Gaming Monitors for Cyberpunk 2077 and Ghostrunner

BenQ

2020/11/27

Cyberpunk 2077 is finally coming to PC, Xbox Series X, and PS5, among others. Time for 4K gaming monitor. If you prefer fellow cyberpunk title Ghostrunner, maybe a 144Hz QHD screen? We explain.

In a year that feels a lot like science fiction made real, it’s no wonder that the latter months of the calendar feature at least two prominent science fiction/noir, cyberpunk-influenced game releases. The first has been hotly anticipated since 2012 and comes from CD Projekt Red, the makers of the Witcher series of games. Cyberpunk 2077 suffered multiple delays since late 2019, but appears to be on track to finally make it to PC and consoles on December 10, 2020.

Related to Cyberpunk 2077 is Ghostrunner from One More Level and 505 Games. This one’s also a cyberpunk sci fi action title, and just like Cyberpunk 2077 features all the telltale signs of the cyberpunk genre: future cities, rain, neon, body augmentations, and so forth. The neon part does mean you should play cyberpunk-themed games on a good HDR monitor.

So, we have quite the cyberpunkish mood going on and we need monitors to play these games on. Shall we examine the situation in closer detail?

Like Tears in 4K

First, Cyberpunk 2077. This adaptation of the board game of the same name is the first time CD Projekt Red have done a big first person game. The title retains their emphasis on role playing and action in an open world setting. Cyberpunk 2077 promises extensive character customization, numerous plotlines, lots of side missions, and a unique environment in the form of Night City. The graphics are expected to be good, though not groundbreaking as they were once thought of, mostly because this game has been in development for almost a decade. However, Cyberpunk 2077 will feature upgrades like ray tracing on Xbox Series X and PS5, plus PCs with the right graphics cards.

Being from CD Projekt Red, and based on our multiple playthroughs of The Witcher 2 and especially The Witcher 3, we expect Cyberpunk 2077 to shine best on a 4K 60Hz monitor with capable HDR implementation. You won’t need twitch reflexes so much for this one.

A rather big and complex game, Cyberpunk 2077 likely won’t benefit much from a 120Hz 4K monitor because even the latest GPUs will be hard pressed to run it at that framerate with everything turned to max. However, 4K 60Hz in ultra settings should be very possible on the two new generation consoles as well as properly-fitted PCs.

Glittering Swords

Ghostrunner takes a very different approach while staying firmly in the realm of cyberpunk as a genre. Instead of an open world action RPG we get a more linear hack and slash first person actioner. Ghostrunner, as the name suggests, aims for speed and traversal – perhaps like a bloodier Mirror’s Edge with roguelike features.

We don’t know much about the protagonist in Ghostrunner, though likely there won’t be that many customization options. We do know the main character carries a big futuristic sword and likes to hit people and androids with said sword. They additionally have a fondness for cyberpunk guns.

Ghostrunner is also coming to Nintendo Switch on launch, which tells us it’s not very graphically demanding, but rather all about framerate. That’s where the EX2780Q comes in with its superb IPS panel, 1440p (QHD) native resolution, FreeSync Premium so that every frame stays in place, and excellent HDR for every neon sign to pop. On PC, you’ll easily achieve 144Hz or frames per second in Ghostrunner, and the EX2780Q handles that like a champ. On PS5 and Xbox Series X/S it’s likely Ghostrunner will support 1440p 120Hz, which also falls squarely within the EX2780Q’s comfort zone.

Noir Extra

As if these two games weren’t enough, Bloober Team is also re-releasing their 2017 game Observer as Observer: System Redux. The game features Rutger Hauer (who passed away since the game originally released, sadly) as the main character and is also a definite cyberpunk title. It’s a psychological horror investigation story set in a very rainy Krakow, and the remaster promises all-new 4K 60Hz graphics with ray tracing and more. So, the EW3280U would be great for this game, too.

And to wrap things up, if you thought 2020 couldn’t get any stranger, then let’s remind you that all three of these games were developed in Poland and that the late and great Rutger Hauer was of course in Blade Runner, the movie that basically inspired cyberpunk into being. Coincidence unlikely!

Watch the rain…