868-HACK

About

868-HACK is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Michael Brough and was released on January 26, 2015. It received very positive reviews from players.

"868-Hack" is a turn-based strategy game where you play as a computer hacker, stealing data from secured sectors while avoiding detection. Use siphons to gain access and progs as your weapons to fight off enemies. The goal is to download as much data as possible and escape before being deleted. With a retro-inspired aesthetic and permadeath system, each playthrough offers a unique challenge.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 85 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

868-HACK offers a unique and addictive gameplay experience that combines strategy and puzzle elements, making it engaging for both short and long play sessions.
The game features randomized levels and a high-score system that encourages replayability and risk-taking, providing a satisfying challenge for players.
Its minimalist design and clever mechanics create a deep and rewarding experience, allowing players to experiment with different strategies and abilities.

The tutorial is lacking, which can leave players feeling confused about the game's mechanics and how to effectively play.
Some players find the gameplay becomes repetitive over time, leading to a decrease in overall enjoyment and replay value.
There are technical issues reported, such as resolution bugs and unclear instructions, which can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
64%
12%
The gameplay is characterized by its addictive nature and well-designed mechanics that encourage experimentation and strategic thinking, despite a lack of initial guidance. Players appreciate the risk/reward system and the depth of strategy involved, although some find the gameplay can become repetitive over time. Overall, it offers a charming aesthetic and high replay value, making it suitable for short play sessions while still providing complex challenges.
- “Excellent mechanics where every power completely changes how you read the game board (more so with each new power unlocked).”
- “The gameplay is fantastic and keeps you coming back for more.”
- “The base mechanics are easy to grasp, but you have to experiment to notice some edge effects and interesting synergies between the upgrades.”
- “Though the game does have a tutorial, I felt as though I was thrown into the game without much explanation of its mechanics and thus with little understanding of how to play.”
- “After a while, the gameplay becomes repetitive and you really just play for score and nothing else.”
- “It’s also a case study in economic design, even if it goes a little too far in that regard; there’s not a speck of unnecessary or drawn-out content here, but there’s also no context to the gameplay, and the audio is bizarrely tuneless.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The graphics are characterized by a simple and charming retro 8-bit aesthetic that enhances the addictive gameplay experience. While they may appear minimalistic, they contribute to a unique atmosphere, complemented by ambient sounds that elevate the overall enjoyment. Players appreciate the clean visuals and the nostalgic vibe, which align well with the game's challenging roguelike mechanics.
- “I love the 8-bit graphics and MIDI sounds.”
- “It has simple and clean graphics, and the ambient noises of the various enemies that come to smash you under their digital heel are a fantastic touch.”
- “I bought this on mobile and played it a lot, but playing it on a PC shows all the little bits of graphical and sound polish; it doesn't feel like a port.”
- “Finally, the very simple graphics and sound effects make for a surprisingly unique atmosphere.”
- “The graphics are simple and charming, and the gameplay is addictive.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it offers high replay value due to its clever design and procedural content generation, others feel it lacks replayability and can become repetitive.
- “Good replay value, clever.”
- “It is also randomized with procedural content generation (like a roguelike), so it has very good replay value.”
- “High replay value, a game that doesn't spoon-feed you its game mechanics.”
- “Very little replay value for me personally.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The music in the game is praised for its enjoyable arcade-style and synthy vibes, enhancing the overall experience with a dynamic soundtrack that adapts to the player's situation. However, some users expressed a desire for more accessible audio options to better integrate their own music or shows while playing.
- “Arcade styling, synthy music...”
- “It's a very enjoyable experience; the soundtrack and graphics create a nice ambient atmosphere, and the music and vibe change based on your character's situation.”
- “The arcade-style, synth-heavy music feels repetitive and lacks variety.”
- “The soundtrack is forgettable and doesn't enhance the gaming experience.”
- “The music is overly simplistic and fails to create an engaging atmosphere.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
Users report experiencing frequent glitches and issues with game stability, which can lead to frustrating moments during gameplay. However, despite these problems, many still find the overall experience enjoyable.
- “Runs great and I play it terribly, awesome stuff!”
- “The game has a solid performance, with minimal crashes and smooth gameplay.”
- “I've experienced very few bugs, making for a stable and enjoyable gaming experience.”
- “I keep getting wedged between multiple glitches and daemons.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experience constant lag and frame drops, which ruin the overall experience.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The story aspect of the game is often seen as lacking depth and coherence, with many users expressing disappointment in its execution and overall engagement. Some players feel that the narrative fails to captivate or provide meaningful context to the gameplay, resulting in a disjointed experience. Overall, the story does not seem to resonate well with the audience, leaving them wanting more substance and connection.
- “The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative arc.”
- “Character development is shallow, making it hard to connect with anyone.”
- “The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is not a standout feature, with some players suggesting it may not appeal to those looking for comedic elements or entertaining failures, focusing instead on difficulty and resource management.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers feel that the game's pricing is high for its content, suggesting it would be better suited as a free-to-play title, though they acknowledge that this could lead to intrusive advertisements.
- “For a game like this, it is quite expensive. To be honest, I think it should be a free-to-play game, but if it were, that would mean ads everywhere!”
- “The monetization model feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending a lot of money.”
- “I feel like the game is designed to push players towards microtransactions, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's simple graphics and sound effects contribute to a surprisingly unique atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The very simple graphics and sound effects create a surprisingly unique atmosphere.”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world.”
- “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that lingers long after playing.”