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Thursday, March 6, 2025 12:52:33 AM

Hacknet Review (DeNoob!)

A hacker named Bit is dead. His computer had an automated script which sends a random person a set of instructions. YOU are the one selected to follow out his last will.
The game is a good hacking simulation, with a good command line system, a well-designed UI for those who aren't quite used to the command line yet, and a very well-designed web of connections. IP addresses, names, and quests are randomized each time so everyone's experience is slightly different. They even have some funny conversations in text files on some PCs. All the scripts you need to complete the game are easily accessible, whether you get them from hidden locations or you find them in organization databases. There are even some interesting things you can do with the command line and some interesting moments where it pays to have a bit of extra knowledge going in. And easter eggs. MANY easter eggs. Seriously, when you think you've found it all, something new catches your eye.
Through my playthroughs I did not check if there was a way to create automated scripts for some of these things. If it was possible, I completely missed it, and if it wasn't, it is something I would fault this game for at least slightly. However, it not being there does not detract from the rest of the game, as hacking tools are abundant. The story is really good, and all of the design moments know just how to kick your brain into overdrive.
Overall, I'd give it a 10/10. This is one of my favorite games to date. If you are willing to learn the command line, generally good practices, and pay close attention to everything you find, this game will be a blast. I HIGHLY recommend learning how to use the command line instead of relying on the UI, as there are some things that will definitely be much better if you do so. A second or third playthrough also still hits pretty good, as you can look back at when things were introduced, catch things you wouldn't have caught before, and overall experience it in a completely different way. After you've played the DLC and the game itself once or twice though, the replayability goes down heavily, but there is a TON of mods in the community if you want to see what others have made.
Go out there and leave no trace behind.