CD Projekt Red basically rebuilt their reputation on the back of Dogtown. When people talk about Cyberpunk Phantom Liberty missions, they aren't just talking about extra content or some tacked-on DLC fluff. They’re talking about a fundamental shift in how the game feels. It’s gritty. It’s claustrophobic. It feels like a high-stakes spy thriller where every choice you make actually makes your stomach turn.
Dogtown is a dump. Honestly, it's a nightmare of rusted rebar and militia checkpoints, but it's where the best writing in the entire game lives.
The story kicks off with "Dog Eat Dog," and let’s be real, seeing Space Force One crash into the combat zone is one hell of an opening. You aren’t just a mercenary anymore. You're a pawn in a game played by people like Rosalind Myers and Solomon Reed—played by Idris Elba, who absolutely nails the weary, "I've seen too much" vibe.
The Tension in Cyberpunk Phantom Liberty Missions
What makes these missions stand out compared to the base game is the pacing. In the original Night City, you could kind of wander off and do whatever. In Phantom Liberty, there’s this constant, low-level dread. Take the mission "The Damned." You’re meeting Reed at a moth-eaten bar, and the dialogue isn't just exposition. It’s a chess match. You're trying to figure out if you can trust a man who’s been "dead" for seven years.
The mission design leans heavily into the "spy-fi" genre. You’ve got "Get It Together," which forces you to navigate the political underworld of Mr. Hands. He was a mystery in the base game, just a voice on the phone. Now? He’s the kingmaker of Dogtown. Working for him feels different than working for Wakako or Padre. It’s more surgical.
Then there’s "You Know My Name." This is peak Cyberpunk Phantom Liberty missions design. You’re infiltrating the Black Sapphire. You aren't just kicking down doors with a Sandevistan and a shotgun—well, you can, but the game wants you to play the part. You’re wearing a suit. You’re scanning guests. You’re playing roulette with the twins, Aurore and Aymeric Cassel. The tension in that room is thick enough to cut with a Monowire. It’s not about how many people you kill; it’s about what you say and how much of your cover you're willing to blow.
Choices That Actually Hurt
Most RPGs lie to you about choice. They give you a red door and a blue door, and they both lead to the same hallway. Phantom Liberty doesn't do that. By the time you reach "Firestarter," the game forces a fork in the road that completely changes the final act.
Do you side with Songbird? She’s desperate. She’s literally rotting from the inside out because of the Blackwall. Or do you stick with Reed? He’s loyal to a fault, even when the NUSA treats him like garbage. There is no "good" ending here. If you choose Songbird, you end up in "The Killing Moon," a desperate, cinematic escape through an orbital air terminal that feels like something out of a blockbuster movie. If you go with Reed, you get "Somewhat Damaged," which—fair warning—turns the game into a terrifying survival horror experience.
Being hunted by a rogue AI-controlled maintenance robot in a dark bunker is not what I expected from a Cyberpunk DLC. It’s stressful. It’s loud. It makes you feel incredibly small.
Deep Lore and Tactical Variety
The side jobs in Dogtown aren't just "go here, kill that." Many of them, like "Shot by Both Sides" or "Run this Town," have branching paths that affect the district's future.
- In "Run this Town," you literally use an imprint to become a dead legendary hitman, Aguilar.
- Walking into a meeting as someone else and watching everyone freeze in fear is a power trip the base game rarely offered.
- The combat encounters in "Lucretia My Reflection" show off the improved AI, where enemies actually use cover and flanking maneuvers instead of just standing in the open.
The verticality of Dogtown changes how you approach these Cyberpunk Phantom Liberty missions. You’re constantly looking up. Snipers are everywhere. The Barghest soldiers aren't the pushover NCPD cops from Northside. They have better gear, more aggression, and they will ruin your day if you go in under-leveled.
The Blackwall Factor
We have to talk about the Blackwall. It’s the boogeyman of the Cyberpunk universe, and Phantom Liberty brings it to the forefront. When Songbird uses it, the world glitches. The sound design goes haywire. It feels forbidden.
The mission "Slightly Out of Luck" and the subsequent dive into Cynosure reveal the horrifying reality of what lies beyond the ice. It’s not just code. It’s something predatory. This adds a layer of cosmic horror to the political maneuvering. You realize that while Myers is worried about power, she’s playing with a fire that could delete humanity. It’s high stakes, but it stays personal because it’s all tied to V’s survival.
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Hard Truths About the Missions
Look, not everything is perfect. Some of the "wait for a call" segments can kill the momentum. You’ll finish a high-octane mission and then get a prompt saying "Wait two days for Reed to contact you." It’s a bit of a buzzkill. You end up skipping time in the menu just to get back to the action.
Also, the difficulty spike in the boss fights is real. Kurt Hansen is a tank. If you haven't optimized your build or if you're relying on old tactics, he will flatten you. The fight is cinematic, sure, but it can be frustrating if you’re a "glass cannon" netrunner build.
Despite that, the mission variety is staggering. From the stealth-heavy "Spider and the Fly," where you're escorting the President through a derelict museum while being hunted by a giant spider-tank (the Chimera), to the quiet, emotional beats of "Leave in Silence," the range is incredible.
What You Should Do Now
If you are just starting your run through the Cyberpunk Phantom Liberty missions, don't rush the main story. The side content is where the world-building happens.
- Invest in Technical Ability. A lot of shortcuts and unique dialogue options in Dogtown missions are locked behind Tech checks. It pays to be a gearhead.
- Listen to the environment. The NPC chatter in the Heavy Hearts club or the EBM Petrochem Stadium provides massive context for the political mess you’re cleaning up.
- Manual Save during Firestarter. You will want to see both paths. The difference between the Songbird and Reed endings isn't just a cutscene; it's hours of entirely unique gameplay and locations.
- Complete Mr. Hands’ Gigs. Do these before finishing the main expansion story. They give you a much better standing in the district and unlock the best rewards.
The expansion doesn't just add more Cyberpunk; it refines what Cyberpunk was supposed to be. It’s a story about broken people in a broken world trying to find a way out that doesn't exist. You won't find a "happily ever after" in Dogtown, but you will find the most compelling missions CDPR has ever designed.
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The best way to experience it is to lean into the roleplay. Don't just pick the "best" loot option. Pick the option that fits your V. Whether you’re a corporate loyalist or a desert-born nomad, the missions react to you in ways that make the journey feel genuinely yours.