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Hack n Slash

A fantastically bold idea that Double Fine exploit to its fullest, in one of the most original puzzle adventures of the year – and the most educational.
Hack n Slash Game Cover
55%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
stability, grinding
51% User Score Based on 760 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

LinuxPCMac OSXboxSteam DeckWindows
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Hack n Slash Game Cover

About

Hack n Slash is a single player casual hack and slash game. It was developed by Double Fine Productions and was released on September 9, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

"Hack n Slash" is a hacking-themed action-adventure game where you play as a character with the ability to manipulate and control electronic devices and systems. The game features puzzle-solving and combat, as you navigate through various levels and encounter different types of security measures and enemies. As you progress, you can upgrade your hacking abilities and customize your character's appearance.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Hack n Slash screenshot
Hack n Slash screenshot
Hack n Slash screenshot
Hack n Slash screenshot
Hack n Slash screenshot
Hack n Slash screenshot
Hack n Slash screenshot
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51%
Audience ScoreBased on 760 reviews
gameplay35 positive mentions
stability45 negative mentions
  • Unique concept that allows players to hack and manipulate game code to solve puzzles.
  • Clever puzzles that encourage creative problem-solving and exploration.
  • Charming art style and humorous dialogue that adds to the overall experience.
  • Steep difficulty curve in the latter half of the game, requiring prior programming knowledge to progress.
  • Frequent crashes and bugs that disrupt gameplay and can lead to frustration.
  • Lack of clear direction and guidance, making it easy to get lost or miss important items.
  • gameplay
    162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Hack 'n' Slash" is characterized by its unique hacking mechanics that allow players to manipulate game objects and their behaviors, offering a novel twist on traditional puzzle-solving. However, many players find the execution lacking due to unclear mechanics, frustrating puzzles, and game-breaking bugs, leading to a mixed reception where the initial novelty quickly wears off. While some appreciate the innovative concept and potential for creativity, others criticize the repetitive and tedious nature of the gameplay, particularly in the latter stages of the game.

    • “The gameplay is fun, the gameplay feels fresh and really innovative, it has some nice characters and cheesy dialogue.”
    • “The core mechanic of changing the game engine while it is running is really compelling, and leads to very open-ended puzzle design.”
    • “The hacking mechanic is implemented well.”
    • “Great idea, but this game is let down by game-breaking bugs and tedious gameplay.”
    • “The mechanics for interacting with the world are sometimes not very clear and can lead to the typical puzzle game frustration of solving the puzzle in your head before figuring out how to solve it in the game.”
    • “It quickly becomes a chore instead of a game, and that's where the novelty of the mechanics wears off entirely and it's just not amusing after that.”
  • story
    124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is often described as lighthearted and humorous, but many reviewers find it lacking depth and engagement, with some labeling it as "paper-thin" or "boring." While there are moments of cleverness and charm, the execution is frequently criticized for being shallow, predictable, and poorly written, leaving players wanting more substance and coherence. Overall, the narrative serves more as a backdrop to gameplay rather than a compelling driving force.

    • “The story is strong and amusing (as one would expect from Double Fine) despite the odd subject matter.”
    • “The puzzles all feel refreshingly new, and the story is delightful.”
    • “It is very innovative and fun, with hard puzzles and a rich story.”
    • “The story is paper thin and not engaging at all.”
    • “The entire game's story line holds almost no weight, even in its own universe.”
    • “The flaws aren't gamebreaking, but the game doesn't exactly go in depth into anything, even the story is basic with terrible dialogue.”
  • graphics
    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming, retro-inspired art style reminiscent of classic titles like Zelda, while others criticize it for being inconsistent, confusing, and lacking polish. Many users noted that the visuals can obscure gameplay elements, making navigation challenging, and some described the overall aesthetic as bland or amateurish. Despite the varied opinions, the art style is often seen as a highlight, even if it doesn't compensate for the game's other shortcomings.

    • “The art style is very attractive but gets ruined by an item picked up later in the game which puts a messy overlay over this.”
    • “The graphical style is really nice and refreshing, not to mention the idea behind the game has so much potential!”
    • “I immediately fell in love with the Zelda-esque art style and the game didn't disappoint either.”
    • “The bland, amateurish art style, the directionless narrative, the janky animations, and the loose, unfinished gameplay makes this a game I won't be returning to.”
    • “I don't like the overall graphic style; it looks like some old, ugly cartoon to me.”
    • “The art style often leaves it difficult to tell the difference between walls, cliffs, and walkable areas without the use of the hat or info opacity tool (which really seem to do the exact same thing).”
  • stability
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous users reporting severe bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many describe it as unfinished and unpolished, likening the experience to a prototype rather than a completed product. While some appreciate the concept and mechanics, the overwhelming consensus is that the game's instability makes it frustrating and not worth purchasing.

    • “The overall experience was just too buggy and frustrating to recommend buying the game at any price.”
    • “I found this game absurdly buggy.”
    • “Cool concept but too buggy and unpolished to be playable.”
  • humor
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is polarizing, with some players finding it clever and enjoyable, while others criticize it as juvenile or overly forced. Many appreciate the witty dialogue and quirky interactions, particularly in the early stages, but feel that it becomes repetitive or clichéd as the game progresses. Overall, while the game has its funny moments and a charming aesthetic, it may not resonate with everyone, especially those seeking more sophisticated humor.

    • “It has cool characters, dialogue, and humor.”
    • “This game is hilarious, frustrating, fun, and we beat it.”
    • “The first part of the game is really, really funny and interesting.”
    • “He supposedly has all the power you have, but, to keep spoilers to a minimum, he either doesn't use them for some reason or uses them in a ridiculously stupid way... stupid enough that it feels like poor writing, not funny stupid.”
    • “The jokes fall flat and often feel forced, making the humor feel more like a chore than an enjoyable aspect of the game.”
    • “While the game tries to be funny, most of the humor relies on outdated clichés that just don't land anymore.”
  • grinding
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews consistently highlight that the game's grinding aspect is marked by tedious gameplay and frustrating mechanics, with many players finding the puzzles overly complex and the respawning enemies exacerbating the monotony. The novelty of the game's concept quickly wears off, leading to a repetitive experience that detracts from overall enjoyment, making it feel more like a chore than a fun challenge. Overall, the combination of steep difficulty and tedious tasks results in a game that many find unplayable or unenjoyable.

    • “It is extremely tedious, made much worse by the fact that all enemies respawn when you change screens.”
    • “This game is not fun, it's tedious... much like real programming.”
    • “The coding is still painfully inaccessible and unserviceable—if you're a programmer, it's boring and tedious for no apparent reason, and if you're not a programmer, there's no chance you'll really even understand the puzzle as it's presented.”
  • music
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it pleasant and fitting, while others describe it as repetitive and forgettable. While a few appreciate the original soundtrack and its alignment with the game's theme, many criticize it for being overly simplistic and annoying, with short loops that can become grating over time. Overall, the music is seen as a minor aspect that does not significantly enhance the gaming experience.

    • “Music sounds original, and fits well with the theme.”
    • “At the very least, you'll enjoy the amazing soundtrack.”
    • “The music is pleasant.”
    • “The art, music, and story are all cute, but not really good enough to carry the game.”
    • “Music is the same 5 to 15 second music loop per area and will slowly drive you insane.”
    • “The world itself isn't anything out of the ordinary either; generic 'retro-styled' backgrounds and levels coupled with a boring soundtrack are largely ignorable.”
  • atmosphere
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is polarizing, with some players appreciating its programmer/hacker vibe and nostalgic elements, while others find it slow, clunky, and frustrating. The initial appeal of the hacking interface and music is often overshadowed by tedious navigation and irritating controls, leading to a generally negative perception of the overall atmosphere.

    • “This game is perfect for those who love the programmer/hacker atmosphere.”
    • “I enjoyed a lot the game, its atmosphere, story (mainly the final talk), and winks to old games.”
    • “It's definitely atmospheric and kept my attention well enough to keep me playing until I completed it in my first and only session.”
    • “An interesting concept for a puzzle game, but it's slow and the atmosphere is sleepy. I really can't be bothered slowly navigating completely boring, sauceless menus and waiting for things to slowly move and do what I asked.”
    • “Frustrating atmosphere in general, coupled with clunky controls.”
    • “The entire atmosphere of this game is basically designed to be annoying.”
  • replayability
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews on replayability are mixed; while some users highlight almost infinite replayability and enjoyment from mastering the game, others express disappointment with low replay value, particularly for those who prefer to conquer and move on quickly. Overall, the game's replayability seems to depend on individual player preferences and play styles.

    • “Replayability: there is almost infinite replayability.”
    • “Lots of replayability the more you know about the game.”
    • “Overall, I found the game highly enjoyable; while it has low replay value, that's not usually important to me in games - I conquer and move on.”
    • “And I don't feel like starting from scratch as I don't see much replay value in it.”
    • “Pretty much no replayability.”
    • “A bit on the short side, with low replay value unless you just want to test how far you can go with the hacking.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highlighted by unique and appealing character designs, though opinions on individual characters vary significantly. While the dialogue is described as somewhat witty, it does not reach the same level of praise as the graphics and overall character aesthetics, which contribute to the game's charm.

    • “Also surprising, the character design is really good.”
    • “Just keep in mind that the price is legitimized more by the unique hacking concept, graphics, and character development than by game length.”
    • “Hack 'n' slash brings some comedy to the gameplay with quirky character design and somewhat witty dialogue.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with users finding the story unengaging and expressing disappointment over the lack of mod support, which detracted from their overall experience.

  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users note that optimization in the game involves the use of bytecode and assembly, which are designed for machine efficiency rather than human readability, indicating a focus on performance over accessibility in the code structure.

    • “The problem is, bytecode/assembly is not supposed to be read by a human; it's optimized code much closer to the machine than to what a human would write.”
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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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6h Median play time
6h Average play time
4-7h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Hack n Slash is a casual hack and slash game.

Hack n Slash is available on PC, Mac OS, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing Hack n Slash.

Hack n Slash was released on September 9, 2014.

Hack n Slash was developed by Double Fine Productions.

Hack n Slash has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its stability.

Hack n Slash is a single player game.

Similar games include Else Heart.Break(), Firmament, The Magic Circle, Obduction, Glitchspace and others.