Shadowrun: Hong Kong

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,637 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Shadowrun: Hong Kong Game Cover
Shadowrun: Hong Kong lives up to the reputation of its predecessors and remains one of the best RPG series in recent years.
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In Shadowrun: Hong Kong, you are a shadow runner in a cyberpunk Hong Kong, where magic has returned and creatures of myth and legend live among us. After a mission goes wrong, you must build your team and face a powerful former ally to survive. With deep character creation and a rich, immersive story, this is a complex and engaging RPG.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,637 reviews
story857 positive mentions
stability95 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with well-written characters that feel real and relatable.
  • Improved gameplay mechanics, particularly in decking and character customization.
  • Rich atmosphere and immersive world-building that captures the essence of the Shadowrun universe.
  • Excessive dialogue and text can slow down the pacing and may overwhelm players.
  • Numerous bugs and glitches, including game-breaking issues that can halt progress.
  • The new decking mechanics are tedious and can detract from the overall experience.
  • story2,740 mentions

    The story in "Shadowrun: Hong Kong" is generally well-received, praised for its engaging narrative and character depth, though some players feel it lacks the compelling quality of its predecessor, "Dragonfall." While the game offers a rich tapestry of dialogue and character backstories, some reviewers noted pacing issues and a tendency for the plot to feel disjointed, particularly in the latter stages. Overall, it combines a personal storyline with the broader themes of the Shadowrun universe, providing a satisfying experience for fans of story-driven RPGs.

    • “Cyberpunk universe, compelling and intriguing storytelling, complex characters...”
    • “The story is immersive if you let it take you, some bugs and annoyances from the other two games are gone, and out of all the games so far, the squadmates are the best.”
    • “The story is engaging, filled with dark secrets and supernatural intrigue.”
    • “Starting with Prosperity Tower, the missions became a slog.”
    • “The story itself is okay, but the pacing is really off.”
    • “The main story also feels less inspired and more linear.”
  • gameplay732 mentions

    The gameplay in *Shadowrun: Hong Kong* is generally regarded as the most polished in the trilogy, featuring turn-based combat and deep RPG mechanics that allow for diverse playstyles and strategic battles. While many players appreciate the enhancements to character abilities and the revamped matrix mechanics, some criticize the new stealth elements and mini-games as frustrating and poorly integrated. Overall, the game maintains a strong narrative focus, but the balance between story and gameplay can feel uneven, with some players finding the extensive dialogue detracting from the action.

    • “Gameplay combines turn-based combat with deep RPG mechanics, offering strategic battles and meaningful choices.”
    • “The tactics RPG style of gameplay is well implemented with a good selection of characters, abilities, and strategies allowing for extremely diverse battle styles.”
    • “Gameplay is challenging and fun.”
    • “But in Hong Kong, they completely changed it up, mixing in stealth (which doesn’t work well since there aren’t any real stealth mechanics) and annoying mini-games with puzzles and memory challenges.”
    • “The gameplay is a very bad version of XCOM.”
    • “The matrix gameplay has changed, but the new mechanics are ridiculous.”
  • graphics255 mentions

    The graphics in "Shadowrun: Hong Kong" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the improved visuals and art style compared to previous titles in the series. While some players appreciate the vibrant colors and detailed environments, others feel that the graphics remain simplistic and could benefit from further enhancements. Overall, the game is noted for its strong aesthetic appeal, particularly in its cyberpunk setting, but it does not reach the level of modern AAA titles.

    • “The glowing amber lattices of Chinese architecture in the matrix and the general level graphics themselves are well done and lovely to look at.”
    • “Great turn-based cyberpunk-themed RPG with outstanding visuals and atmosphere.”
    • “The environments are gorgeous as always, and I’d love some of the artwork on my wall at home.”
    • “Gameplay, visuals and sound haven't changed much or at all.”
    • “It is a bit disappointing to see the third installment in the game and still there is no improvement to the graphics.”
    • “The graphics are minimal, of course, but have a painting allure to them.”
  • music225 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its atmospheric and immersive qualities, particularly the blend of cyberpunk and Asian-inspired themes. While some players find the soundtrack excellent and evocative, others criticize it for being repetitive during longer missions or lacking the emotional impact of previous installments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant improvement over earlier games, contributing positively to the game's ambiance and storytelling.

    • “The extended edition adds new content, improved graphics, and an immersive soundtrack, making it the definitive version for fans of the series.”
    • “The music is beautiful and iconic as always.”
    • “The atmosphere with the new music (Jon Everist made an incredible music, modern with a classic oriental reminiscence) the new transitions with animated scenes, is more polished visually, the enhanced matrix and the enhanced inventory.”
    • “The music randomly unmutes itself if you turn it down, etc. I also really dislike what they've done with the decking.”
    • “Boring music.”
    • “I think I heard the same song over and over for 80% of the battles.”
  • atmosphere141 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and richly detailed cyberpunk setting, particularly the depiction of Hong Kong, which combines moody visuals, atmospheric music, and well-crafted storytelling. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a sense of both grimness and vibrancy, with a strong emphasis on character interactions and narrative depth that enhances the overall experience. Despite some critiques regarding dialogue length and technical issues, the game's atmosphere remains a standout feature that captivates players.

    • “The atmosphere is off the charts; I love the characters, and the mechanics can be as crunchy or as simple as you want.”
    • “The atmospheric rain, the flickering neon signs, the poverty and squalor mixed in with the seedy underworld really sets a vibe of what the life of a shadowrunner could be like.”
    • “The city of Hong Kong drips with atmosphere and character, and visual environments seem to correspond more convincingly with the game's narrative descriptions.”
    • “The atmosphere, being rather depressing, is in Hong Kong and revolves around a contained slum that I feel is trying a little too hard to be depressing.”
    • “General atmosphere is lacking.”
    • “Now that I have seen the end, which will take a 'casual' gamer about 1, maybe even 2 sessions worth of time and die-hard gamers one sitting (we are talking 3 to 5 hours, depending on how reload heavy you are and if you are playing with a guide or not), I can safely say: it is worth it, if you can endure the lack of atmosphere at the beginning.”
  • stability98 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, including game freezes, mission failures, and UI issues. While some players noted that certain glitches were minor and manageable, the overall consensus is that the game is a "buggy mess" that detracts from the experience, making it difficult to recommend in its current state. Despite the enjoyment of the storyline and characters, the technical problems remain a major concern for players.

    • “This game runs great without needing to reboot into Windows.”
    • “It was bug-free and provided smooth gameplay for me, even smoother than the previous two games: Shadowrun Returns and Shadowrun: Dragonfall.”
    • “Richter might be the best companion solely for the fact that his dialogue is straightforward and not buggy.”
    • “I'm glad that someone is doing something with the Shadowrun license, but this game is still a buggy mess.”
    • “The game really is nowhere near ready enough to be played as it is an utterly buggy mess, and with no fixes available online.”
    • “Overall, it's an excellent but buggy game.”
  • replayability63 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability through varied character builds, multiple endings, and branching paths, allowing players to experiment with different play styles and decisions. While some reviews note that the story doesn't change drastically with each playthrough, the depth of character customization and tactical combat keeps the experience engaging. Overall, players find the replay value to be high, particularly for those who enjoy exploring different approaches and narratives.

    • “Tactical combat with varied character builds allows for a lot of replayability.”
    • “The story is pretty good and with all the options for making your very own custom shadowrunner, there is plenty of replay value.”
    • “The amount of variety to the combat, and depth of your fellow shadowrunners, allows for plenty of experimentation and replayability.”
    • “The bonus campaign will give you another few hours of playtime, but obviously the replayability is much less as it's quite short.”
    • “Unfortunately, the heavy reliance on text makes the replay value of this game very low, as replays of levels boil down to simply going through the same motions as the last time.”
    • “Replayability: low - the story doesn't change enough to warrant an additional playthrough.”
  • grinding59 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overwhelmingly tedious, with many expressing frustration over repetitive tasks, slow-paced combat, and lengthy dialogue that detracts from the experience. While some appreciate the lack of traditional grinding mechanics like loot and experience farming, the excessive backtracking and drawn-out sequences contribute to a sense of monotony. Despite some enjoyable elements, the game's pacing and reliance on tedious mechanics often overshadow its strengths.

    • “All in all, I think the enhancements (revamped matrix, etc.) did add fun to the game. The hacking wasn't too tedious since HBS designed the puzzles with multiple solutions, which is nice -- it shows they thought about all the angles.”
    • “The good parts are when you're generally kicking ass in a not too tedious scenario where there's something enjoyable happening.”
    • “But they add up and given the length, it becomes tedious and unbearable towards the end.”
    • “The decking sections are incredibly tedious and not fun.”
    • “The game still has the problems of the past games of being quite slow-paced, with lots of tedious running back and forth between vendors and quest givers without anything interesting on the journey.”
  • character development37 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and relatability, with many reviewers highlighting the engaging storylines and well-crafted NPCs that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the variety of choices that influence character arcs and the immersive dialogue, although some note that certain aspects of character development can feel shallow or overly extensive given the limited number of missions. Overall, the game successfully combines compelling character design with a rich narrative, making it a strong point of interest for fans of the genre.

    • “The character designers have built sane, reasonable, relatable characters.”
    • “Although you will be spending much more time reading in this game, the NPC storylines and character development feel a bit more fleshed out and tend to be a bit deeper.”
    • “It has engaging and complex storylines, well thought-out character development and dialogue, and a commitment to letting you roleplay, not just hack and slash or point and shoot.”
    • “Apart from that, character development is rather shallow and the story also doesn't really lead anywhere, so I'm not sure 'why' they decided to do this after-campaign.”
    • “Character development is minimal.”
    • “In general, HBS seems to have put a lot of effort into more character development, but I feel they went too far, especially in a game with so few actual missions.”
  • humor37 mentions

    The humor in "Shadowrun: Hong Kong" is widely praised for its clever writing and engaging dialogue, often blending dark themes with comedic elements. Players appreciate the variety of humorous scenarios that arise from character interactions and mission setups, as well as the inclusion of funny side content like message boards. Overall, the game successfully balances serious storytelling with lighthearted moments, making it a standout in the series for its wit and charm.

    • “Writing and dialogue is also top-notch - when I was allowed to be a troll (not literally, I was an elf) and allow good food thrown at me to drop to the floor had me laughing my ass off.”
    • “Lovely writing, a lot of funny and touching moments can be found within this gem of a game.”
    • “The humor is top notch, and there's a weight to so much of what goes on.”
  • optimization26 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received largely negative feedback, with players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, long loading times, and poor responsiveness, particularly in comparison to previous titles in the series. Many attribute these problems to the game's engine, Unity, which is known for its optimization challenges. While some aspects, like the UI, have seen improvements, the overall experience is marred by technical shortcomings that detract from enjoyment.

    • “The game runs smoothly and seems decent in general, but I can't play a game that makes my GPU fan go crazy for no reason.”
    • “If sufficiently optimized, your character will wreck everything and everyone, even on the highest difficulty level, but your companions will have issues hitting.”
    • “Finally, the game mechanics run smoothly with no gaping omissions or unfinished corners (though I found the new matrix 'run & dodge' more irritating than fun).”
    • “This is primarily due to the extremely poor performance of the game, and to a lesser extent, the game's many mechanical and UI issues.”
    • “It is much more likely that this is a case of terrible engine optimization exacerbated by the fact that it runs on Unity (which is notorious for poor performance and difficulty in optimization, for those who don't know).”
    • “Memory leaks, stuttering framerates, and way too long loading screens ruin what would otherwise have been a pleasant gaming experience.”
  • emotional24 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mixed emotional experience in "Shadowrun: Hong Kong," with some players appreciating its balance of hope and realism in a dystopian setting, while others feel let down by the lack of emotional depth and connection to characters compared to "Dragonfall." The writing and character development received praise for their sensitivity, yet many felt that certain story elements and character arcs lacked the emotional weight necessary to engage players fully. Overall, while there are touching moments and a sense of attachment to the crew, the emotional impact is inconsistent, leading to a divided reception among players.

    • “Unlike the overly cynical Dragonfall, Hong Kong nails the balance between being emotional and being realistic, strategically sneaking in bits of hope and wholesomeness into its dystopian setting full of jaded people.”
    • “Where Shadowrun: Dragonfall was focused on the bigger picture, Shadowrun: Hong Kong focuses on a more emotionally intimate story about your character in a world that ultimately is far bigger than you.”
    • “I cried before the final run because all my crew would forget me after this was over.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Users express concerns that the monetization strategy feels exploitative, suggesting it prioritizes profit over player experience and raises suspicions of a cash grab.

    • “That's when I start to smell a cash grab.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

Buy Shadowrun: Hong Kong

Play time

12hMedian play time
19hAverage play time
4-36hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 21 analyzed playthroughs

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