Who are the main characters in Cyberpunk 2077?

The world of Cyberpunk 2077 is rife with a variety of personalities who make Night City an exceedingly interesting place. From customisable protagonist V to iconic rock star and lead guitarist of Samurai, Johnny Silverhand, the city has no shortage of legends whose tales will be told for years to come. But if you're just starting out, it might be difficult to keep the key players of Cyberpunk 2077 straight in your mind. That's why we've made it easy for you. Here are the most important people in Night City that you should get to know. 

Caution: Cyberpunk 2077 spoilers ahead. If you want to go in fresh, turn back now.

V

V, which stands for Vincent or Valerie, depending on which gender you choose, is the protagonist. That's you. You can customise your look, body type, and clothing after you get into the game. V's life path is customisable as well, so it's up to you what kind of upbringing they have, whether that's a Nomad, Streetkid, or Corporate story. V is in their late 20s and is a tough-talking, independent individual who doesn't take well to nonsense, but you can shape them a bit depending on the type of character you want to play. There's very little about V that's "default," so their personality will largely depend on what you choose. This can vary wildly from background to background, so choose wisely!

Jackie Welles 

Jackie Welles is one of V's closest companions. He's an ex-member of the Valentinos gang who has a lot of love for friends, family, and his mother. He's always wanted to make something big of himself, pursuing a life in Night City that would ensure he'd be remembered for years to come. Loyalty, family, and friendship are all important parts of life to Jackie, and his girlfriend Misty means a lot to him as well.

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He came from a rocky childhood up through the ranks in Night City to become a revered mercenary, and he's always got V's back. Depending on V's chosen life path, Jackie will have met them in a variety of different ways. He'll always be yearning for something better in life, even if it means he'll die trying to get there. At least he'd go out in a blaze of glory if it came down to it. 

Johnny Silverhand 

Johnny Silverhand (notably portrayed by Keanu Reeves) is a massively important character in terms of the game's narrative, as well as V's life. This Rockerboy, born Robert John Linder, is an ex-military-turned-lead singer of the band Samurai. He also happens to be tagging along in V's conscience. After leading a failed terroristic bombing run on the Arasaka Corporation, he found himself suddenly thrust into the world of cyberspace, his personality and life on a chip inside V's head as the pair battle it out for supremacy. His dry, sarcastic sense of humour and bitterness make him difficult to empathise with, but beneath all his bluster and cursing there's someone altruistic who wants a happy ending, even if it means destroying himself in the process. 

Evelyn Parker

Evelyn Parker is important across several different threads of Cyberpunk 2077. After V is given a mission by fixer Dex to seek out something known as an "immortality chip" called the Relic, Evelyn comes into play. One of the lovers of the Arasaka Corporation head's Yorinobu Arasaka, she's a former Doll who allows for V to get into the corporation's Konpeki Plaza and make off with the chip. Meeting Evelyn kicks off an irreversible chain of events that changes the direction V's life goes in and ends up being the reason V and Johnny Silverhand cross paths. Evelyn is a troubled individual and friend of the Moxes gang, with secrets of her own that you'll soon uncover.

Judy Alvarez

A close friend of Evelyn Parker, a skilled brain dance technician, and member of the Moxes, Judy is an empathetic yet streetwise techie. She's instrumental in helping V figure out the whereabouts of Evelyn after The Heist ends up going wrong, but she's also a potential romance option. She's a little prickly on the outside, but that's because she feels the need to protect herself. If you treat her right, she can become a loyal friend and one of the most trustworthy people you meet in Night City, or a potential lover. 

Panam Palmer

Panam is an ex-nomad who would do anything for those close to her. When you meet her as V, you'll soon discover that her toughness is a front for a vulnerable and honest woman who wants to come to terms with her disagreements with the family she rides with. She's honest to a fault, and always wants to do right by those she cares about. She's also an important part of V's story across several side quests, much like Judy Alvarez. As a romance option, Panam can become very close to V, which can result in some very interesting scenes between the two, and a bond that feels even closer to what V and Johnny Silverhand have growing throughout the game.