogue choices depend on attribute levels or lifepath. Attributes like Body also open doors and conversation options, so your build affects exploration, not just combat.
- Stay out of trouble with the policeHarming civilians or committing crimes brings the NCPD after you, and the response escalates with your wanted level. Keep fights to mission areas early on.
- Side quests are worth itCharacter-driven side quests are one of the game's strengths. Follow phone messages and the journal; some side stories can even affect the ending.
- Sell what you don't useYour inventory fills quickly. Selling or disassembling unwanted items gives money and crafting materials.
- Check your keybindsDefault keys can differ slightly between versions. When you first launch, open Settings > Controls and adjust to your habits.
- Save before big decisionsThere are major choices and a point of no return near the end. The game warns you, but manual saves before key moments make it easy to try different outcomes.
Common mistakes
- Spreading attribute points thinly: you end up not strong enough in any playstyle.
- Neglecting cyberware: a large share of progression comes from implants.
- Rushing in without scanning: stealth breaks when you don't know where cameras and enemies are.
- Trusting pre-2.0 guides: perks and cyberware were overhauled by the update.
- Harming civilians and escalating police response: a new character rarely survives that fight.
- Skipping side quests entirely: you miss both progression and important parts of the story.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cyberpunk 2077 available in Turkish?
Is it single-player or multiplayer?
Do I need Phantom Liberty?
How much does the lifepath change?
Does it support controllers?
This guide was written for version: Guide written for the current post-2.0 version as of September 2026; keys can be remapped in settings.
Yudum World
A village at the foot of Mount Kaf.
Create your character, stroll the square and meet people face to face. In your browser, free.
- ๐ง Create your character
- ๐ฒ Play a round at the coffeehouse
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