Cyberpunk 2077's Hidden Gems: 10 Secret Side Jobs & Events You Probably Missed

Night City is a beast, choomba. It's a sprawling, neon-drenched metropolis where the main story is just the tip of the iceberg. The real juice, the soul of the place, is often hidden in its darkest corners, tucked away in alleys, abandoned buildings, and the vast, dusty expanse of the Badlands. CD Projekt Red, those absolute mad lads, have been on a secret-stuff spree since the Phantom Liberty expansion dropped, sprinkling new hidden events and lore crumbs with every major update. Their patch notes are basically a giant, flashing neon sign that says "GO EXPLORE, YOU GONKS!" For players who think they've seen it all, think again. The city's got more secrets than Rogue has grudges. Let's dive into some of the coolest hidden side gigs and events you might have missed in your playthrough.

10. Space Force One Crash Site - Dogtown's Desert

We all know the crash of Space Force One kicks off the whole Phantom Liberty DLC. But did you know the story doesn't end at the main wreckage? Head to the southeastern desert area of Dogtown, a spot that feels eerily similar to the Badlands. You'll stumble upon some Scavs poking around a secondary crash site. After you deal with them (violence is always an option), Johnny Silverhand will pipe up with some lore. He'll identify the crashed Lifepod as the one Songbird used to bail from the doomed spacecraft. It's a cool, quiet moment that adds a bit of backstory to her escape, though don't expect any epic loot here—it's purely for the lorehounds.

9. Sandra Dorsett Lore at a Murder Scene - Badlands Solar Arrays

Out in the middle of nowhere, amidst the sprawling Solar Arrays in the Badlands, lies a Netwatch crime scene they'd really prefer you didn't see. A dead body is the centerpiece. At first, Netwatch won't see you as a threat. But if you're feeling sneaky (or just murder-happy), you can investigate further. Taking out the operatives and looting the area yields not just some decent gear, but a treasure trove of shards detailing the clandestine activities of everyone's favorite data-broker-in-distress, Sandra Dorsett. It's a deep dive into the netrunner underworld that's easy to miss.

8. Secret Stash in the Train Tunnels - Orbital Air Space Center

This one is for the true explorers, and it's locked behind a specific choice. During the Phantom Liberty quest "The Killing Moon," you must choose to help Songbird. If you do, you'll find yourself in the train tunnels of the Orbital Air Space Center. The quest has a path, but the real secret is off the path. It's a parkour nightmare, dodging ultra-fast trains, but if you push beyond where the objective marker sends you, you'll find the literal end of the line. The devs left a sign telling players to turn back. But below it? A little reward for your curiosity: an Arcticombat Semi-Formal Button Up, some bubble gum, grenades, and a stack of Eddies. A true "for the dedicated" Easter egg.

7. Arasaka Secret Duel Event - Kabuki

Near the Pinewood Junction fast travel point in Kabuki, keep your eyes on the ground. A trail of bloodstains leads into a shady alleyway. Follow it, and you'll find the body of an Arasaka agent with a sword permanently lodged in his chest. Following more bloody footprints reveals a second Arasaka operative, bleeding out and asking to be left alone to die in peace. Once he flatlines, loot his body for an archived conversation shard. The shard reveals the two were engaged in an honor duel, a clandestine bit of corporate samurai drama that played out in the gutters of Night City. No quest marker, just environmental storytelling at its finest.

6. Coin Operated Boy - Megabuilding H8, Japantown

Meet Brendan, the sentient S.C.S.M. vending machine with more personality than most humans in Night City. Located just outside Megabuilding H8 in Westbrook's Japantown, Brendan offers a series of hilarious and heartwarming side gigs packed with cheesy jokes and surprisingly strong opinions. This hidden quest chain has been in the game for ages, but it's a classic. It won't change the fate of the city, but in a world as bleak as Cyberpunk's, Brendan's lighthearted and random story is a perfect, wholesome diversion. It's a must-do for anyone who hasn't already experienced the joy of conversing with a philosophical vending machine.

5. Iconic Achilles X-MOD2 Rifle - Dogtown

Phantom Liberty's Dogtown is a maze of verticality and hidden rooms. One of the best secrets is a hidden bedroom containing an Iconic weapon. Near the Heavy Hearts club, look for a blue and white building. Head up the stairs to an upper floor with a bridge to another building. Instead of crossing, look for what seems like a dead end. A secret passageway awaits, leading to a depressingly lived-in room. And there, casually resting on the lower bunk of a set of bunk beds, is the Iconic Achilles X-MOD2 rifle. A powerful reward for those who explore every nook.

4. Arcade Machine: Arasaka Tower 3D - Badlands Church

The free 2.0 update brought a blast from the past—literally. Tucked away in an abandoned church in the Badlands, north of the protein farm fast-travel point, is a fully playable arcade cabinet for "Arasaka Tower 3D." This retro-style shooter lets you reenact Johnny Silverhand's legendary bombing run in all its pixelated glory. It's a fantastic, self-contained 10-minute experience that's a love letter to classic Doom-style games and a deep-cut piece of in-world lore. Finding it feels like discovering a forgotten relic.

3. Trauma Team Loot from "Trauma Drama" Arcade Game

Update 2.0 also added "Trauma Drama," another arcade game found in bars across Night City. But this one gives way more than just a high score. If you master this side-scrolling shooter and set a top-tier score, you'll receive a text from the Trauma Team themselves, inviting you to join their ranks. This unlocks a hidden back room in the Night City Medical Center in Watson. Your reward? A slick, exclusive Trauma Team uniform and an interactive toy Trauma Team AV that you can display in your apartment. Now that's a side gig with style.

2. Hidden Iconic: BFC 9000 Club - Rancho Coronado

Update 2.1 added a new Iconic melee weapon, the BFC 9000 one-handed club, hidden in a seriously remote spot. To find it, head to the Dam Viewpoint in Rancho Coronado. You'll need to do some serious rock climbing up the nearby cliff face. On a high, secluded ledge, you'll find Hugo Selvig and a crashed AV, with a delivery of special toys scattered around. After dealing with Hugo, you can loot the brutal BFC 9000 from him. It's a parkour challenge for a powerful prize.

1. Trauma Team vs. Tyger Claws Highway Shootout

The 2.1 update finally opened up a previously blocked highway system. But as soon as you pull onto the new road from the Hanford Overpass, you'll drive straight into chaos: a massive, raging firefight between the Trauma Team and the Tyger Claws. You've got options: drive on by, go full cyberpsycho and kill everyone, or pick a side to help. However you handle it, if you stick around to loot the aftermath, you'll find shards that reveal a ton of backstory and lore about the conflict. It's a dynamic, unscripted world event that makes Night City feel more alive than ever.

The Bottom Line

Secret Type	Location	Key Reward
Lore / Backstory	Dogtown Desert, Badlands Solar Arrays	Songbird/Sandra Dorsett Info
Hidden Gear	Orbital Air Tunnels, Dogtown Bedroom, Rancho Coronado Cliff	Clothing, Achilles X-MOD2, BFC 9000
Mini-Games / Events	Badlands Church, City Bars, New Highway	Arasaka Tower 3D, Trauma Team Gear, Dynamic Shootout

CDPR's commitment to stuffing Night City with secrets is what gives it that "living city" feel years after launch. These aren't just checkboxes on a map; they're stories, jokes, and powerful gear waiting for those willing to look beyond the quest marker. So next time you're in Night City, take a detour. Turn down that dark alley. Climb that sketchy-looking ledge. You never know what you might find. After all, in 2026, the game's more packed with hidden content than ever. Stay curious, samurai. The city's got more to tell.

This perspective is supported by reporting from GamesIndustry.biz, highlighting how major post-launch updates and expansions often extend a game’s lifespan by encouraging re-engagement through exploration-driven content—exactly the kind of “hidden event” design Cyberpunk 2077 leans on in Phantom Liberty-era patches, where environmental storytelling, mini-games, and unmarked encounters reward players who roam beyond objective markers.