Do you like cyberpunk motifs? If so, you’ve definitely had the opportunity to play The Ascent. Released in 2021, it combines action RPG with a shooter, and is set in a futuristic, dystopian, neon-soaked world.
The game transports us to the cyberpunk planet Veles, ruled by The Ascent Group – a megacorporation controlling everything and everyone. However, when this company falls under unexplained circumstances, chaos ensues. The society accustomed to control literally rebels…
The Ascent offers an isometric view. The combat is a great combination of hack ‘n’ slash, RPG, and strategy – during battles, we use cover, dodges, and cleverly eliminate large groups of enemies.
Armours, a rich arsenal of weapons, and cybernetic enhancements are also significant. Created on the Unreal Engine 4, the graphics are very aesthetic, with well-crafted locations, presenting a really well-made futuristic world. The game can be played solo or in co-op with up to 3 other players.
Looking for similar titles? Here are a few games.
| Game | Release | Developer | Trailer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Cyberpunk 2077 | 2020-12-10 | CD PROJEKT RED | |
 | Nex Machina | 2017-06-20 | Housemarque | |
 | Enter the Gungeon | 2016-04-05 | Dodge Roll | |
 | Ruiner | 2017-09-26 | Reikon Games | |
 | Ghostrunner | 2020-10-27 | ONE MORE LEVEL | |
 | Cloudpunk | 2020-04-23 | ION LANDS | |
 | The Deus Ex Collection | 2016-08-23 | Eidos Montreal | |
 | SlavicPunk Oldtimer | 2023-06-28 | Red Square Games |
Cyberpunk 2077
| Release date: | 2020-12-10 |
| Genre: | Action RPG |
| Developer: | CD PROJEKT RED |
Cyberpunk 2077, also known as CP2077, is set in the Cyberpunk 2020 universe, based on a tabletop RPG from 1990.
In this title, you play as V (whose appearance, gender, and background you choose at the beginning) – a mercenary who, while completing a contract, accidentally becomes the owner of a significant chip. However, it turns out that the chip contains more than just data… The consciousness of the deceased 50 years ago, rocker boy Johnny Silverhand!
CP2077 and The Ascent unquestionably share a cyberpunk setting – a futuristic neon-soaked world ruled by megacorporations. It also features a lot of combat, shooting, and cybernetics modifications.
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Nex Machina
| Release date: | 2017-06-20 |
| Genre: | Indie |
| Developer: | Housemarque |
Nex Machina: Death Machine, as its full title sounds, is a combination of sci-fi, action, hack ‘n’ slash, and a shooter. This title aims to bring back the charm of old twin-stick shooter arcade games but in a more modern form.
The story is set in an unspecified future where machines have taken control. The AI realizes its superiority over humanity and prepares for rebellion – machines no longer want to serve beings inferior to them. In this game, you play as a hero tasked with stopping the mechanical aggressors.
If you’ve played The Ascent, you’ll surely enjoy this title as well. This is due to its similar futuristic setting, isometric view, and highly dynamic battles, relying on almost continuous gunfire and evasive manoeuvres
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Enter the Gungeon
| Release date: | 2016-04-05 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Dodge Roll |
Created in a pixelated 2D style, Enter the Gungeon combines dungeon crawling with shooting. It draws inspiration from various roguelike games and 16-bit RPGs.
The game’s story is minimal, serving as a backdrop for gameplay. You play as a hero venturing to a distant planet where the eponymous Gungeon is located. This is an ancient temple full of dangers and surprises, housing a legendary relic – a weapon that can change the past.
Similarities to The Ascent include the isometric view, dynamic gameplay, and combat. The setting combines futuristic and medieval motifs.
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Ruiner
| Release date: | 2017-09-26 |
| Genre: | Indie |
| Developer: | Reikon Games |
The debut project of the Polish studio Reikon Games, inspired by the Syndicate series. It is a top-down shooter set in a cyberpunk style.
The game’s action takes place in the future, in 2091, in the city of Rengkok, where the megacorporation Heaven is the most important entity. You play as a hero who sets out to search for his brother, kidnapped by the corporation due to his knowledge and connections.
Once again, common features include the isometric view, cyberpunk setting, and dynamic gameplay. This game is also created with Unreal Engine 4, with the difference being a slightly comic book-style graphics.
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Ghostrunner
| Release date: | 2020-10-27 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | ONE MORE LEVEL |
This action game will appeal not only to fans of cyberpunk, but also to those who love dynamic gameplay and… parkour!
The last bastion of humanity in a destroyed world is the giant Dharma Tower. Mara, known as the Keymaster, has taken control of the city. In the game, you play as Jack the Ghostrunner, endowed with extraordinary abilities, the only one who can face the Keymaster.
In this title, you traverse the city and the floors of Dharma Tower to ultimately confront Mara. The cyberpunk setting, pleasing graphics, extensive character development possibilities, and dynamic battles – all of these will appeal to fans of The Ascent.
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Cloudpunk
| Release date: | 2020-04-23 |
| Genre: | Open World |
| Developer: | ION LANDS |
Cloudpunk is a combination of an adventure game with a simulation, created in an interesting, voxel-based graphic style. The game offers two perspectives – during pedestrian walks, you observe the world in an isometric view, while driving a car is played in either FPP or TPP.
In this title, you play as Rania, a newly hired courier who joins the titular Cloudpunk corporation. During her first night on the job, the girl traverses the streets of Nivalis, completing tasks and gradually uncovering the secrets of this futuristic city.
If you’re looking for games like The Ascent, Cloudpunk will be an excellent choice.
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The Deus Ex Series
| Release date: | 2013-10-25 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Eidos Montreal |
The Deus Ex series is a combination of RPG with shooting and stealth elements. It also includes logical elements. The story is set in a cyberpunk world in the years 2027-2070.
Currently, the series consists of 5 titles: Deus Ex, Deus Ex: Invisible War, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Deus Ex: The Fall, and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. In each game, except for Human Revolution and Mankind Divided, where you control Adam Jensen, you embody a different protagonist.
Similarities to The Ascent? Of course, a cyberpunk setting, numerous battles with modern weapons, and character modifications through cybernetic implants.
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Lithium City
| Release date: | 2020-06-15 |
| Genre: | Nico Tuason |
| Developer: | Action |
This relatively short, isometric indie game is filled with action. It’s a great choice for those who enjoy non-verbal storytelling, combat, and futuristic themes.
In this title, you play as Tsunami, a blue-haired girl whose task is to fight for survival in a brutal world saturated with neon lights and modern technology.
Fans of The Ascent will love this game for its simplicity, isometric perspective, cyberpunk setting, rich arsenal of modern weapons, dynamic action, and great music.
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SlavicPunk: Oldtimer
| Release date: | 2023-06-28 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | Red Square Games |
This game’s universe is based on the SybirPunk book series by Michał Gołkowski. It presents a cyberpunk vision of the future, rich in Slavic influences and sarcastic humour.
You play as Yanus, a private detective whose main storyline revolves around finding stolen data. Apart from that, you’ll have to undertake various side missions and uncover the city’s biggest secrets.
Fans of The Ascent will be drawn to this title by its setting, isometric perspective, and a very similar combat system, utilizing covers, modifications, and player cunning. Additional features include stealth, device hacking, and puzzle-solving.
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Conclusion
It’s undeniable that we’re always drawn to the unknown. Hence, various visions of the future garner so much interest, both in literature and the worlds of film or games. We love post-apocalyptic scenarios, sci-fi motifs, and cyberpunk, making many works exploring these themes attractive to us!