There are some of the best video games with great hack mechanics to play. Hacking has become a staple of gameplay across many genres, especially immersive sims.
They inject an element of logic into the gameplay amidst all the action-packed shooting and slashing. Over the years, different games have had different ways of approaching hacking.
They are generally part of science fiction and technology themed franchises. Hacking can also vary from game to game. These range from pin-connecting minigames to more number-centric ones with unique logical rules.
List of the Best Video Games of 2022
Well, VCGamers has summarized at least five of the best video games that you can play in 2022 with the best hack mechanisms.
NieR: Automata
Released in 2017, NieR: Automata from Platinum Games was a huge success. Chronologically, it is the latest entry in Square Enix's Drakengard series and won several awards upon release for its excellent narrative.
Control three Androids: 2B, 9S, and A2 as they return to post-apocalyptic Earth to fight an army of enemy robots.
The hack differs from the other games on the list in that it relies purely on reflexes rather than logic. Here, the player engages in a bullet hell minigame and has to destroy an opponent's balls that shoot projectiles while inside a closed arena.
It makes sense, considering the game is over-the-top and full of action. NieR:Automata is out for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The game is also confirmed to be coming to Nintendo Switch later this year on October 6, 2022.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Released back in 2011, Eidos Montreal revived the critically acclaimed Deus Ex series with a prequel game set in a dystopian future.
As Sarif Industries security officer Adam Jensen, players find themselves under attack from a mysterious terrorist organization. Armed with cybernetics (called Augmentation) and a large arsenal of weapons, Jensen must hunt down those responsible.
The sci-fi sandbox world of Human Revolution is packed with attention to detail and allows for problem solving in multiple ways. One of them is the hacking terminal, which can be achieved through hacking network nodes.
Starting at the initial node, each branching path leads to various other elements of the network besides the destination, such as data caches and other computers. However, it is a race against time as enemies can track players. This game is available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U, and PC.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Splinter Cell has always been one of Ubisoft's most cherished franchises. The 2005 third-person stealth entry, Chaos Theory, is widely regarded as one of the best games in the genre, and for good reason.
Iconic protagonist Sam Fisher returns to infiltrate high-security locations and unravel the dark dealings in the background.
Players are equipped with the perfect set of tools that any spy could ask for to achieve this. These range from infrared for heat signature detection to pistols that can temporarily jam electronic devices.
Hacking is also an element here, featuring a number elimination game. Players will be presented with a list of numbers and must distinguish the correct ones.
The panel on the right displays changing numbers, and the player must quickly choose the correct one that lights up. These are also on a timer, so the correct number must be dialed down before the alarm is sounded. These best video games are available on multiple platforms, including PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS, and PC.
Fallout: New Vegas
Widely regarded as one of the best games ever, Obsidian Entertainment's open-world RPG is praised to this day. Released back in 2010, it followed in the footsteps of Bethesda's Fallout 3 as a first/third person exploration RPG.
After being left for dead in the treacherous Mojave Desert, the Courier must track down the culprit and retrieve their stolen package. It strikes a balance between discovery and combat, with a decent variety of playstyles – from melee to gun-based.
Hacking has become a staple of the post-apocalyptic franchise, and it's back here. The terminal displays a few words on the screen with symbols thrown into the mix. Clicking one will tell the player how many letters from their choice are in the right place.
In the end, lots of guesswork. But things can get easier if players find groups of symbols among sets of brackets; selecting it removes incorrect passwords and increases the number of tries the player makes before being locked out.
Also read: Best Lightweight PC Game Recommendations for 2022, Play Now!
Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt RED's hugely controversial open-world RPG 2020 was universally panned for technical and design flaws due to poor development.
As a mercenary-for-hire named V, players are thrust into the darkness of the lawless Night City when a heist occurs. It takes pages from games like Deus Ex and Fallout regarding its gameplay while throwing in new aspects, like Cyberdeck.
The studio has made strides in patching the game since launch, but it has had its share of juicy moments. Hacks, in particular, are fun.
The Breach command brings up the hacking screen, showing the player a two-digit alphanumeric matrix. This can be compared to the designated sequence that must be loaded into the buffer.
Also read: 5 Recommended PC Games for 2022 to be Released in February You Must Wait For!
But the golden rule is that the main matrix can only alternate between horizontal and vertical fetches per input. Players must think two steps ahead to determine how the sequences fit together. Cyberpunk 2077 is available on PlayStation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC.