Uplink

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Uplink is a single-player Science Fiction Strategy game with a good story and ingenious gameplay. As an Uplink Agent, you'll perform jobs for major corporations, such as hacking, stealing data, and sabotaging other systems, while upgrading your computer systems and buying new software. With increased experience, you'll access more dangerous and profitable missions, including influencing the stock market and constructing deadly viruses. Speculate, modify records, and participate in constructing the most deadly virus in this Marvelous soundtrack accompanied game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,307 reviews

story44 positive mentions

grinding26 negative mentions

Uplink offers a fun and immersive retro hacking experience that captures the essence of Hollywood-style hacking.
The game has a steep learning curve, but mastering it provides a rewarding sense of accomplishment.
The UplinkOS mod significantly enhances the user interface, making the game more accessible and visually appealing.

The game can become repetitive after a while, as many missions follow similar patterns.
The interface is clunky and can be difficult to navigate, especially on modern high-resolution displays.
There is no save system, and getting caught results in losing all progress, which can be frustrating for players.

story
297 mentions
15 % positive mentions
80 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as minimalistic and optional, allowing players to engage with it at their discretion while primarily focusing on hacking mechanics. While some players find the narrative intriguing, particularly the conflict between two organizations, many note that the missions can become repetitive and lack variety, leading to a grind-like experience. Overall, the story adds a layer of depth to the gameplay, but its execution and integration into the overall experience can feel disjointed or underdeveloped.
- “The narrative, subtly revealed through missions, adds layers of engagement, making each hack a step in a grander story.”
- “The storyline is amazing; I finished the story on both good and evil.”
- “It's a fantastic game, with a very deep story.”
- “Sadly, this is all undercut by the game's poorly explained core mechanics and highly repetitive missions.”
- “The game play itself is interesting but presented poorly, giving little drive for the player to proceed through the story.”
- “The odd thing about this game is that there is no story from the beginning outside of news articles that rarely pop up on the uplink news channel.”
gameplay
116 mentions
32 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this hacking simulation game is a mix of fun and frustration, featuring a challenging core loop that rewards creativity but suffers from poorly explained mechanics and repetitive missions. While the atmosphere, graphics, and soundtrack enhance the experience, the lack of a save system and the presence of permadeath can lead to significant setbacks, making it a game that requires patience and strategic planning. Overall, it offers a unique and immersive experience for those willing to navigate its complexities, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its steep learning curve and occasional clunkiness.
- “The soundtrack is so good, the gameplay loop rewards being creative, and what you do affects the world around you.”
- “The gameplay is satisfying and surprisingly skillful, and completing a task really makes you feel accomplished.”
- “The game fuses high tension gameplay and a well-executed theme into a blast of a time for anyone even remotely interested in 'hacking'.”
- “Sadly, this is all undercut by the game's poorly explained core mechanics and highly repetitive missions.”
- “The issue must be on your end; many of the mechanics, interface, and events are clunky and unintuitive, as if the developer expected others to play it the way he did without being informed how.”
- “My biggest gripe with the game is that its core gameplay loop is rather repetitive and thoughtless.”
music
79 mentions
57 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive and nostalgic qualities, effectively enhancing the hacking atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players describe the soundtrack as catchy and fitting, with a mix of cyberpunk and techno elements that resonate well with the game's theme. However, some users note issues with volume control and repetitiveness, suggesting that while the music is a highlight, it may not suit all play styles for extended sessions.
- “The soundtrack is absolutely amazing and fits the genre of the game very well.”
- “The music helps elevate the gameplay and soothe the player during high-stress time-sensitive situations.”
- “With a great soundtrack and a tense atmosphere, you'll be looking over your shoulder every few minutes wondering when the authorities will arrive at your front door.”
- “The music was annoying, too 80s, too loud - you can't adjust the volume, only turn it on and off.”
- “Also, it can suffer from a bit of repetitiveness so it's not great for long play sessions and can really benefit from having a podcast, audiobook, or some music in the background.”
- “Fantastic game, just wish I could turn the music off.”
graphics
70 mentions
16 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, evoking nostalgia for late 90s and early 2000s aesthetics, but many players appreciate this retro charm. While the original visuals may not appeal to everyone, the Uplink OS mod is highly recommended for those seeking a modern graphical overhaul, significantly enhancing the game's presentation. Overall, the simplicity of the graphics is seen as a strength, allowing players to focus on gameplay rather than flashy visuals.
- “The graphical style may not have aged well, but that's what gives it that charm.”
- “Its graphics, simple yet purposeful, perfectly complement the game's essence.”
- “This game is proof that flashy graphics aren't necessary for a rich, immersive experience.”
- “It's a bit dated (and it shows), but the game still manages to evoke the Hollywood hacker tone and aesthetic throughout.”
- “The graphics are not fantastic, but they don't need to be, as they are a means to an end.”
- “It would be easy to dismiss these issues as 'part of the experience' but that's just a cheesy way of dodging 'it's a really old game, you will have to deal with terrible graphics.'”
grinding
27 mentions
4 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, often leading to a repetitive and tedious experience, particularly during later missions that require specific and time-consuming tasks. While some players find enjoyment in the challenge and immersive gameplay, others criticize the poorly designed interface and excessive grind, which can detract from the overall fun. Overall, the game may appeal to those who appreciate grinding, but it risks alienating players who prefer a more streamlined experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game is grindy and very repetitive, and the punishment for getting caught is too severe for me to stick with it.”
- “An excellent concept implemented poorly by a tedious, soulless, meaningless click-fest.”
- “At the same time, its poorly designed interface and strange design choices make the game more tedious and repetitive than it could be.”
replayability
25 mentions
44 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability, particularly enhanced by various mods and skins that add variety and depth to the gameplay. While some players note that missions can become repetitive over time, the inclusion of different story endings and the challenge of mastering advanced hacking systems keep the experience engaging. However, once players become proficient, the replay value may diminish, leading to mixed opinions on long-term engagement.
- “This easily has the highest replayability and variety of game mechanics of any hacking sim.”
- “Tons of replay value, especially if you replay with UplinkOS.”
- “Uplink is one of the most diverse, interesting, and replayable games I've ever seen.”
- “At the same time, Hacknet, which has this terminal functionality, lacks quite the replayability of Uplink.”
- “However, this game can become a little repetitive as while there are many different mission types, within each category the missions are basically the same (hacking one bank is the same as hacking any other), however the late game missions have more variety, which leaves some replayability.”
- “Gameplay-wise, once you know how to do it, and get personally experienced with it, you can get all the money you ever want within a few hours from starting and there is little replay value until you leave long enough to forget how to play.”
atmosphere
22 mentions
45 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and tense qualities, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack that evokes the dark world of hacking. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a sense of urgency and realism, making them feel constantly on edge as they navigate complex systems. Despite its simple graphics, the overall ambiance effectively captures the essence of the hacker experience, drawing players into its unique cyberpunk environment.
- “We've seen a sporadic amount of hacking games over the years, but nothing will come close to what Uplink created in terms of providing a seemingly realistic experience by interpretation, and a nail-biting atmosphere where one tiny error could see you lose everything.”
- “The atmosphere: colors, sounds, and music - consumes you into the dark and harsh reality of hackers right from clicking 'new account'.”
- “From destroying and stealing sensitive data, recording voice patterns, deciphering algorithms, decrypting files, compromising LAN networks, and completely crippling complex and high-top secure systems, Uplink creates a level of immersion and atmosphere that is rarely seen in any other of the genre, much due to its soundtrack that nails at setting the right mood.”
- “The atmosphere: colors, sounds and music - consumes you into the dark and harsh reality of hackers right from clicking 'new account'.”
- “From destroying and stealing sensitive data, recording voice patterns, deciphering algorithms, decrypting files, compromising LAN networks, completely crippling complex and high-top secure systems, Uplink creates a level of immersion and atmosphere that is rarely seen in any other of the genre, much due to its soundtrack that nails at setting the right mood.”
- “Never has a game so captured the atmosphere, the mythos, the feel of the cracker realm.”
humor
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it both funny and immersive, enhanced by clever easter eggs and witty dialogue. Reviews highlight the game's ability to blend humor with engaging gameplay, making the hacking simulation enjoyable and entertaining. Overall, the comedic elements contribute significantly to the game's charm and player experience.
- “Some really funny and interesting notes and servers can give you as much joy as the effort to discover them.”
- “Absolutely funny and immersive, not too accurate though.”
- “I really like the way hacking is simulated here (no need to type in the same stupid commands over and over again), the depth of the story, the possibilities the game gives you, the way the interface works, and the easter eggs and humor within the game.”
stability
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its instability, with users reporting numerous glitches, misaligned text, and overall buggy performance. Despite some positive sentiments about the gameplay, the recurring issues with stability significantly detract from the experience.
- “The game kind of blows - constant glitches and text not lining up.”
- “Oh no, it can't, because the only thing Introversion Software produces is buggy horseshit.”
- “Well, to that I say, yes, it is buggy.”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized, particularly for its lack of multiplayer support and issues with display on HD monitors, likely due to its age as a 13-year-old title. While the single-player experience is praised, players express a desire for better optimization to enhance overall enjoyment.
- “This is probably due to the fact that it is a 13-year-old game and isn't properly optimized for HD monitors.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users find "Hacknet" to be more emotionally engaging due to its modern design and immersive gameplay, which combines typing and interactive interfaces, enhancing the feeling of being a real hacker.