Which life path should I pick?
Your life path choice (Nomad, Streetkid, Corpo) affects:
- The first 30-45 minutes of the game (the prologue).
- ~20% of dialogue options across the entire game.
- One specific side quest (The Hunt / Family Heirloom / Disasterpiece).
It does not affect endings, build, or main story. Pick what you want to roleplay.
Streetkid
- Best balance — most main-game NPCs are streetkids, so dialogue feels natural everywhere.
- Prologue: Heywood, gang life, Pepe's bar.
- Recommended for first-timers.
Nomad
- Most narratively interesting prologue — desert, family clan, smuggling.
- Some dialogue locks you out of certain corp quest paths.
- Recommended if you want a narrative tone change.
Corpo
- Hardest prologue — but unlocks unique corpo dialogue throughout, especially in the Pisces and Down on the Street main missions.
- Recommended for second playthrough if you want a different lens on Arasaka content.
Cosmetic / inventory differences
- Each lifepath starts with a different jacket and pistol — visually different but stat-equivalent within 2 missions.
If stuck: if you can't pick, default to Streetkid. It's the most-tested path with the smoothest dialogue integration.