Hacknet

[i]Note: I am biased because of the nature of my job. While not related to IT Security, it involves technical troubleshooting / problem solving and all kind of investigations. Basically, less fun version of Hacknet.[/i] [h3]Accurate Hacking Simulator?[/h3] I was not exposed to a lot of hacking in games, maybe just a bit in Sleeping Dogs, or Cyberpunk 2077. While other games focus purely on hacking vibes, those tend to ignore the actual process. And Hacknet pays much more attention to the realistic aspect of the game. Of course, to me it looks like huge oversimplification, but that was made as a game, right? It was made to be simple, fun and accessible. And it never felt like I am working, it felt like I am playing a game and having a good time. So while not being accurate, it nails the realistic hacking experience to enough extent. [h3]Handholding or Exploration?[/h3] The first 60% to 70% percent of the game felt like a tutorial. Fun, with a lot of stories and action, but with a huge sense that I am playing in a sandbox. Everything is pretty safe, and you get what you need to do right from the email, so you need to execute specific steps without much investigation. Yes, you need to look for something specific, but it is usually very algorithmic and follows the same steps. So, this feels like handholding to me, and having to "detective" part to it, where you just don't know where to look at and have to think and explore. But! There are endgame quests, such as the main story line or Project Junebug quest. Those actually did things perfectly as I have wanted. There is more to reading, investigating, searching and connecting pieces of information together. This was perfect. Example: usually it would be "find a (file / password / IP) or edit / remove something. Here is the server.". That is straightforward. Project Junebug: Here is the name of the person. Kill him. You see what I mean? That is perfect example of what I wanted this game to be. And it eventually has things that appeal to me! So, overall, great experience. Right? [h3]A bit of so-so moments[/h3] Just one. The game has netMap, a graph that displays the machines you have connected to. And the graph grows, and there is less and less space, it all becomes cluttered at some point. And there is no way to clean it up, resize, organize or alter. And this is sad a bit, because the missions that I liked involve a lot of research, but the research progress was hevily impacted by overall messy navigation system. But it's a minor thing. What else? [h3]The Easter Eggs and Secrets[/h3] While the big part of the game feels like a tutorial, it has a lot of things to explore. Jokes and memes, hidden quests with high rewards - it's all there. So if you want, you can take much more from the game than it offers at a first sight. Like in some RPGs you can even get overpowered pretty early - if you follow some clues in the game, you can get CLOCK.EXE, which makes game itself hacked. Things that are hidden and require exploration definitely cool here. [h3]The Music[/h3] I pay a lot of attention to game OSTs, it makes me love the game more if the music resonates with me. And back in 2017 when I have bought the game, I learned about Hacknet from Remi (The Algorithm) - one of the musicians behind the OST, and I bought it. So, to me the OST is perfectly fitting the game. Just very neat, I thought. Until the final mission. I have three examples of getting goosebumps from the music in the game: 1. One optional boss fight in Baldur's Gate 3 2. Expedition 33 in various places. And... Yeah, the final mission of Hacknet! Putting [spoiler]Carpenter Brut's Roller Mobster[/spoiler], one of my favorite synthwave / darksynth tracks ever made me freeze for a minute in awe. And then realize that time is ticking and I need to do everything fast. Perfect sense of adrenaline. Great choice for OST! [h3]Really solid hacking-lite experience[/h3] Overall, I liked this game. Relatively short, but never gets dull. And I have not even touched the DLC yet - and it has 97% positive rating! So, while the main game is over for me, I will get to Labyrinths in future to feel this enjoyment again.

I got recommended this game by my therapist (no, not for therapy reasons, he just thought it was cool) and boy am I glad I listened. Awesome game, immersive, 10/10, would play again.

This is actually a pretty alright game, it's not brain melting difficult to figure out. I enjoy the little story it had within, and all the Easter eggs here and there. Short and simple, with many things to discover within various bits and pieces, take your time with it and it will click eventually where you be breaking into everyone stuff like a good old hacker man. I give it a 9/10. The only real downside, is the server nodes UI is awful to navigate after connecting to many servers and clogs it up.

when i first bought this game i fully expected it to be a game that i play for a few hours, dont like and then refund, but i ended up staying up all night playing it and its one of the best games ive played in months, worth the money and so is the dlc, even when youve beaten both of them you can go to the steam workshop and download extensions, personally i really enjoyed hellsec 1 and 2 and b.r.a.p. overall the game is worth every cent

It's fun and creative, albeit short. Wait for a sale, pull up a stream on the side, and type away. Great soundtrack, good writing.

Just finished my first run. It's an awesome game with a nice little story, and realistic enough to mimic the conditions hackers work under! Also the DLC Labyrinths is a bit small in gameplay hours, but still worth it imo.

It's VERY detailed and is a really creative game. I really hope they expand on this game more and add more dlcs.

A hidden gem in my opinion. This game gives you the feeling of being an illegal hacker, without overwhelming you on how to hacking works in the real world. Well written story with multiple paths without you knowing it. The game is also very modable due to the it being structured with XML-style files. Had a blast! Highly reccomend! The only "downside" to this game is, after you come back from not playing for 1 month, it is hard to remember where you were and what you needed to do. The UI regarding your nodes - although cool - does not really help this situation.

Surprisingly fun. It really gives you the feel of hacking things. To the casual observer you really are. Anyway i really enjoyed it, only thing it was missing was getting paid, and getting paid in bitcoin. Many of the commands were real (though simplified). The game loop didn't seem repetitive and like you were climbing a ladder to nowhere (like Darknet). However, would recommend do get that hacker fix, even as a Linux command primer. Kind of makes me want to install Kali.

Ngl came to play this game only beause of the Home - Resonanance song I heard back in the day, and found out it was a soundtrack for Labyrinths, and OH BOY IT SLAPS here. The game - especially when you are up to 0 knowledge on how to operate a Linux terminal - is providing a reasonable yet rewarding challenge. Its emersiveness makes it completely stand out from the games where hacking is shown as some dude just banging on the keyboard and all done - no, it is really giving you knowledge how to type a certain command and how exactly it is going to work in certain circumstances. The syle, the way it works with the tasks and contracts - pretty much everything here gives you a constantly levelling feeling of being a true HACKERMAN_666 although being not tech-savy at all. 10/10 game

A short but in depth hacking simulator that approximates what it is like to punch in strings of command lines. Hacknet streamlines the experience enough to remain engaging and accessible but doesn't come across like it's constantly holding the player's hand or omiting any major technical aspects inherent of hacking. Experienced in a variety of exciting scenarios that lets you act as an on-the-edge black hat.

The game strikes the perfect balance between realistic and "fun to play" hacking, and, while not incredibly long, it kept me attached to the screen from start to finish.

HOLY CRAP THIS WAS AWESOME, every mission feels so immersive plus every soundtrack is just AWESOME. the ending mission was absolutely brilliant, i have never felt so much of an adrenaline rush from any game before. highly recommended

A game that makes you think and have fun doing it. There are tones of little Easter eggs if you know how to look for them. Been looking for a game like this where you can actually interface with a terminal. They created an entire file system for this. The devs put real work into this and it show. Now one of my favorites of all time.

One of the best games I've played. Top ten hands down, and can't believe I never played this in the past 5 years.

This hacking game made me cry. I'm off to find the secrets and play the dlc now. Please finish this masterpiece

Sure, the gameplay is rather repetitive, but the style of the game is very charming and it really makes you feel like you're learning to be a hacker, lol. Fun puzzle game.

Game's basically a console-based text adventure with great music, sign me up!

I think this game is excellent! The puzzles are cool, the concept is great, the way that the system works just feels good if you can figure out the pattern. Love the way the puzzles are setup. I wish there was non-copyrighted music, but its cool that the developer got permission to use some really great tracks. The DLC is a definite buy, in my opinion. A lot less obscure than other "hacker" games.

This game was incredible! A short but sweet puzzle game full of a-ha moments and a gripping story. Don't listen to negative reviews that say "the missions don't tell you what to do," those people simply can't read.

While I didn't finish the game, I really enjoyed the immersion. But I ran into a game breaking bug where I couldn't complete any missions. I wish there was a clearer indicator on what mission I'm on and how to complete it instead of marking "mission incomplete" on every single mission email. The vagueness of Naix and Entropy lockout missions was a bummer.

Super fun, super resourceful and educational

в машине файловая система вроде линуксоидная, в буте лежат .dll, на этом решил пока закончить прохождение данной игры

一下午通了，感觉其实这个游戏很不错，值得起40的

it keep stopping in my mac, but I'm really enjoying it.

its a gross simplification of cyber security so people with no knoledge of programming can still experience the game to the fullest.

got hacked in the game, had to do irl changes. 10./10

this was made by your computer science professor to introduce you to bash commands

watch out kids on roblox youre not gonna wanna mess with me now!!

I love playing this game, super addictive!

genuinely amazing play this shit immediately

best fucking hacking game ever

best game!!!

Really god game !

good

Heckermen Incarnate

10/10

PortHack

heker mennn

no

i'm in