Unhack 2

About

Unhack 2 is a single player puzzle game. It was developed by InvertMouse and was released on January 12, 2017. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

In "Unhack 2", an anonymous AI known as Program X has disrupted cyberspace, and the unhacker, accompanied by advanced AI Neonya, is called to restore order. The story is darker than its predecessor, "Unhack 1", raising questions about humanity's future and AI's comprehension of it. Puzzle segments are integrated into the narrative, offering a balanced blend of storytelling and gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 57 reviews

story36 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Unhack 2 features a significantly improved story with deeper themes, emotional twists, and character development that resonates with players.
The artwork and visuals have seen a substantial upgrade, making the game more visually appealing compared to its predecessor.
The game successfully blends visual novel elements with optional puzzles, allowing players to focus on the narrative while still providing some interactive gameplay.

The lack of voice acting in Unhack 2 is a disappointment for players who enjoyed the audio experience in the first game.
Gameplay has been reduced to a minimal role, with many puzzles being skippable, which may frustrate players looking for a more engaging challenge.
Some players found the writing to be cringy or overly verbose, detracting from the overall experience despite the strong story.

story
123 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
69%
2%
The story in "Unhack 2" has received praise for its significant depth and complexity compared to its predecessor, featuring a darker tone and themes of transhumanism, artificial intelligence, and morality. Players appreciate the engaging narrative filled with unexpected plot twists, well-developed characters, and a beautiful visual presentation, although some noted a shift towards a more visual novel format with less gameplay. Overall, the storytelling is considered a highlight, offering a compelling and emotional experience that resonates with players.
- “A surprisingly good sci-fi visual novel about AI companions, Unhack 2 weaves a complex story that touches on social and philosophical issues regarding the nature of artificial intelligence and their relationship with humans, while at the same time having heartfelt moments and memorable characters.”
- “The story is a beautiful continuation of the original Unhack, with new characters that are fantastic, each with an interesting story.”
- “The story just grabbed me and brought me along for the ride, with an ending that was truly beautiful and left me tearing up as it drew to a close.”
- “Up until chapter ~4, Unhack 2 manages to be overwhelmingly mediocre, being a strange sci-fi romp, if you go in blind - or being a failure as a sequel to Unhack 1 on all accounts: no characters are voiced, characters are less expressive & move less than they do in the first game, gameplay is much more sparse & simplified, the plot is boring & superficial, while also having almost nothing to do with the prequel.”
- “The only real con is that the story's on the short side, but it still kept me interested all the way through.”
- “Despite all of this story focus, Unhack 2 is still a little on the short side (though I might argue that it's the perfect length for a kinetic visual novel).”
gameplay
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
69%
10%
The gameplay in "Unhack 2" has been criticized for being minimal and overly simplified compared to its predecessor, with many reviewers noting that it leans heavily towards a traditional visual novel format, featuring only a few easy puzzles and no voice acting. While some appreciate the story's depth and the continuation of the puzzle mechanic, the overall consensus is that the gameplay is secondary to the narrative, making it less engaging for those seeking a balanced experience.
- “I played the first game a few years back, thinking it was just some cheap visual novel with a few puzzles, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good both the gameplay and the story were.”
- “Unhack 2 follows through with a more in-depth story than the first, and I appreciated the continuation of the puzzle mechanic despite hearing the possibility of them being taken out.”
- “The gameplay is very similar to the original, minus the 5k worms, and is quite fun.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “Unhack 2 is a very different game from the original; while the first was 50% gameplay seamlessly meshed with 50% story, this game is 5% gameplay sprinkled in with 95% story.”
- “Overall, a very good visual novel, but don't go into this expecting riveting gameplay.”
music
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
56%
11%
The music in "Unhack 2" has received positive feedback, with many reviewers noting an improvement in quality and variety compared to the first game, while maintaining an ambient vibe that suits the game's tone. The soundtrack is described as engaging and well-composed, with some tracks remastered from the original game, and it effectively enhances the overall presentation alongside the artwork. However, there are minor criticisms regarding a few songs, with one track noted for poor sampling quality.
- “The music is suitable and sets the tone nicely for each scene.”
- “I will say that the quality and variety of the music improved alongside the artwork for the game.”
- “As for the bulk of it, the art was great, the story was engaging, the characters were likable and memorable, and the music was definitely a nice step up.”
- “Music has improved compared to the first game; however, it still focuses almost exclusively on an 'ambient' vibe.”
- “Keep all this in mind before you grab the soundtrack (OST) DLC pack.”
- “The music's pretty alright.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
The graphics in the game have received significant praise for their dramatic improvement over the first installment, featuring a variety of high-quality artwork and character designs that enhance the overall aesthetic. Users appreciate the inclusion of retro art styles and the use of art filters that contribute to the storytelling, although some noted a desire for a backtracking feature to revisit stunning visuals. Overall, the visuals are described as satisfying and impressive, rivaling top-tier visual novels.
- “With a vastly-improved aesthetic over the first game, there are some really nice art filters used on some images for story purposes.”
- “The full-screen artwork and backgrounds feature well over a dozen characters (alongside variations and expressions) in a massive quality and variety leap forward from the first unhack game.”
- “The artwork and overall presentation have been dramatically improved from the first game.”
- “I've got a real soft spot for invertmouse's visual novels; they get so many things right in terms of the stuff that counts; good characterization, plotting, and pacing that the shallower areas (like the superfluous mini-games and occasional recycled graphical elements) don't really register.”
- “Now art & music, the artwork is above your standard anime; in my opinion, it's great.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Unhack 2 is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a blend of heartwarming moments and heavier themes such as mortality, identity, and the human experience in relation to artificial intelligence. Reviewers highlight its ability to deliver a touching narrative that explores complex social and philosophical issues while maintaining a heartfelt connection to its characters. Overall, it is described as an emotional rollercoaster that effectively concludes the story with a powerful emotional impact.
- “Unhack 2 features and emphasizes a number of genuinely heartwarming and sweet moments, but also explores heavier themes like one's mortality, one's sense of self-preservation, and what makes one human.”
- “It's a deeply touching and emotional work featuring themes of technology, love, family, humanity, and the soul.”
- “A surprisingly good sci-fi visual novel about AI companions, Unhack 2 weaves a complex story that touches on social and philosophical issues regarding the nature of artificial intelligence and their relationship with humans, while at the same time having heartfelt moments and memorable characters.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books to be tedious, likening it to a frustratingly slow reading experience where progress is hindered by the need to click for each sentence. This can detract from the enjoyment, especially when the narrative becomes predictable, leading to a sense of monotony.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Flow of consciousness is great when there is a mystery, but it can feel incredibly tedious when you can see where it is going.”
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in Unhack 2 is highly praised, with reviewers noting its depth and effectiveness, particularly when players experience Unhack 1 first for additional context. The immersive world-building further enhances the character arcs, making them feel rich and engaging.
- “If there's one thing that stands out above the rest, it's definitely the character development.”
- “If you do give Unhack 2 a try, I highly recommend going through Unhack 1 first as it will give you a good amount of background and character development.”
- “The character development in this one is amazing; the world-building is creative and immersive.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a significantly heavier tone, with a noticeable reduction in humor, creating a more serious and intense experience for players.
- “The general atmosphere and tone are much heavier, with less joking around.”
- “The game's atmosphere immerses you in a hauntingly beautiful world that feels alive.”
- “Every sound and visual detail contributes to an incredibly immersive atmosphere.”
- “The general atmosphere and tone is much heavier, too, with less joking around.”
- “The game lacks a sense of immersion, making it hard to feel connected to the world.”
- “The environment feels empty and lifeless, which detracts from the overall experience.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its blend of scary and absurd elements, featuring quirky interactions with virtual AI characters that guide players as "unhackers." Notably, it includes a humorous homage to a beloved yet frustrating old Windows OS assistant, adding to its comedic charm.
- “Just scary, funny, and all over the place.”
- “A visual novel style game with hacking gameplay that features virtual AI characters who guide you along the way as an 'unhacker' and interact with you in some funny and ridiculous ways.”
- “There is a very funny homage to an old Windows OS assistant that we all know and love to hate.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the fair balance between free and paid content, while others criticize the presence of aggressive microtransactions that can hinder gameplay. Overall, the approach to monetization appears to impact player experience significantly, with calls for more transparency and value in purchasable items.