Hacknet
AVAILABLE NOW: HACKNET – LABYRINTHS EXPANSION
http://store.steampowered.com/app/521840/
Join a small team of elite hackers pulling off a complex series of data heists in Hacknet Labyrinths, a major expansion for critically acclaimed terminal-based hacking simulator, Hacknet.
Adding a new 3-4 hour chapter to the game, Hacknet Labyrinths sees you recruited by the mysterious Kaguya to join a small team of elite hackers on the hunt for powerful new tools and programs.
Hacknet Extensions Mod Tools
Hacknet Extensions, a free suite of mod tools for Hacknet and Hacknet Labyrinths is now available.
You can access Hacknet Extensions via the main menu and use it to create Hacknet campaigns, system networks, nodes, themes, music and story missions. Share your creations with other players through Steam Workshop.
An interactive tutorial has been included in Extensions. This will step you through the process of creating a mod.
There is an extensive guide in the community hub: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=914587661
and you can connect, collaborate and discuss with other modders in the Hacknet Extensions Discord https://discord.gg/7cHhVT9.
About the GameHacknet is an immersive, terminal-based hacking simulator for PC. Dive down a rabbit hoIe as you follow the instructions of a recently deceased hacker, whose death may not have been the accident the media reports. Using old school command prompts and real hacking processes, you’ll solve the mystery with minimal hand-holding and a rich world full of secrets to explore.
Bit, a hacker responsible for creating the most invasive security system on the planet, is dead. When he fails to reconnect to his system for 14 days, his failsafe kicks in, sending instructions in automated emails to a lone user. As that user, it’s up to you to unravel the mystery and ensure that Hacknet-OS doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Exploring the volatile nature of personal privacy, the prevalence of corporate greed, and the hidden powers of hackers on the internet, Hacknet delivers a true hacking simulation, while offering a support system that allows total beginners get a grasp of the real-world applications and commands found throughout the game.Features
Real Hacking
Based on actual UNIX commands, Hacknet focuses on real hacking, not the Hollywood-style version of it. This creates a truly immersive experience and puts players right in the thick of trying to break through the firewalls.
Unlock the mystery of Bit
A hacker is dead and the media reports don’t add up. When you are contacted by his “ghost” – an automated failsafe system – you’re drawn into the dark and murky world of underground hackers.
Full immersion
You are thrust into a persistent virtual world with no “levels” or obvious game elements to break the illusion. Follow the guidance of the emails from Bit or just dive down the rabbit hole, chasing down clues and snippets of information you find as you explore different systems.
Accessible but uncompromising
Whilst not holding your hand or dumbing down, the design of the game and the learning curve enables those with no prior terminal experience to enjoy it whilst delighting those in the know.
Killer tunes
Hack to the beat of a soundtrack featuring underground artists including Carpenter Brut (Hotline Miami) and Remi Gallego (AKA The Algorithm).
Soundtrack produced in association with The Otherworld Agency.
Hack your own adventures
Create your own campaigns, system networks, nodes, themes, music and story missions using the Hacknet Extensions mod tools. Share them with other players through Steam Workshop.
Steam User 22
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.
Accurate Hacking Simulator?
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.
Handholding or Exploration?
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?
A bit of so-so moments
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?
The Easter Eggs and Secrets
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.
The Music
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 Carpenter Brut's Roller Mobster, 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!
Really solid hacking-lite experience
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.
Steam User 17
the perfect game to get stuck trying to get a single file to open in the tutorial when you know nothing about programming.
Steam User 11
A hacker named Bit is dead. His computer had an automated script which sends a random person a set of instructions. YOU are the one selected to follow out his last will.
The game is a good hacking simulation, with a good command line system, a well-designed UI for those who aren't quite used to the command line yet, and a very well-designed web of connections. IP addresses, names, and quests are randomized each time so everyone's experience is slightly different. They even have some funny conversations in text files on some PCs. All the scripts you need to complete the game are easily accessible, whether you get them from hidden locations or you find them in organization databases. There are even some interesting things you can do with the command line and some interesting moments where it pays to have a bit of extra knowledge going in. And easter eggs. MANY easter eggs. Seriously, when you think you've found it all, something new catches your eye.
Through my playthroughs I did not check if there was a way to create automated scripts for some of these things. If it was possible, I completely missed it, and if it wasn't, it is something I would fault this game for at least slightly. However, it not being there does not detract from the rest of the game, as hacking tools are abundant. The story is really good, and all of the design moments know just how to kick your brain into overdrive.
Overall, I'd give it a 10/10. This is one of my favorite games to date. If you are willing to learn the command line, generally good practices, and pay close attention to everything you find, this game will be a blast. I HIGHLY recommend learning how to use the command line instead of relying on the UI, as there are some things that will definitely be much better if you do so. A second or third playthrough also still hits pretty good, as you can look back at when things were introduced, catch things you wouldn't have caught before, and overall experience it in a completely different way. After you've played the DLC and the game itself once or twice though, the replayability goes down heavily, but there is a TON of mods in the community if you want to see what others have made.
Go out there and leave no trace behind.
Steam User 17
Ahem...
I think it's time to finally write something about this game, with which I actually share quite a fun personal story. I received it as a gift from my close friend when I "finished" studying as a software engineer at a local college where I lived for some time. And when I actually began to play it, it ended just like my study. Disastrous! I was completely lost and confused, dropping the game after a while.
But the time passed, and my hands finally reached it again in 2024 when I began to clear up my gaming backlog. Finishing all that I missed or didn't play yet. Including this particular game. And what can I say? I actually finished it! I'm sure my teachers would be so proud of me! If I did it myself, that is... Which I didn't, obviously! Some things just never change... Certainly not my stupidity! But enough of self-embarrassing stories. Now about the game...
It really is that good! I never imagined that it'd have such a wild plot with an actual plot junction at some point. Not to mention it was actually fun to pester in other people's business via hacking and reading all their sensitive data. Found a few wild stories that way! In addition to learning something in the process! I already forgot what it was, but I certainly felt a bit brainy after I finished this game. At least for a bit...
So if you're really interested in something different and aren't afraid to bash your head during the process, give this game a try. It's quite unique in its own way! And don't be intimidated by it. There's quite a good guide to help you out if you're underwhelmed by it.
Steam User 9
By far the best hacking game I have seen here with some "meta" elements added to it. This game is just as fun even if you don't have a background in cyber security. 10/5 stars
Steam User 10
Before this game I was extremely averse to any idea of coding (scratch trauma). The game really walked me through what commands are and how to generally use them without directly giving me the answers, the directory function was super helpful.
I felt like I could actually visualize myself going through different files and directories without feeling totally lost like I used to. Sure it might be unrealistic to a real "hacking scenario", but how would I know that! Anyways I'm taking a python class now and this game helped me understand the basic concepts and how to move through files a lot better.
This game was frustrating initially for someone who knew literally nothing about coding in the beginning, but it was like a puzzle I got to figure out over time which was really rewarding. I would recommend this game if your thinking about trying coding. 5 stars!!!
Steam User 10
It's not perfect. It's command-line has some infuriating limitations relative to the real thing.
But it is pretty damned good.