I was scrolling through Reddit last week when I stumbled upon a story that left my jaw on the floor: A player accidentally completed Cyberpunk 2077 without installing any cyberware upgrades or spending a single attribute point! Imagine my shock—here I was struggling with maxed-out Sandevistan implants, while this legend basically played on nightmare mode without even realizing it. According to his sibling's Reddit post, the player only had the mandatory Kiroshi Optics from the prologue and completely ignored the character progression system because "he didn't know how it worked." 🤯 Talk about stumbling into gaming history! His final battle against Adam Smasher took six agonizing attempts, and he finished the entire run in just 20 hours at level 27—barely halfway to the cap. What fascinates me most? He never intended this as a challenge; it was pure, unplanned chaos.
The Accidental Challenge Run Breakdown
Let's unpack how this madness worked:
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Zero Upgrades: No defensive subdermal armor, no reflex boosters, not even a single perk point allocated
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Minimal Leveling: Sticking solely to main quests kept him at level 27 (vs. max 60)
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Adam Smasher Scaling: Ironically, avoiding side content made the final boss slightly easier since enemy levels scale with V's progression
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Gear Limitations: Basic weapons only—no legendary tech or smart-targeting systems
Here's a quick comparison of his run versus a typical playthrough:
| Aspect | Accidental Run | Standard Play |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberware | Only Kiroshi Optics | 10-15+ implants |
| Attribute Points | 0 spent | 50+ allocated |
| Main Boss Attempts | 6 | 1-2 |
| Playtime | ~20 hours | 40-60 hours |
Why "All-Natural" Challenges Fascinate Players
This wasn't just a fluke—it taps into a growing community trend. Purposely avoiding cyberware (dubbed the "all-natural" challenge) has become popular among hardcore fans seeking brutal difficulty without mods. But unlike deliberate challenge runners, this player's accidental achievement highlights something wild: Cyberpunk 2077's design secretly accommodates radically different playstyles. CD Projekt Red never forces cybernetic enhancements, letting you roleplay as someone clinging to their humanity. In fact, some argue it creates fascinating narrative tension—why would V reject upgrades in a city where chrome is oxygen?
People Also Ask: Your Burning Questions
Since this blew up, here are the top questions circulating in forums:
- ❓ "Can you actually enjoy the game without cyberware?"
Surprisingly yes—though combat becomes a cover-shooting slog with no dashes or slow-mo abilities. Stealth is nearly impossible without optical camouflage!
- ❓ "What's the hardest official difficulty setting?"
Very Hard mode—but this accidental run was arguably tougher since even basic enemies felt like bullet sponges.
- ❓ "Does avoiding cyberware affect endings?"
Not directly, though it alters dialogue with characters like Johnny Silverhand who mocks your "obsolete meat."
- ❓ "How many players have completed this challenge deliberately?"
Dozens confirmed, mostly streamers—but only one accidental legend exists!
The Reddit thread exploded with 24k+ upvotes and hilarious tributes. My favorite comment? "His Afterlife drink is just Diet NiCola." Another user joked he played "Punk 2077" instead of Cyberpunk. 🥤😂
Beyond the Laughs: What This Says About Game Design
While we celebrate this glorious accident, it makes me wonder: Should more RPGs embrace this level of mechanical freedom? We often follow predictable upgrade paths, but what if we ignored them entirely? Cyberpunk 2077 proves you can craft emergent narratives through sheer player ignorance—almost like an AI dungeon master adapting to your choices. Yet it also exposes quirks: why doesn't the game explain scaling enemies better? Or warn players about stat screens?
Food for thought: If you can beat a futuristic RPG with zero augmentations, does that undermine the game's core themes about transhumanism—or reinforce them by proving humanity persists against all odds? Maybe true punk isn't the chrome; it's the refusal to play by Night City's rules. What unconventional limitations could transform your next playthrough?