Cyberpunk 2077 Lifepaths
Nomad, Streetkid or Corpo? All three Cyberpunk 2077 lifepaths explained – where each prologue starts, what changes later and how to choose.
No
Nomad
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Streetkid
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Corpo
When you start Cyberpunk 2077 you pick one of three lifepaths for V: Nomad, Streetkid or Corpo. It decides where your story begins, how you first meet your partner Jackie Welles, and which extra dialogue options pop up later. After the prologue, all three paths lead into the same main story.
The three lifepaths
| Lifepath | Starts in | Prologue starts | Background | How you meet Jackie | Dialogue flavor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomad | Badlands (Starts in) | A garage in Yucca, in the Badlands outside Night City | Raised in a nomad clan on the open road – now on your own | Smuggling cargo across the border into Night City | Cars, clans, loyalty and life outside the city |
| Streetkid | Heywood (Starts in) | El Coyote Cojo, a bar in Heywood | Grew up on Night City's streets among gangs and fixers | A car theft for the fixer Kirk Sawyer goes sideways | Gangs, street rules and local connections |
| Corpo | City Center (Starts in) | Arasaka Tower in Corpo Plaza, City Center | A counterintelligence agent at the Arasaka megacorporation | He is already an old acquaintance when your Arasaka career falls apart | Corporate politics and how the megacorps think |
What a lifepath changes
A different prologueEach lifepath has its own opening mission and its own first meeting with Jackie Welles.
Extra dialogue optionsThroughout the game you get lifepath-only lines – often a smarter or shortcut way through a conversation.
Same main storyAfter the prologue all three paths join the same story, the same city and the same endings.
No stat differenceLifepaths don't change your attributes or skills – you set those yourself in character creation.
How to choose
Pick the fantasyChoose the background you'd like to role-play – there's no wrong or weaker choice.
Nomad for the open roadLove cars and the Badlands? The Nomad ties in nicely with Panam's questline later.
Streetkid for the cityStreetkid lines help most with Night City's gangs and fixers.
Corpo for intrigueThe Corpo opening is the most dramatic, and its lines shine in Arasaka scenes.
You can't change it laterYour lifepath is locked for the whole playthrough – a reason to try another on a second run.
New to Night City? Read our Beginner's Guide next.
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Sources
Reference page written by AI (Claude) and checked against the sources above. Games change with every patch – the patch this page was last checked for is shown at the top.