Hacknet

Lore & Background

The game begins with the player contacted by a user named Bit, who sends an automated message in the event of his death, asking the player to investigate. Bit teaches the game mechanics through simple missions, then directs the player to join the hacktivist group Entropy. After proving themselves by shutting down a tabloid server, the player accepts contracts from Entropy. Later, the player investigates a hacker named Naix, who stole data and damaged the hacking community's reputation. Depending on the player's choices, they may counter-hack Naix or report back to Entropy, leading to different paths involving the community /el or the organization CSEC.

The story culminates in the player working with a CSEC admin named Vap0r to break into EnTech, a computer security software company. They discover that Bit was involved in creating a highly advanced hacking operating system named HackNet, which EnTech planned to unleash to drive demand for their protection software. Bit wanted to delete the project and was assassinated due to a miscommunication. The player activates a program called Sequencer, which helps Vap0r launch a simultaneous takedown of EnTech's production and backup servers, eradicating all copies of HackNet. The game ends with Bit's final words, explaining that the player now has the only remaining copy of HackNet.

Reader's Guide

Hacknet is notable for its detailed simulation of a Unix-like operating system, using tiled windows and a terminal interface. The game avoids the common trope of bouncing connections between intermediary computers, instead using a variable speed countdown that forces the player to act quickly. The narrative branches based on player choices, particularly regarding the hacker Naix, leading to different organizations and missions. The DLC expansion Labyrinths introduces a new storyline involving a mysterious individual named Kaguya and a hub server named Bibliotheque. The game's significance lies in its realistic hacking simulation and its story about the consequences of creating powerful technology.

Did You Know?

• Most computer systems contain text files that are quotes from the website bash.org.
• The player can destroy computers by deleting critical system files.
• The DLC expansion Labyrinths features a character named Kaguya.