Blade Runner has always been one of my favorite sci-fi franchises. I do annual rewatches of the original Director’s Cut, as well as Denis Villeneuve’s sequel with Ryan Gosling, Blade Runner 2049. Watching the franchise fade into obscurity as many fail to appreciate the magic this IP holds is a shame, and it stings even more knowing we will likely never get a true Blade Runner RPG.
I am well aware of Annapurna Interactive’s upcoming Blade Runner: Labyrinth, but I am not expecting it to be an RPG. Having played enough Annapurna-published titles, it is clear that their games thrive on experimental concepts rather than traditional RPG systems.
A Blade Runner RPG could easily stand toe-to-toe with CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk franchise or even Crystal Dynamics’ now-abandoned Deus Ex titles, appealing to the same fans who love neon-drenched skylines and dystopian capitalism.
I can already imagine stepping into the shoes of a Replicant after hours of customization, just like in Cyberpunk 2077, penis size slider and all. Once in the rain-soaked streets of Los Angeles, I would push through the crowds on a gloomy night, either taking odd jobs from strangers or uncovering a larger conspiracy about Replicants and the nature of their growing humanity.
Of course, it would have to take place within the Blade Runner canon. Otherwise, everything established in the films would lose meaning. The ending of 2049 sets the stage for something massive, with Replicants standing at the brink of insurrection. My ideal RPG would likely pick up after K’s sacrifice, exploring the fallout of that moment.
But what if you played as a detective instead? A character in the mold of Deckard or K might feel derivative, yet it could also serve as a gateway to larger themes about controlled chaos in a decaying world. It could even borrow elements from modern Deus Ex games, leaning into immersive sim mechanics where our choices shape the narrative.
The possibilities for a Blade Runner RPG are endless. While Blade Runner: Labyrinth has me intrigued, details remain scarce, with no gameplay or story information yet revealed. Regardless, as a longtime fan of the franchise, I will still want to experience it.
There are also more Blade Runner projects on the horizon, including Amazon’s upcoming TV series starring Hunter Schafer and Michelle Yeoh.
For now, though, my dream of a Blade Runner RPG remains just that: a dream. All these wishes will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Unless, of course, someone finally decides to make one.
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