After a a hit Kickstarter marketing campaign closing yr, pulling in 1.2 million bucks and achieving its investment purpose in simply 19 mins, Evening Team Video games’ upcoming Cyberpunk Legends: Into the Evening cooperative card sport is getting nearer and nearer each day to these outstretched, expectant palms of its backers.
As partial to different identical story-heavy deckbuilders, when the staff reached out to peer if I might be excited about testing the sport, I threw on my neon sun shades, grabbed all of the eddies I may just scrounge up, and headed to Evening Town. Little did I do know then that I used to be about to take a look at what would transform one in all my maximum expected tabletop video games of 2026.
Cyberpunk Legends pits you and a staff of as much as 3 others into the streets of Evening Town within the distant yr of 2012, which, no less than within the lore of Cyberpunk, is a fairly large and necessary time, the place your staff can be operating in combination to finish other missions and jobs in an increasing and evolving state of affairs. Constructed from a particularly ordered state of affairs deck of playing cards, as a staff, it is very important sneak your well past safety cameras, handle pesky patrolling guards, use clues to seek out the place to move subsequent, or even struggle your well past large robots. And that used to be all simply within the first state of affairs!
It’s additionally value clearing up any confusion right here, Cyberpunk Legends isn’t the similar factor as WeirdCo’s additionally Kickstarter-backed Cyberpunk TCG. That’s a aggressive, collectible-focused card sport, whilst Legends is far nearer to a co-op, narrative-heavy tabletop revel in.
The core of Legends’ gameplay is founded round enjoying poker palms as a staff, satisfying the particular swimsuit or run standards of the state of affairs card, after which dealing sufficient “harm” to finish the development. Each and every participant takes turns enjoying a card from their persona’s particular deck down into the “run,” taking over one slot of an ordinary poker hand of 5 playing cards, with every card that includes a worth, a swimsuit, and probably an added skill similar to dealing harm or permitting the gang to play an extra card to the sphere. The truth that poker is one of these commonplace sport, that many of us perceive the theory of “two of a type” or “straights,” does a really perfect process of lowering the barrier of access to get into Cyberpunk Legends, letting the avid gamers focal point extra on telling the tale in combination than on easy methods to play.
With the foundations at the back of me, I grabbed my deck—choosing the extra support-focused Netrunner magnificence—and joined my group, and stale we went to take on the primary state of affairs of the marketing campaign that can be incorporated within the retail liberate. After a vintage TTRPG get started (you’ll be able to by no means pass unsuitable with beginning issues off with a bar struggle), our jobs took us from seedy again alleys to scouring throughout the warehouse district, with a few shut calls, however in any case, we controlled to drag it off. As somebody who loves the Arkham Horror LCG from Delusion Flight Video games, steadily taking it to my native brewery to revel in some Cthulhu shenanigans with a few pals over our favourite craft brew, this advent to Cyberpunk Legends scratched a lot of those self same itches that experience brought about Arkham to sink its tendrils into me a majority of these years.
The DNA of the tabletop RPG revel in that Legends is founded round will also be felt all over, past simply the shared terminology. As I performed with the opposite people on the desk, together with Irene Malatesta (Legends’ Artwork & Advertising Director), Cal Wendlandt (one of the crucial sport’s testers), and Emanuelle Viruet, a backer and group member, a herbal kind of exposition advanced as we performed, letting us make our personal little shared canon of the occasions that had been transpiring. The truth that Legends’ regulations instruct you to not immediately state the contents of your palms or the playing cards you’ll be able to play to lend a hand within the run impressed us on the desk to tackle a kind of personality for our characters and roleplay somewhat. This sooner or later would result in me enjoying my Netrunner (somebody heavy at the tech-suited playing cards in my deck however scarce within the extra charisma-based ones) as a personality who’s truly unhealthy at choosing up social cues and conveys feelings via emojis, or how Irene, our charismatic rocker chick, would name in her highest good friend Razor Lady to lend a hand us out, who we might all befriend by way of the top of our journey (due to Razor Lady being a card in our decks).
Now, I’ve performed my fair proportion of deckbuilders over time and the occasional hand of poker; having the 2 come in combination on this bundle works unusually neatly, however it additionally took me somewhat by way of wonder. Form of like a peanut butter and pickle sandwich—each confirmed rockstar sandwich toppings, however put in combination raises some eyebrows. Talking with Legends’ fashion designer, James Portnow, I sought after to learn the way this poker-themed method got here to be. “There used to be a design purpose and thematic purpose at the back of this,” James started. “At the design aspect, I sought after to ensure that in multiplayer video games there used to be a robust social part, so creating a cooperative poker hand, the place you’ll be able to most effective position one card and feature regulations round how you’ll be able to be in contact to verify everybody understands what you’re going for, created an atmosphere the place everybody used to be speaking, regularly even roleplaying, whilst nonetheless holding it from being a type of video games the place somebody simply takes over and tells everybody what to do.”
James continues, “I additionally had a design purpose of constructing turns snappy. We’ve all had moments in video games the place lets pass get lunch whilst a pal is taking their flip, and I sought after to ensure that wasn’t the case right here. By means of laying down a unmarried card at a time and having a focal point on conversation, everybody will get to take part mainly always. Then at the thematic aspect, it used to be only a query of what Evening Town felt like. I began out with a sexy MtG, math-heavy gadget, however it didn’t really feel proper. In any case, what’s Evening Town about? It’s about playing with the only chip you’ve got; it’s about laying all of it down and having a bet your existence on turning into a legend. Poker truly helped embrace that.”
As a lot a laugh as I had touchdown spectacular straights and entire homes with my group, there may be one second specifically the place Legends truly increased itself and blew me away. As a temporary setup—relying on possible choices you are making all the way through the state of affairs, you might finally end up with those particular “clue” playing cards, which come up with some knowledge that you’ll be able to use to lend a hand clear up issues later. Previous on within the challenge, those clues pointed us towards a touch we had been supposed to fulfill with, the usage of the textual content at the related playing cards. Now we get to the instant the place my neural implants truly sizzled.
The group and I discovered ourselves at a crossroads the place we needed to to find an object we had been in search of, and we had cleverly deduced that it used to be in one in all 3 conceivable warehouses. Having already met and handled some guard presence within the house, there used to be a superb opportunity that choosing unsuitable would turn out… damaging… to our livelihoods. Being the brand new blood within the sport (the others having run people throughout the state of affairs a large number of occasions already), I were given to select the place we might pass. Speedy-forward somewhat, and discovering ourselves riddled with a couple of extra bullets than we had half-hour prior, I had picked unsuitable. Whilst I might select accurately on the second one take a look at, Irene later on let me in on a refined element which may be discovered on the ones clues we had accrued—clues that I had assumed had already given up their secrets and techniques as a result of we had learn the textual content and deduced our touch. The art work itself additionally held clues that, when considered along the others, would have led me to the correct resolution. I will be able to’t wait to peer what different refined clues and hints can be within the ultimate liberate, however even simply this fast style left slightly the influence.
Retaining at the matter of the art work, for people who’re coming to Legends with most effective Cyberpunk 2077 underneath their belts, the designs and path might come up with somewhat of whiplash. In conjunction with happening previous within the timeline, as I discussed previous, Evening Team Video games used Mike Pondsmith’s authentic Cyberpunk TTRPG as reference. In reality, it used to be Pondsmith himself who prompt the product James used to be making will have to be a Cyberpunk liberate all the way through a sport evening they had been having. That’s why Johnny Silverhand appears extra like a blonde Ziggy Stardust than Keanu Reeves. All of it continues to be quintessential cyberpunk goodness, and for fanatics of the RPG books, you’re certain to seek out some beautiful neat references and callbacks that can spark your implants.
As soon as a state of affairs is entire, avid gamers can spend eddies (the in-universe foreign money) to buy new playing cards to enhance and additional tailor their decks to their liking. The default decks, more or less a 3rd of every deck’s contents being distinctive, give a just right sense of the playstyle every of the categories is highest at, however nonetheless really feel open sufficient that you simply gained’t need to spend a ton of labor and assets to rejigger them into enjoying how you wish to have. Sadly, I didn’t get to dive into the deck-building facet all the way through my demo, however from what James defined to me, on the finish of the state of affairs you’ll open a “booster pack” that can comprise playing cards you’ll be able to use to improve the decks—a captivating prospect that I’m keen to try!
Regardless of just a small look, the bit I’ve gotten to take a look at has left me chomping on the bit to leap again into the sneakers of my socially awkward Netrunner and spot the challenge my group and I began via to its conclusion. I haven’t even gotten to try the replayable “Construct Your Personal Journey” roguelike mode this is incorporated but both, which James continues to be holding the massive information about on the subject of the chest. With its suave implementation of poker-style hand constructing, gorgeous and automatically intriguing use of artwork, and categories that really feel distinct from one any other, if the tale the staff at Evening Team Video games is weaving lands (which recently I’ve little fear that it gained’t), Cyberpunk Legends can provide the Arkham Horror LCG a run for its eddies as my go-to brewery sport with the fellows. This deckhead is able to get again within the struggle.
We Spoke With Evening Team Video games on Cyberpunk Legends
1) Inform me how Cyberpunk Legends advanced from thought into what it changed into in any case? What used to be the design adventure like for it?
Ha! Incredible query! All the way through the pandemic I used to be in truth in search of a co-op marketing campaign journey card sport to play with my pals after we all had been ready to hang around once more…however , existence’s busy and now not everybody in my staff has the time (or the endurance) for video games that take a part hour to setup and an hour or extra to be told the foundations. I appeared and appeared for one thing that are compatible the invoice and couldn’t truly to find anything else, so, in my hubris as a very long time sport fashion designer, I figured I’d simply construct it.
2) How a lot enter and in what techniques did Mike Pondsmith give a contribution to the sport’s construction or design?
Humorous you ask that. This wasn’t in truth ever supposed to be a industrial product, however in a while after the pandemic ended, I used to be enjoying with Mike and he is going “We will have to do that with Cyberpunk!” Twist my arm proper? I’ve all the time liked Cyberpunk and the R. Tal group, so I began placing a gaggle in combination to take this from my prototype to one thing shelf in a position.
Alongside the way in which Mike has playtested a host and given comments. His entire staff has been superior with all our lore questions and serving to us fill out what the very early years of the Cyberpunk timeline would seem like.
3) Give an explanation for the verdict to move with Poker palms for the primary sport gadget? What about it made it your best choice for the sport?
There used to be a design purpose and thematic purpose at the back of this.
At the design aspect I sought after to ensure that in multiplayer video games there used to be a robust social part, so creating a cooperative poker hand, the place you’ll be able to most effective position one card and feature regulations round how you’ll be able to be in contact to verify everybody understands what you’re going for created an atmosphere the place everybody used to be speaking, regularly even roleplaying, whilst nonetheless holding it from being a type of video games the place somebody simply takes over and tells everybody what to do.
I additionally had a design purpose of constructing turns snappy. We’ve all had moments in video games the place lets pass get lunch whilst a pal is taking their flip and I sought after to ensure that wasn’t the case right here. By means of laying down a unmarried card at a time and having a focal point on conversation, everybody will get to take part mainly always.
Then at the thematic aspect it used to be only a query of what Evening Town felt like. I began out with a sexy MtG, math heavy gadget, however it didn’t really feel proper. In any case, what’s Evening Town about? It’s about playing with the only chip you’ve got, it’s about laying all of it down and having a bet your existence towards turning into a legend. Poker truly helped embrace that.
4) When within the lore of Cyberpunk does this happen?
The primary marketing campaign for Cyberpunk Legends is about waaaay again within the some distance long run of…2012. Which might appear to be an bizarre selection, however should you’re accustomed to the Cyberpunk timeline it’s possible you’ll acknowledge that date as when numerous the issues that echo down the time happen.
In Legends you’re going to be forging your personal trail, you’re now not going to be enjoying Johnny Silverhand or the like…however the ones of you who’ve performed 2077 or are fanatics of Purple are going to come upon issues in Cyberpunk Legends and pass “Oh! Oh no…I do know the place this finally ends up.” As you tangentially go paths with probably the most maximum consequential occasions in Evening Town historical past.
5) Are you able to pass somewhat extra into element into the “Construct your journey” mode that can be incorporated within the liberate model at the side of some other modes of play that can be incorporated.
Oh, guy it makes me so glad you requested about that, however we’re in truth simply transport the beta model of that as a kickstarter unique. The actual model will most definitely hit retail six-eight months after release.
That stated, because you’ve given me the hole…
- There is a style that’s going to send with the core field. It’s a bit of little bit of a spoiler however while you end the situations you’re going to open an improve pack…with a algorithm in it that educate you easy methods to convert the sport to roguelike deckbuilder.
- The Construct Your Personal Journey mode is kind of my child, so I’m going to discuss it a wee bit. Be happy to make use of this bit as you’ll!
Cyberpunk Legends is performed towards a central “Situation Deck” that serves very similar to an outdated D&D module. It’s the run you’re doing, the journey you’re occurring. I’d love to allow any person to create the ones.
Construct Your Personal Journey mode serves as design legos for any person who needs to create their very own runs or adjust what we’ve put available in the market. If we do it proper it’ll can help you construct no matter you dream of. In fact that’s a frightening design activity…perhaps an not possible one. So we’re operating the primary iteration of this by way of the group to lend a hand playtest and provides us comments earlier than we liberate (many people come from the videogame global, so it is a beta within the truest sense).
But when we will be able to pull it off, it’ll be one thing I’ll be extremely happy with since the toughest a part of GMing is all the time taking a look at a clean slate, and this will provide you with some scaffolding to begin from. I’m hoping this is helping extra other people to inform their very own tales on this global.
6) Enjoying with 4 avid gamers closing evening used to be numerous a laugh, however I am curious how the sport adjustments or balances itself with decrease participant counts and the smaller number of playing cards during which the staff can pull from to finish situations (20 conceivable playing cards with 4 avid gamers, however in a two participant sport you would most effective have 10).
Superb! You’ve already hit the crux of it!
So, in Cyberpunk Legends avid gamers pass round clockwise, every placing one card into The Plan (the poker hand used to triumph over stumbling blocks) till you hit the plan restrict (typically 5 playing cards). Much less avid gamers approach much less choices to make a choice from, however every particular person participant can have extra keep watch over over the plan. With 4 avid gamers most effective the chief will get to place 2 playing cards into the plan. With 3 avid gamers 2 other people do. This extra keep watch over is strong in a global the place each and every selection can imply the variation between the Plan coming in combination and the Plan falling aside.
This implies the sport autobalances. You don’t want to be told any new regulations or alter the sport in any solution to play with much less avid gamers. It mechanically does it on its own…
Except, in fact, you’re enjoying unmarried participant. By which case, it’s all of the identical aside from you’re going to play two decks, one in all which is a ‘merc’ and, now not being in general keep watch over of the merc, each and every time you pass to make a plan they’re going Leeroy in, you’re going to turn the highest card in their deck and that’s right away going to be put into the Plan. Now you must construct round no matter they come to a decision to do!
(This makes unmarried participant somewhat extra of a strategic puzzles because the social parts are got rid of.)
7) Are you able to pass into element concerning the artwork design procedure for the sport? The artists you labored with for the undertaking, what did you are feeling used to be necessary to concentrate on, the classy and really feel you had been aiming for.
I really like the artwork in numerous trendy card video games, however from time to time I fan out a collection and I’ve a troublesome time truly choosing out particular person items as a result of they’ve were given such sturdy artwork path. They have got such a lot of regulations round how the artwork is finished that the whole lot will get a bit of bit homogenized. Now don’t get me unsuitable, that is unbelievable, however Cyberpunk is a bit of little bit of a wilder global. We would have liked to let the artists truly lean into their very own types, so, whilst there’s a cohesive aesthetic, it jogs my memory of previous Magic units the place it’s possible you’ll see the whole lot from psychedelia to artwork nouveau.
Now all of those have their puts (as an example the whole lot that occurs in Our on-line world is a little more summary), however this method allowed for numerous expression, which I really like.
Additionally, Cyberpunk is, in fact, a beautiful global. You need to steer clear of it being leering, however there will have to be numerous abs, muscle tissues, and smolder within the characters. So we attempted to be true to that with out developing issues that you simply’d be embarrassed to slam down onto the desk at your native sport retailer.
In any case, Cyberpunk isn’t all darkness. I think like numerous merchandise omit this, however the global of Cyberpunk is so lively, filled with other people dwelling to the fullest. They is also useless the next day to come, however on this second they’re truly, actually alive. It’s additionally a global of hope. In the middle of a majority of these Corps and conspiracies, amidst all of the issues that appear up to now out of the atypical particular person’s keep watch over, there’s hope. There’s the rockerboys and edgerunners and everybody who may, at some point, purpose the gadget to return tumbling down. We truly attempted to ship on that within the artwork, as it’s one of these key piece to Cyberpunk.
8) Have you ever guys labored with or are there any involvements with CD PROJEKT RED in this sport?
In reality we’ve labored a lot nearer with R. Tal. CDPR has been sort sufficient to lend a hand advertise the undertaking somewhat, however Mike’s truly our go-to man at the sport aspect.
9) Put up Kickstarter supply, what’s such a liberate cadence you’re hoping to have with this sport gadget at some point?
We’re hoping to get a state of affairs out 1 / 4, a complete new marketing campaign out every yr, and different smaller releases peppered all over there. And naturally Construct Your Personal Journey releases…as soon as it’s truly in a position.
Scott White is a contract contributor to IGN, aiding with tabletop video games and information protection. Apply him on X/Twitter or Bluesky.
