Choose Hacknet
Choose Hacknet if you want a Simulation game with Adjustable Text Size, Camera Comfort, and Playable without Timed Input. 7,537 Steam reviews back the pick.
Hacknet vs Terminal ESC
Hacknet and Terminal ESC both land in Indie 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 Indie games on Steam. Hacknet (2015) is 9 years older than Terminal ESC (2024). Terminal ESC scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Hacknet (94.2% 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 Terminal ESC
Choose Terminal ESC if you want the Steam Leaderboards side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 70% cheaper on the Steam Store. Terminal ESC launched in 2024.
Both Hacknet and Terminal ESC sit in Indie 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
 Hacknet |  Terminal ESC | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2024 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation | Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Deck Playable |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94.2% positive (7,537 reviews) | 100% positive (18 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Team Fractal Alligator | Alpha Wave Entertainment |
Side by side
- Both are Indie games on Steam.
- Hacknet (2015) is 9 years older than Terminal ESC (2024).
- Terminal ESC scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Hacknet (94.2% positive).
- Terminal ESC is currently ~70% cheaper on Steam than Hacknet (2.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Hacknet is Deck Unsupported, Terminal ESC is Deck Playable.
Hacknet vs Terminal ESC — FAQ
- Should I play Hacknet or Terminal ESC first?
- If you want chronology, Hacknet (2015) came out before Terminal ESC (2024). 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 Hacknet and Terminal ESC similar?
- They overlap on Indie 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.