Hacker Evolution

About

Hacker Evolution is a single player simulation game. It was developed by exosyphen studios and was released on September 14, 2010. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Hacker Evolution" is a single-player cyberpunk simulation game where you play as a hacker seeking to build a global empire. You'll need to breach systems, escalate privileges, and manage resources to outwit competitors and government agencies. The game features a detailed terminal interface and a variety of challenges to test your hacking skills. However, it may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action, as success depends on careful planning and strategy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 572 reviews

story18 positive mentions

stability7 negative mentions

Deep, puzzle-like gameplay that challenges players to think strategically.
Authentic hacker atmosphere with a command-line interface that enhances immersion.
Good value for niche fans who enjoy cerebral and methodical gameplay.

Dated visuals and user interface that may not appeal to modern gamers.
Can feel repetitive and punishing, especially with a steep learning curve.
Lack of clear guidance in the tutorial, leading to frustration for new players.

story
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
77%
6%
The game's story is structured around interconnected missions that gradually increase in complexity, allowing players to experience a sense of progression as they infiltrate various systems. While some players find the narrative engaging and appreciate the moral implications of their decisions, others criticize it for being simplistic and lacking character development. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop for the hacking mechanics, with mixed reviews on its execution and depth, but it does provide enough intrigue to motivate players through the gameplay.
- “Progression in the game is structured across interconnected missions, each designed to expand both the narrative and the complexity of your hacking arsenal.”
- “The isolation and sterility of the digital world become part of the storytelling, underscoring the loneliness of the protagonist and the cold, impersonal nature of the systems he manipulates.”
- “You actually believe that you are part of the short story in meaningful ways, and after completing each goal, there is a feeling of accomplishment and significance.”
- “The story is boring and there is really no other incentive to waste time on the pointless busywork of hacking servers and moving files around.”
- “Despite its very simplistic plot writing and lack of character progression/development, the game can be fun, especially if you're into typing/problem-solving type of games with the goal to go from point A to point B.”
- “The way the story ended was confusing and cliché.”
gameplay
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
71%
11%
The gameplay of Hacker Evolution is characterized by its deep, puzzle-like mechanics that blend familiar elements with unique twists, creating a balance of comfort and challenge. However, it is often described as punishing and repetitive, requiring precision and trial-and-error, which can lead to frustration for some players. While the command-line inputs and resource management add depth, the overall experience may feel limited and unintuitive, making it a mixed bag for players seeking a rewarding hacking simulation.
- “Gameplay-wise, it has this mix of familiar elements and small twists that keep things from feeling stale.”
- “The trace mechanic introduces a layer of risk management that adds tension to every command: one misstep can mean being detected and losing hard-earned progress.”
- “This puzzle style 'hacker simulation' may not excel in giving the player an authentic hacker experience but it does offer up a great challenge, nice puzzle style gameplay, and an easy tool for creating your own mods.”
- “The gameplay is horribly dull, with no real explanation or justification for its mechanics.”
- “Boring and repetitive gameplay that became stale after a short period of time.”
- “Too overly punishing for messing up, which can affect your overall gameplay, and it demands absolute precision to beat.”
music
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
56%
7%
The music in the game is characterized by a chill electronic and techno soundtrack that enhances the immersive hacking experience, though opinions vary on its repetitiveness and overall quality. While some players find it fitting and enjoyable, others describe it as stereotypical and forgettable, with a few opting to mute it in favor of their own music. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a highlight for many, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere despite some criticisms.
- “The ambient electronic soundtrack and subtle sound effects—pings, keystrokes, and the hum of servers—create a convincing auditory space for the player to inhabit.”
- “The soundtrack, a chill electronic mix, adds to the immersive experience, making you feel like a genuine hacker as you type away.”
- “The best point for this game is the soundtrack, very electro/dance but very fitting.”
- “The music is stereotypical, forgettable 'hacker techno'.”
- “Again, compared with Uplink, the music quality pales in comparison.”
- “Music gets super repetitive and you will mute this game at some point.”
graphics
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
77%
10%
The game's graphics are intentionally minimalistic, focusing on a dark, text-based aesthetic that immerses players in a hacking simulation rather than showcasing flashy visuals. While some players appreciate the slick interface and atmospheric design, others criticize the dated visuals and lack of resolution options, leading to mixed feelings about its overall appeal. Ultimately, the graphics serve the game's purpose but may not satisfy those seeking modern graphical fidelity.
- “Every part of the game — the visuals, the sound, the pacing — kind of blends into this feeling that you’re actually inside its world, even if you’re just casually playing.”
- “The game’s graphics and interface truly shine—everything feels slick, immersive, and just like you’re staring at a real terminal screen, typing away like you’re about to save the world.”
- “The graphics are decent and also rather fitting for a hacking type game.”
- “Dated visuals and UI.”
- “Existential problems aside, the game crashes when you alt+tab, has fixed resolution and mediocre graphics at best, and no proper font scaling either, so there's a pretty good chance for the average gamer that this won't even display right.”
- “You will not find next-gen graphics here; there are no 4K textures.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a genuine hacker vibe, emphasizing immersion through sound and a command-line interface rather than flashy visuals. While it successfully creates a tense and intellectually engaging environment, some players find the steep difficulty curve and lack of tutorials can lead to frustration, causing the experience to feel dull over time. Overall, it offers a unique and atmospheric puzzle experience that appeals to niche audiences.
- “Rather than relying on flashy visuals or fast-paced action, it offers a slow-burning and atmospheric experience that attempts to replicate the tension of real-world hacking through the lens of a command-line interface.”
- “The overall experience is fresh, fun, and with an absorbingly interesting atmosphere.”
- “There are no cinematic sequences or graphical flourishes; instead, the game immerses players through atmosphere and sound.”
- “This rigid design reinforces the high-stakes atmosphere but can also frustrate those expecting a smoother difficulty curve.”
- “In the end, Hacker Evolution is a niche experience that thrives on atmosphere, intellect, and immersion rather than accessibility or flashiness.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
The game's stability is significantly compromised, with users reporting severe issues such as complete system freezes during level loading and frequent glitches in the tutorial that hinder progress. While some players have had a smoother experience on tablets, the overall consensus highlights a frustratingly buggy experience that detracts from gameplay.
- “Runs great on my tablet, and nothing is more fun than playing Super Hacker out in the park with the kids.”
- “The game freezes the whole computer upon loading the first non-tutorial level, which is hard to do (not even cmd-q or cmd-tabbing out will work; I have to use the power button to restart).”
- “The game is so buggy that you can't play it normally.”
- “I had to restart the game twice because the tutorial glitched and didn't let me proceed, plus it doesn't tell you one of the commands you need in order to finish it.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, experiencing a range of feelings from laughter to tears, indicating deep investment in the narrative. While some aspects, like the soundtrack, received mixed reviews, the overall emotional engagement is highlighted as a significant element of the gameplay experience.
- “I laughed, I cried, I alt-tabbed.”
- “But I'm invested emotionally.”
- “Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely regarded as humorous, with players finding it funnier than traditional gameplay elements. While it leans heavily on absurdity and nonsensical mechanics, it appeals to fans of niche genres, particularly those who enjoy simulator and decision-based games. Overall, it delivers a comedic experience that can be enjoyed through its quirky command-based interactions.
- “It was more funny than fun simulator strategy game when it was released.”
- “The funny thing is I really love simulator and decision-based games as well, so I think this title is a really niche genre...”
- “Of course it has nothing to do with hacking and stuff that you're supposed to do barely makes any sense, but in the end it's quite a funny game if you're not afraid of hours and hours of typing down commands!”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can be seen as tedious and punishing, similar to the farming mechanics in Stardew Valley. While some players find the repetitive tasks frustrating, others appreciate the depth and complexity it adds to the gameplay, suggesting that the experience may not be tedious for everyone.
- “The game is quite tedious - not for everyone, because it punishes your mistakes.”
- “It's more or less just doing more tedious things to delay being traced.”
- “Complicated and tedious.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization in the game is perceived positively, as it seamlessly integrates with the overall experience, enhancing the enjoyment without feeling overly commercialized. Players appreciate the game's authenticity and its ability to deliver fun without the typical pitfalls of aggressive monetization strategies.
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I feel like I'm constantly being pushed to buy in-game currency just to keep up with the content.”
- “The prices for in-game items are outrageous, and it ruins the overall experience.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game's optimization is generally satisfactory, with performance issues being minimal.
- “The game's performance has been mostly fine, allowing for a smooth experience.”
- “I appreciate the optimization efforts; the game runs efficiently even on lower-end hardware.”
- “The developers have done a great job optimizing the game, resulting in minimal lag and quick load times.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
The game offers strong replayability, encouraging players to revisit levels for faster completion times and improved resource management. This challenge adds depth and variety to the gameplay experience.
- “Great replay value too.”
- “There's also some replayability if you challenge yourself to finish the levels quicker and with more funds.”
- “There's also some replayability value if you challenge yourself to finish the levels quicker and with more funds.”