It’s no secret that Cyberpunk 2077 has evolved drastically over the years to surpass even its highly ambitious origins, but it will still be some time before we ever get to play its sequel for ourselves. Thankfully, you don’t have to wait nearly as long for the next fantastic Cyberpunk-inspired experience, as a long-awaited indie game is finally on the horizon to offer an innovative new take on the genre.
After a long four-year wait with few official updates, Sad Cat Studios suddenly dropped a surprise release date trailer for their upcoming 2.5D Cyberpunk action adventure game REPLACED on Steam, which is now aiming to launch on March 12, 2026. Playing as an AI trapped in a human body, REPLACED aims to combine cinematic platforming, free-flow combat, and an engaging original narrative set in a dystopian version of the 1980s.
Replaced Is A Dystopian Nightmare
Even if the hybrid sidescrolling style of REPLACED is hard compared directly to open-world RPGs like Cyberpunk 2077, it pushes the genre to its absolute limits to help the environments come to life with even more immersive environments. Although REPLACED seems to focus more on the emotional storylines and unique platforming throughout its dilapidated sci-fi cityscapes, you’ll have your fair share of high-intensity combat encounters with unruly gangs and other factions.
With a combat system directly inspired by the Batman Arkhamverse games, the combat of REPLACED relies heavily on countering and reaction to overcome your opponents, with incredibly seamless animations to take down and finish off your foes in style.
REPLACED splits its gameplay into three main gameplay states, which include platforming exploration, action-packed fights, and narrative-focused free-roaming segments.
With even more players finally experiencing Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, thanks to the base game’s inclusion on PlayStation Plus, REPLACED is the perfect follow-up to satisfy your sci-fi dystopian itch.
It Looks Completely Stunning
Easily the most standout aspect of REPLACED is the art style, which creatively combines 2.5D side-scrolling action with an immersive world that comes to life through its lighting and incredibly atmospheric voxel-based art style. Even if it’s easy to be distracted by the world of REPLACED, its gorgeous visuals also contrast the often haunting or downright nightmarish environments you’ll find yourself in at times.
Easily topping the list of must-play Cyberpunk games for 2026, REPLACED has been one of the most exciting prospects in the genre ever since its first trailer originally dropped all the way back on June 21, 2021, with its latest trailer teasing even more of its painstakingly detailed world.
With the trailer for REPLACED already amassing over 650k views in less than 24 hours of release despite the surprise announcement, it’s clear there is plenty of excitement over this latest entry in the Cyberpunk genre, and after watching its latest trailers, it’s hard not to feel the same way.

- Developer(s)
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Sad Cat Studios
- Publisher(s)
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Coatsink, Thunderful Development