Darknet

About

Darknet is a single-player puzzle/strategy game, where you play as an elite hacker infiltrating the Net to steal data. Using viruses, worms, and exploits, you must outsmart security systems and avoid detection. With deep gameplay and cyberpunk hacking themes, Darknet offers a unique and engaging experience for VR and non-VR players alike.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 89 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Engaging and addictive puzzle mechanics that provide a satisfying challenge, especially with the time limits.
Visually appealing with a strong cyberpunk aesthetic, enhancing the immersive experience in both VR and non-VR modes.
Offers a good balance of strategy and puzzle-solving, making it accessible for players of all skill levels.

Repetitive gameplay can lead to boredom after a while, as the core mechanics do not evolve significantly.
Limited support for various controllers, which can hinder the experience for players using non-VR setups or different hardware.
Some players find the game lacks depth and variety, leading to a grind-like experience as they progress.

gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
39%
13%
The gameplay is characterized by a unique and engaging puzzle mechanic that evolves in complexity, offering a satisfying core loop of solving smaller puzzles to tackle larger challenges. While the mechanics are relatively simple, they provide depth and strategic elements that enhance replayability, especially within the visually appealing cyberpunk setting. Overall, players find the gameplay fun and addictive, with a blend of casual and demanding experiences that cater to puzzle enthusiasts.
- “All in all: definitely worth the money for a fun and engaging bit of cyberpunk gameplay.”
- “The game has a simple (but very well done) 'hacking' puzzle mechanic (sort of 'go'-like) that gets increasingly complex wrapped in some fun 'cyberpunk' graphics and flavor text.”
- “The design is simple but is perfect for this game, giving you the immersive feeling of being inside the net. The game has a lot of depth and therefore appeals to those who enjoy puzzles or strategic gameplay.”
- “Playing in VR gives some extra flavor but adds nothing to gameplay; the controller is only used as a basic pointing device.”
- “The mechanics of the puzzle work fine but never evolve beyond that.”
- “These simple mechanics are really made worse by some of the procedural puzzles.”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
73%
14%
The game's story is minimal, primarily conveyed through mission descriptions and news updates that reflect the player's actions in cyberspace. While there is no overarching campaign, players engage in a series of timed hacking missions that provide context for their tasks, earning rewards to upgrade their abilities. The narrative elements serve to enhance the gameplay experience, but the focus remains on the mechanics rather than a deep storyline.
- “I was pleasantly surprised to find a storyline of sorts depicted via reports on the main menu.”
- “I like the fact that each mission has a short description of what you're hacking into and then after completing the mission, a new news item will reflect this.”
- “Your mission is to plug into cyberspace, and hack nodes to retrieve data, using viruses, worms, and exploits.”
- “There really is no storyline to follow or campaign to do, but that doesn't matter.”
- “Solving the puzzle is the exact same process as the first mission I played.”
- “They are easily mastered and it turns into 'grind random missions until you buy the next unlock'.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their impressive quality and vibrant cyberpunk aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience. While some users note the simplicity and low resolution, many appreciate the effective use of contrast and the visual appeal, particularly in VR. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersion.
- “The graphics on this game are exceptional; if you're introducing someone to VR for the first time, Darknet would surely impress them.”
- “A relaxing, colorful 3D terrain-capture game with fabulous organization of level structure, pretty graphics, and VR support.”
- “This is an excellent hidden gem that combines neat puzzle mechanics with excellent visuals for an impressive little title.”
- “The graphics are very low res and cyberpunk, but they add so much to the game this way.”
- “There are no graphic options, so I can't change which screen it’s on or switch to windowed or borderless mode.”
- “The graphics are adequate and appropriate for the type of game it is.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with music and sound effects effectively enhancing the immersive experience. While some elements may become repetitive, the overall ambiance is described as relaxing and engaging, reminiscent of classic cyberpunk aesthetics.
- “But it's very atmospheric, and the music and sound effects really enhance the scene being set.”
- “The overall power-up system and progression makes it a game that will feed your lust for power over the long term, while at the same time keeping your adrenaline levels at zero in a relaxing atmosphere.”
- “Great atmosphere (from a lawnmower man / Tron image of cyberspace...may be showing my age).”
- “The 2D network capture can become repetitive after a while, but the overall power-up system and progression makes it a game that will feed your lust for power over the long term, while at the same time keeping your adrenaline levels at zero in a relaxing atmosphere.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the overall experience and complementing the visuals and gameplay. Reviewers note that the soundtrack is well-suited to the game's themes, reflecting the care and attention invested in its development.
- “The music and sound effects really enhance the atmosphere and set the scene beautifully.”
- “The music perfectly suits the game, creating an immersive experience.”
- “The graphics, music, sounds, gameplay, and the love they put into this game are all exceptional.”
- “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel monotonous over time.”
- “While the sound effects are decent, the music fails to create an engaging atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack is forgettable and doesn't complement the gameplay as it should.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly without any lag, and maintaining a moderate fan speed during gameplay.
- “The game runs smoothly with no lag, and my fans blow at what I would consider to be medium pace.”
- “The game suffers from severe performance issues, making it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems.”
- “Optimization is lacking, resulting in frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite having a powerful PC, I still experience lag and long loading times due to poor optimization.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game offers significant replayability due to its challenging levels that require multiple attempts to progress, alongside random level generation and power-ups that enhance the experience. Players can also enjoy permanent unlocks using in-game currency, further encouraging repeated play. Overall, the combination of addictive gameplay and varied challenges contributes to its strong longevity.
- “It's a very peculiar board game with simple but addictive gameplay, random levels, power-ups, and a potentially strong replayability and longevity.”
- “There will inevitably be a lot of replay value as well, because once you get to the more difficult levels, it's going to take multiple attempts to gain the BTC currency to increase your arsenal in order to tackle advanced levels.”
- “It's a very peculiar board game with simple but addictive gameplay, random levels, power-ups, and potentially strong replayability and longevity.”
- “Plenty of replayability and permanent unlocks to be bought with your digital spoils.”