Cyberpunk 2077 isn't just about the neon and the chrome-induced psychosis. Sometimes it’s about a messy kitchen in the suburbs and a guy who’s just trying to be a decent person in a city that eats "decent" for breakfast. If you've played through the game, you know exactly who I’m talking about. River Ward. Following the River Cyberpunk is the quest where the high-octane mercenary life takes a hard left turn into domesticity, and honestly, it’s one of the most polarizing moments in the entire RPG.
Night City usually demands you keep your finger on the trigger. But then River calls. He’s the ex-NCPD detective who doesn't quite fit the "corrupt cop" mold of Night City, and his final character side quest is a slow burn that catches most players off guard.
The Weird, Domestic Vibe of Following the River Cyberpunk
Most people come into this quest expecting another shootout. You’ve just finished "The Hunt," which is arguably the darkest, most disturbing sequence in the game involving a serial killer and some truly haunting braindances. You’d think the follow-up would be a high-stakes manhunt. Instead, River invites you over for jambalaya.
It’s weird. It’s awkward. The pacing shifts from 100 to 0. You’re standing in a small trailer park in the Badlands, stirring a pot while River’s sister’s kids run around. This is where the writing in Cyberpunk 2077 actually shines, even if it makes some players cringe. It forces V—and you—to sit with the reality of what life looks like for the people who aren't legends at the Afterlife.
The quest relies heavily on character interaction rather than combat mechanics. You play a weirdly low-tech augmented reality game with the kids. You sit on a water tower. You drink beer. It’s a grounded moment in a game that usually tries to be as "extra" as possible. Some critics, like those at Kotaku or Polygon during the game’s launch, noted that these quiet moments are where the world-building actually feels heavy. You realize what’s at stake. It’s not just about Johnny Silverhand or Arasaka; it’s about the families living in the dirt on the outskirts of the neon glow.
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Why the Romance Check Feels So Brutal
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the romance. Following the River Cyberpunk is the definitive "make it or break it" moment for a relationship with River Ward. If you’re playing as a female-bodied V, the game leans hard into the romantic tension. If you’re playing as male V, it’s just a bromance that gets slightly uncomfortable when you’re sitting on that water tower together.
The game doesn't hide its intentions. River is vulnerable here. He’s lost his job. He’s worried about his family. He looks at V as a literal lifesaver. When you’re up on that tower, looking out at the Night City skyline, the game gives you the choice to kiss him or pull away.
Honestly? Pulling away feels terrible. The voice acting by Robbie Daymond (who voices River) captures that specific "oh, I misread the room" humiliation perfectly. It’s one of the few times in a video game where the rejection feels genuinely human and not just a "Quest Failed" notification. It adds a layer of social anxiety that fits perfectly with the Cyberpunk ethos—even in the future, people are still awkward and desperate for connection.
The Technical Side: Quest Triggers and Jambalaya
You can't just jump into this. To unlock Following the River Cyberpunk, you have to complete "I Fought the Law" and "The Hunt." After saving Randy in the farm, you have to wait about 24 in-game hours. Sometimes the game’s script engine gets a little wonky. If River doesn't call, usually skipping time or fast-traveling to a different district kicks the AI into gear.
The quest itself is simple.
- Meet River at Joss’s place.
- Help with the food (don't mess up the stirring).
- Play the AR game with the kids.
- Eat dinner and talk to Joss.
- Head to the water tower.
The AR game is actually a bit of a "hidden" morality test. You can choose to let the kids win or absolutely crush them. If you let them win, River appreciates the gesture. If you go full try-hard, it doesn't break the quest, but it definitely makes you look like a jerk in front of his sister.
The Subtext Most Players Miss
There’s a lot of environmental storytelling happening in the trailer park. If you poke around Joss’s house, you see the poverty. You see the struggle of raising kids in a world where healthcare is a subscription service and the air quality is "lethal" on a bad day.
River represents a specific archetype: the "Good Man" who is fundamentally broken by a bad system. By the time you reach Following the River Cyberpunk, he’s realized that the NCPD can’t be fixed from the inside. He’s an outcast. This quest is his attempt to build a new foundation, and he’s trying to see if V fits into it.
It contrasts sharply with Panam Palmer’s questline. Panam is about rebellion and kinetic energy. River is about stability and quiet recovery. For a game that’s often criticized for being "all style, no substance," this specific mission provides a massive amount of substance. It’s the "boring" parts of life that give the "exciting" parts meaning. Without these stakes, V is just a digital ghost killing other digital ghosts.
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How to Get the Most Out of the Quest
If you want the "best" outcome—or at least the most narratively satisfying one—you should lean into the roleplay. Don't rush the dialogue. Listen to Joss. She provides a perspective on River that he’s too proud to admit himself. She knows he’s lonely. She knows he’s struggling with his identity now that he doesn't have a badge to hide behind.
- Check your surroundings: Look at the photos in the house. It fills in the blanks about their childhood.
- The Water Tower: Don't just look at River. Look at the city. The contrast between the quiet darkness of the Badlands and the shimmering, distant lights of the corporations is the core visual metaphor of the whole game.
- The Gift: River gives you his pistol, "Crash." It’s one of the best revolvers in the game if you’re running a Cool/Reflexes build. It’s a powerful iconic weapon that rewards you for taking the time to do a "boring" family dinner.
Actionable Insights for Your Playthrough
If you're currently staring at your phone waiting for River to call, or if you're standing in front of his trailer right now, keep these things in mind:
- Patience is a mechanic: If the call hasn't triggered after 24 hours, go do a NCPD hustle or a gig in Watson. The game needs a "cell handover" to trigger certain scripts.
- Romance requirements: River is only a romance option for V characters with a feminine body type. If you’re playing a masculine V, enjoy the jambalaya and the gun, but don't expect a moonlit hookup.
- Don't skip the AR game: It seems trivial, but the dialogue during the game with the kids actually changes based on your earlier choices in "The Hunt." It’s a small detail that shows CD Projekt Red was paying attention to the continuity of River’s emotional state.
- Save the gun: Even if you aren't a pistol build, "Crash" is a top-tier weapon for your stash. It’s a memento of the one time in Night City someone treated you like a person instead of a weapon.
Following the River Cyberpunk is a reminder that even in a world of neon, chrome, and corporate warfare, the most difficult things to navigate are still family dinners and honest conversations. It’s not the flashiest mission, but it’s the one that stays with you long after the credits roll and the city burns.