Hackshot

About

"Hackshot" is a puzzle artillery game where you play as a hacker, crafting unique projectiles with different abilities to take down pop-up ads and escalating to hacking larger systems. The game features over 20 hours of open-ended levels with multiple solutions and over 7000 cyberballs to craft. The story is a fun and clever take on internet scams as you attempt to hack a major tech corporation. Consider wishlisting on Steam for updates on beta testing.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 17 reviews

gameplay3 positive mentions

monetization2 negative mentions

Hackshot offers a unique blend of physics-based puzzle mechanics and engaging gameplay, allowing for multiple solutions and creative approaches to each level.
The game features a charming aesthetic with a humorous take on hacking culture, complemented by immersive music and sound design that enhances the overall experience.
Quality of life features, such as the ability to see shot trajectories and undo previous shots, make the gameplay more accessible and enjoyable, encouraging experimentation.

Achieving higher star ratings can be quite challenging, requiring significant trial and error, which may frustrate players who prefer a more straightforward experience.
The game can become difficult, especially in optional hacks, which may deter casual players who are not interested in optimizing their strategies.
Some players may find the basic UI and graphics lacking in polish compared to the depth of gameplay, potentially impacting their overall enjoyment.

gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
13%
The gameplay in Hackshot is engaging and polished, featuring precise slingshot mechanics that encourage experimentation and iterative problem-solving. Players will appreciate the rapid introduction of new mechanics, which keeps the experience fresh and enjoyable as they progress. While the game leans on trial and error, it offers a satisfying blend of depth, fun, and a charming story that appeals to meticulous players.
- “The gameplay feels precise, iterative, and makes you experiment with tools.”
- “It's a lot of fun and gets better the further in you get as new mechanics keep opening up.”
- “Different mechanics get introduced quickly, so there is always something new going on.”
- “One thing to keep in mind about this game is that it leans heavily on trial and error gameplay, trying over and over similar shots to find the perfect angle or the right mod combination.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game's story is a humorous and satirical take on internet culture, featuring clever meme references and a playful narrative that evolves from a simple quest to eliminate pop-up ads into a deeper exploration of the "fake internet." Players appreciate the blend of engaging gameplay and a fun, relatable plot, with nods to classic games enhancing the experience. Overall, the story is described as cute and polished, appealing to meticulous players.
- “The story is fun and discovering the 'fake internet' is really enjoyable, satirizing many humorous aspects of life on the internet.”
- “The game is surprisingly deep, featuring a great mix of gameplay and story that meticulous players will appreciate.”
- “The story has the right amount of cliché hackers, starting with the relatable goal of getting rid of pop-up ads, but then it evolves into something more interesting.”
- “The story has the right amount of cliché hackers, with the relatable goal of getting rid of pop-up ads at first, but then it gets interesting.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The music and sound effects in the game are praised for their simplicity and immersive quality, complementing the wireframe-style graphics and enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the catchy, old-school hacker vibe of the soundtrack, noting that it aligns well with the game's aesthetic and adds to its appeal.
- “The music and sound are simple, and go well alongside the wireframe-style graphics.”
- “Comes with rad music and an over-the-top old-school hacker style.”
- “Music and sound effects are immersive and match the game's vibe perfectly.”
- “The music and sound are simple and go well alongside the wireframe-style graphics.”
- “The last to mention is the music and sound effects.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's graphics effectively capture a 90s hacking aesthetic with wireframe-style visuals that enhance the overall experience. The visuals are complemented by simple music and sound, creating a cohesive atmosphere that appeals to both nostalgia and accessibility.
- “Its hack-themed visuals are so on point, perfectly capturing the essence of the perfect shot sequence.”
- “The music and sound are simple, complementing the wireframe-style graphics beautifully.”
- “Nails the aesthetic of 90s hacking while offering a much more accessible experience.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Hackshot cleverly incorporates monetization into its gameplay by making pop-up ads a central enemy, creating a humorous and relatable experience for players. The game balances its cliché hacker narrative with engaging mechanics that turn ad avoidance into a strategic element.
- “Hackshot: the only game where downloading RAM is a legit strategy, and pop-up ads are the enemies you love to hate.”
- “The story has the right amount of cliché hackers, with the relatable goal of getting rid of pop-up ads at first, but then it gets interesting.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its playful satire of internet culture, with a fun storyline that engages players through the exploration of a "fake internet." Reviewers appreciate the cleverness and enjoyment derived from the comedic elements woven throughout the experience.
- “The story is fun, and discovering the 'fake internet' is really enjoyable; it satirizes a lot of the funny aspects of life on the internet.”
- “I really enjoyed the humor in these files, especially.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate that the game minimizes grinding by providing a visual guide for shot trajectories, allowing for strategic planning rather than repetitive trial and error. This design choice enhances gameplay by focusing on strategy over tedious mechanics.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game offers a flexible upgrade system that allows players to apply enhancements from later levels to any previously completed level, but it maintains a high standard for optimization, which may be challenging for those less inclined towards this aspect.
- “The game helps you with optimization by allowing upgrades gained in later levels to be used on any level you replay, but be warned that it still sets pretty high standards, so if optimization isn't your thing, you might find it challenging.”
- “The optimization mechanics are well-designed, making it easy to enhance your gameplay experience and encouraging players to strategize their upgrades effectively.”
- “I appreciate how the game balances the need for optimization with accessibility, allowing players of all skill levels to engage with the upgrade system without feeling overwhelmed.”
- “The game does help you with this by allowing upgrades gained in later levels to be used on any level you replay, but it's still pretty high standards, so be warned if optimization isn't your thing.”
- “The optimization system feels overly complicated and punishing, making it hard to enjoy the game without grinding.”
- “I found the optimization mechanics to be frustratingly shallow, leaving little room for meaningful strategy.”