Video Games have come a long way with their immersive offerings in the genre they take. The ability to take up a sense of liberty with narratives and provide justification for the particular elements that come along as necessities with the storylines makes them extra special. One such are inclusions of mini-games like Hacking inside the base game.
With a lot going on in the modern world, games, too, have been able to replicate the instances, allowing players to understand what is and what is not. Hacking in Sci-Fi video games is one element players look up to as a breathing space between the hardcore action sequences, and many games ensure they pay attention to what they want to deliver. A game that offers a different level of complexity and challenge to the players is often a way for players to interact more with the digital world, leaving a mark in their hearts and minds.
6 Deus Ex - Human Revolution
Dues Ex is a beloved franchise by the gaming community and has been one of the few games that make good use of the elements that may come along with a dystopian world. Unfortunately, the franchise did not follow a chronological order with its game launches. The 2011 Deus Ex Human Revolution is the third official installment but the second in the order of things happening in the franchise.
With cybernetics at its core gameplay, players can hack and override obstacles such as a locked door or a sealed loot. The hacking mechanism may seem simple - getting access from one point to another (like most mobile puzzle games), but there is more to strategize and make a move. Each puzzle provides an opportunity for the player to win incentives, provided every move balances out the purpose and greed of the players.
5 Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 was the game to end it all, but instead, it got pulled out from the PlayStation store for a while. The promise of countless narrative experiences and the possibilities of unique adaptive gameplay were never to be seen. Set in a gorgeous world yet filled with bugs galore, the game yet brought something new to the table through its interesting hacking mechanics
It's hard to explain it on paper. Players are given a buffer space and an upload code during the hack sequence and would then need to find a sequential order from the code matrix for a successful hack. It's more like a crossword puzzle play, as once the first buffer code is selected in a row, the second buffer code must be chosen only from the column with the first selected buffer code. Also, the sequence has a timer, so it would be best to strategize before making a move.
4 Bioshock
The BioShock series was a revelation, featuring a solid narrative spread across three main games and two expansions. Set in a dystopian steampunk world, Bioshock blends modern-day science fiction with elements from the Victorian Era giving it a distinctive vibe from the rest of the games from its genre.
The game features a simple point-to-point hacking system, where the task is to unlock tiles, find suitable pipes, and connect the entry and exit points for the ever-rising green goo to make a smooth flow out!
3 Watch Dogs 2
It would be a dire crime to leave out the Watch Dogs franchise in any list talking about hacking games. Although the first installment didn't quite live up to expectations and crumbled under the colossal disappointment from the fans, the 2016 sequel, Watch Dogs 2, did a better job with everything, especially making the hacking mechanics as the most powerful weapon in the game.
What sets Watch Dogs 2 out from the rest of the games on the list is how it adapts the hacking puzzles into its environment rather than making it a mini-game inside a box. Players can control the entire game setting, from security cameras to power junctions, control traffic lights to major city infrastructure, or upload and download data/information pivotal to the narrative. It's more of a fun ASMR having direct repercussions in the game world than a challenging puzzle, but it still works wonders with the game essentially having hacking and stalking at its core.
2 Uplink
Uplink is a 2001 simulation game that opens players to a world of hacking and everything associated with it. Its UI is simple and has everything one sees on a hacker's screen. A note of a friendly disclaimer: the game is a mere simulation (as mentioned before) and does not help/ warrant or tutor the players into any phase of unethical hacking.
The game's objective is to make players start from ground zero in the hacking field and make a name for themselves by reaching the pinnacle of what it offers. Objectives involving hacking into rival computer systems, stealing research data, sabotaging other companies, laundering money, erasing evidence, or framing innocent people are the core components of the game. Thanks to its light weight and minimalist designs, the game is available on the mobile gaming platforms as well.
1 Hacknet
Hacknet is a 2015 game from Team Fractal Alligator that follows Uplink's path. There are major graphical upgrades between the two, with Hacknet coming out a decade and a half after the former. Apart from visual, and other technical updates (in comparison), the game also offers a little storyline to keep the players engaged throughout.
Players receive a random message from one mysterious account by the name 'Bit,' who, as it is revealed, is an automated AI spawned to contact upon its user's demise. As the narrative moves forward, players get to understand the digital world and the players involved and ultimately get to the bottom of the Bit's demise.