Deus Ex, especially the first, actively rewards you with experience, items, and new missions if you explore. I can think of three unique areas / paths you can explore in the 2nd mission (Hell's Kitchen) just off the top of my head. And there's no question mark indicators on your map that anythings there - you have to seek it out.

It's not an "open world" but its level design is much more intricately layered than any part of CP2077, including the main mission set pieces. You can even kill important NPCs and it will change the storyline

> zero exploration benefit

But Deus Ex (The original) had great benefits from exploration.

If it was like Deus Ex with updated graphics, I’d probably have bought it, but it looks more like The Witcher with a Deus Ex paint to me.

>Deus Ex with updated graphics

It won't bring it up to modern standards by any means, but have a look at Deus Ex: Revision (https://store.steampowered.com/app/397550/Deus_Ex_Revision/).

Didn’t play with it, but with (most of) the mods it’s based on when I replayed it 1-3 years ago.

Not in the "open world" sense. I think a lot of people were expecting a more open world, but in this case, there just wasn't much to do in that world (from what I can tell).

I've found the game to have fairly solid exploration benefit, but not until Act 2. Act 1 felt like an extension of the tutorial almost.

I found a legendary monowire before I even finished Act 1 just from exploring and side missions and gigs. Your experience doesn't match mine.

To be fair, you can grind a bunch in Act 1 Watson but you can't leave the vicinity of the district. The bridges and exits are blocked off GTA3 style and if you try to head to the badlands the game literally flashes a warning and tells you to turn around before just plopping you back in the city