868-HACK

About

"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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 95 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

868-Hack offers a unique blend of roguelike mechanics and puzzle-solving, providing a deep and engaging experience despite its minimalistic design.
The game is highly replayable, with randomized levels and a variety of upgrades that encourage experimentation and strategic thinking.
Its simple controls and quick gameplay make it perfect for short sessions, allowing players to enjoy it in brief bursts while still facing challenging decisions.

The tutorial is lacking, leaving players to figure out mechanics through trial and error, which can be frustrating for newcomers.
Some players find the gameplay becomes repetitive over time, leading to diminished interest after several runs.
There are technical issues reported, such as resolution problems and audio bugs, which can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
67%
11%
The gameplay is characterized by its easy-to-learn mechanics that encourage experimentation and strategic thinking, offering a blend of roguelike elements and resource management. Players appreciate the addictive nature of the game, with varied combinations and challenges that evolve as they progress, although some find the experience can become repetitive over time. The game excels in providing a deep, tactical experience within short play sessions, making it engaging despite its minimalistic presentation and lack of narrative context.
- “The base mechanics are easy to grasp, but you have to experiment to notice some edge effects and interesting synergies between the upgrades.”
- “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.”
- “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
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a simple yet charming retro aesthetic, often described as 8-bit, which complements its addictive gameplay and unique atmosphere. Players appreciate the clean visuals and ambient sound design, which enhance the overall experience, making it feel polished even on different platforms. While the graphics may appear minimalistic, they effectively contribute to the game's engaging and challenging roguelike mechanics.
- “The presentation is that perfect low-key techno-weirdness that suits a game about zapping bugs in a neon grid world, both in terms of graphics and ambient sound design.”
- “The graphics are simple and charming, and the gameplay is addictive.”
- “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.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
Overall, the game offers high replayability due to its unique blend of roguelike elements and procedural content generation, which keeps the experience fresh and engaging. While some players find it less appealing for repeated playthroughs, many appreciate the clever mechanics and the continuous unlocking of new features that enhance replay value.
- “I think it fulfills a very unique niche in the roguelike category, and the math puzzle aspect of it gives it very high replay value.”
- “It is also randomized with procedural content generation (like a roguelike), so it has very good replay value.”
- “As you complete the game, you'll continue unlocking new and fun programs which can randomly spawn on every sector, which again, greatly increases the game's replay value.”
- “Very little replay value for me personally.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The music in the game is generally praised for its enjoyable, arcade-style synth soundtrack that enhances the overall experience and adapts to the player's situation. However, some users have reported issues with the soundtrack not functioning properly and expressed a desire for more audio options. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance.
- “Arcade styling, synthy music...”
- “It's a very enjoyable experience, the soundtrack and graphics make for a nice ambient experience, and the music and vibe changes based on what's going on with your character's situation.”
- “I really enjoyed all the sounds and the randomly generated soundtrack.”
- “I really enjoyed all the sounds and the randomly generated soundtrack, but it seems to not work anymore despite reinstalls.”
- “The arcade styling and synthy music feel out of place and repetitive.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game's focus is primarily on mechanics rather than its narrative, suggesting that the story is not a central element of the experience.
- “The story feels like an afterthought, overshadowed by the gameplay mechanics.”
- “It's clear that this game prioritizes mechanics over narrative depth.”
- “The narrative lacks substance and fails to engage the player.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
Users report mixed experiences with stability, noting occasional glitches and issues with in-game enemies, but overall, the game runs smoothly and provides an enjoyable experience despite these minor setbacks.
- “Runs great and I play it terribly, awesome stuff!”
- “The game is incredibly stable, with no crashes or glitches during my sessions.”
- “I've experienced smooth gameplay throughout, which really enhances the overall 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.”
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.”
- “The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie visuals, enhancing the overall atmosphere.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is not a primary focus, with players suggesting it may appeal more to those who appreciate challenging gameplay and resource management rather than comedic elements or amusing character deaths.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate that the game's monetization is perceived as expensive, with some users suggesting it would be better suited as a free-to-play model, albeit with concerns about the potential for excessive 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 money.”
- “I feel like the game is designed to push players towards microtransactions, which ruins the overall experience.”