Choose Uplink
Choose Uplink if you want an Indie experience. 1,371 Steam reviews back the pick.
Uplink vs Hack Time
Uplink and Hack Time both land in Strategy on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Strategy games on Steam. Uplink (2006) is 11 years older than Hack Time (2017). Uplink scores higher on Steam reviews (90.7% positive) than Hack Time (18.2% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Hack Time
Choose Hack Time if you want an Adventure, Simulation, and Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Hack Time launched in 2017.
Both Uplink and Hack Time sit in Strategy on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Uplink |  Hack Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2006 | 2017 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie | Strategy, Adventure, Simulation, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 11.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 90.7% positive (1,371 reviews) | 18.2% positive (11 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Introversion Software | i273 LLC |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Uplink (2006) is 11 years older than Hack Time (2017).
- Uplink scores higher on Steam reviews (90.7% positive) than Hack Time (18.2% positive).
- Hack Time is free; Uplink is paid (11.99 USD).
- Uplink is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Hack Time has no Deck rating yet.
Uplink vs Hack Time — FAQ
- Should I play Uplink or Hack Time first?
- If you want chronology, Uplink (2006) came out before Hack Time (2017). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Uplink and Hack Time similar?
- They overlap on Strategy on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Is Hack Time free?
- Yes — Hack Time is a free-to-play Steam title. Uplink is paid (11.99 USD).
- Does Uplink run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Uplink is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Hack Time doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.