Tabletop RPG · since 2022 · #69 most discussed

Cy_Borg

Play punks and outcasts in a neon dystopia of corporations and cybernetics, with fast, brutal rules and a gonzo tone.

Old-school (OSR)Cyberpunkd20classesrandom generationhigh lethalitytheater of the mindOne-shotsNeeds a GM

6.7

Geek rating

From 19 firsthand play reports in 4 r/rpg threads. The threads alone average 7.5.

Player rating— / 10

No visitor ratings yet.

Discussion5.9 / 10

116 r/rpg posts named it, October 2023 to October 2026.

Rules weight

Light. Hype 5.5 for its age.

Have you played it?

Rate Cy_Borg from 1 to 10. One rating per browser and device; you can change it any time.

Didn't work for usOne of our best

What players say

At the table

Reports on Cy_Borg come from one-shots, a few short campaigns, and a six-session side campaign. Tables describe fast, chaotic, funny sessions in the Mörk Borg mold, with quick character creation and a light d20 vs DC 12 core. Failure is common, and so is character death.

What works

Rules are simple enough to fit on a two-page spread, and players find them quick to learn. (thread)
Automatic weapons let one player kill several enemies in a turn, which players find satisfying. (thread)
Hacking and nanotech powers give options that plain Mörk Borg lacks. (thread)
Bundled adventures such as Reaper Repo and Lucky Flight Takedown are reported as easy to run and fun. (thread)
Players who died shrugged it off and rolled up a new character. (thread)

What tables struggle with

Lethality varies by table. One group lost every character in the first fight, while another saw no deaths in a published adventure and added a last stand to get the expected danger. (thread) (thread)
Attack and armor rolls are swingy, and some fights run long with nobody hurt. (thread)
DC 12 with few bonuses means rolls fail often, and the book says little about when to call for one. (thread)
The setting is mostly vibes and hooks, so GMs must prep maps, stat NPCs, and fill gaps. One group dissolved after a short run. (thread)
Some GMs found the rules too light. Others ignore the "no sympathetic cops or corps" rule. (thread)

Who it suits

Groups who enjoy fast, deadly, tongue-in-cheek one-shots and short campaigns.
GMs happy to improvise, fill in the setting, and adjust lethality with house rules.

In players' words

"They died many times in brutal and funny ways and rolled up another criminal from the bus that went in after." (thread)
"the system was asking a bit too much of me." (thread)
"I have actually played the game for a campaign, and no character that started with 1 HP (and no armor) died, because they played smart and cautious." (thread)

The threads behind it

Each thread is rated for the play it describes, from the firsthand reports in it. Load one here or read it on Reddit.

7.2

Weekly RPG Discussion; 2026, January, Week 2: Cy_Borg

Most people who ran Cy_Borg, mostly one-shots and a few short campaigns, report fast, chaotic, funny, punky sessions that the art and vibe help along. The complaints are swingy combat, lethality, and how much prep and setting-filling the GM has to do. Much of the thread is general cyberpunk talk and comparisons to other games, and those parts were ignored. 8 firsthand · 55 comments

Open on Reddit

7.8

CY_BORG Impressions/Review

Players and GMs who ran Cy_Borg describe a fast, deadly, high-stakes game where failure is common but creative play and a stylish setting make sessions fun. The main friction is lethality and thin GM guidance, and the sharpest criticism comes from commenters who appear to have only read the books. 5 firsthand · 13 comments

Open on Reddit

7.5

Cities without number (CWN) vs Cyberpunk 2020 vs Cy_Borg

The thread is mostly about CWN and Cyberpunk 2020, and only a few commenters describe playing Cy_Borg. Those reports say it's fast, brutal and funny, with one GM finding it a bit too rules-light. 3 firsthand · 39 comments

Open on Reddit

7.5

Reasons you should (or shouldn't) play CY_BORG

The few people who actually played CY_BORG describe a fast, lethal, satisfying game in the Mork Borg mold, where automatic weapons let players kill several enemies in one turn and failures are inconvenient more than fatal. Most of the thread is about the art, the book's readability, and whether it is a real game, and that comes from people who haven't played it. 3 firsthand · 29 comments

Open on Reddit