Cyberpunk 2020 vs Shadowrun
Compare Cyberpunk 2020 and Shadowrun side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Cyberpunk 2020 | Shadowrun | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Cyberpunk | Cyberpunk, Fantasy |
| Play Style | Combat-Heavy, Skill-Based, Gritty, Deadly, Lore-Heavy, Career-Based, Corruption, Faction Play, Crunchy, Grimdark | Crunchy, Tactical, Combat-Heavy, Heist, Character Building, Faction Play, Lore-Heavy, Skill-Based, Mission-Based, Urban Fantasy |
| Core Mechanic | Stat + Skill + d10 against a difficulty value set by the GM (typically 15 for average tasks, scaling up to 30 for nearly impossible ones). Combat uses the same formula — REF + weapon skill + d10 against a target number modified by range. Hit location is rolled on a d10 table, and armor on each location absorbs damage separately. Cyberpsychosis tracks Humanity loss from cyberware installation, with characters losing Empathy as they augment. | Roll a pool of d6s equal to attribute + skill, counting 5s and 6s as hits. Meet or exceed a threshold to succeed. Situational advantages generate Edge points rather than modifying dice pools directly; Edge is spent on tactical effects like rerolling dice, adding successes, or imposing penalties on opponents. |
| Dice | d10 | d6 dice pool |
| Complexity | High | Very High |
| Accessibility | Low | Medium |
| Runnability | Medium | Medium |
| License | Proprietary | No open license |
| Cost | $$ | $$$ |
| Publisher | R. Talsorian Games | Catalyst Game Labs |
| Year | 1993 | 2019 |
| Best For | Groups who want a gritty, lethal cyberpunk setting with deep character roles, detailed cybernetics and gear, and a world where style matters as much as firepower. | Groups who want cyberpunk-fantasy heists with deep mechanical subsystems for hacking, magic, and combat. |
| Highlights | Nine distinct character roles (Rockerboy, Solo, Netrunner, Techie, Media, Cop, Corporate, Fixer, Nomad) each with a unique Special Ability. Lifepath system generates detailed backstories, allies, enemies, and romantic history. Extensive cyberware catalog with mechanical and narrative consequences. Night City setting is richly detailed with corporate profiles, gangs, and neighborhoods. | Unique cyberpunk-fantasy setting blending megacorporate intrigue with magic and metahuman races. Dedicated subsystems for Matrix hacking, magic, rigging, and astral space. Edge system replaces many situational modifiers with a spendable tactical resource. Decades of published lore spanning in-world history from 2011 to the 2080s. |
| Considerations | Netrunning subsystem operates on a separate timescale and can sideline other players during hacking sequences. Hit location and layered armor tracking add bookkeeping to every combat exchange. Rules for vehicle combat, martial arts, and fumbles are spread across multiple subsections with some inconsistencies between printings. | Matrix hacking runs as a parallel subsystem that can leave non-decker players waiting. Multiple supplemental rulebooks needed for full coverage of magic, Matrix, and rigging. Published books have documented editing and layout issues. |