Hack Grid

About

Hack Grid is a puzzle game & love letter to DOS gaming. Only one piece must remain on the board. Each type of piece has its own set of rules. Retro Sound Blaster 16 style audio will accompany you throughout the game. Hack the Grid!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 24 reviews

graphics5 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Hack Grid features a simple yet engaging puzzle mechanic that evolves in complexity, keeping players hooked with over 100 well-designed levels.
The nostalgic DOS aesthetic and Sound Blaster-esque soundtrack create a charming retro experience that appeals to fans of old-school gaming.
The game runs smoothly on multiple platforms and offers various customization options, including colorblind mode and adjustable settings for a personalized experience.

The music can be distracting and annoying for some players, leading them to mute it for a better experience.
There is no keyboard control for movement, which may limit accessibility for players who prefer using a keyboard over a mouse.
Some players found the CRT effect hard to read, particularly in the tutorial, which could hinder the initial learning experience.

gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
67%
25%
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet engaging puzzle mechanic that evolves over time, introducing new elements every ten levels to maintain player interest. The difficulty progresses steadily, ensuring a balanced challenge, while the unique color-changing mechanics add complexity that may require strategic thinking. Overall, the game offers a satisfying blend of accessibility and depth, making it enjoyable for both casual and experienced players.
- “Every ten levels a new mechanic is added, forcing you to adapt and keeping it fresh.”
- “When most pieces are changing their color each time you move a piece, it can get harder to wrap your head around multiple different color changing gameplay mechanics while predicting what the grid will look like multiple moves into the future.”
- “The levels themselves are good in that the difficulty grows at a steady rate, so you're not suddenly stuck, and the instructions are clear when new elements of gameplay are introduced.”
- “The additional firewall levels introduced new mechanics, such as vertical-only and horizontal-only movement.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The music in the game is described as fitting the retro aesthetic, with a nostalgic, Sound Blaster-esque quality that some players find engaging. However, many users also report that the soundtrack can be stressful or distracting, leading them to mute it in favor of other music while playing. Overall, while the music aligns with the game's theme, it detracts from the experience for several players.
- “Playing hack grid late at night in bed with the Sound Blaster-esque soundtrack drawing me in, I felt like I was finally playing a satisfying hacking minigame, and all that juicy mainframe data was about to be mine!”
- “It really reminds me of my childhood back in the days: the graphics and the music were only like this... and we were playing for hours!”
- “The DOS style is fun in both visuals and audio, with a very simple but thematically suited soundtrack.”
- “Unfortunately, I found the music somewhat annoying, and had to mute it to keep playing and enjoy the experience.”
- “Though the music is meant to fit in with the retro style theme, personally I found it takes away from the game.”
- “One thing that I found a bit distracting was the music, although I can appreciate the DOS aesthetics with Sound Blaster - but I like to do puzzle work with not much distractions.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
14%
14%
The graphics of the game are praised for their nostalgic DOS aesthetic, featuring minimalistic yet appealing visuals that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the thematic consistency between the graphics and the soundtrack, although some find the music slightly distracting during gameplay. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, contributing to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “It really reminds me of my childhood back in the days: the graphics and the music were only like this... and we were playing for hours!”
- “Graphics are minimalistic, very nice, and you can spice them up a little with a CRT filter.”
- “The DOS style is fun in both visuals and audio, with a very simple but thematically suited soundtrack.”
- “Are you nostalgic for DOS aesthetics?”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a main campaign that players can complete, but it lacks a narrative component, focusing instead on quality puzzle gameplay. Overall, the story aspect is considered non-existent or not applicable.
- “Just beat the main campaign, only to discover that there are 2 additional level sets I still need to tackle, but so far it's a quality puzzler (no story, though).”
- “Story – n/a”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly without any noticeable bugs.
- “I didn't encounter any bugs; it runs smoothly.”
- “The game is incredibly well-optimized, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how the developers focused on optimization, making the experience enjoyable without any lag.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the game evokes feelings of frustration and inadequacy, suggesting it can be emotionally challenging and may lead to a sense of self-doubt.