Choose Hacknet
Choose Hacknet if you want a Simulation game with Adjustable Text Size, Camera Comfort, and Playable without Timed Input. On Steam, it's currently about 33% cheaper on the Steam Store. 7,537 Steam reviews back the pick.
Hacknet vs Darknet
Hacknet and Darknet 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 2 years older than Darknet (2017). Hacknet scores higher on Steam reviews (94.2% positive) than Darknet (90% 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 Darknet
Choose Darknet if you want a Strategy game with Tracked Controller Support and VR Supported. Darknet launched in 2017.
Both Hacknet and Darknet 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 |  Darknet | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2017 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Deck Playable |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94.2% positive (7,537 reviews) | 90% positive (60 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Team Fractal Alligator | E McNeill |
Side by side
- Both are Indie games on Steam.
- Hacknet (2015) is 2 years older than Darknet (2017).
- Hacknet scores higher on Steam reviews (94.2% positive) than Darknet (90% positive).
- Hacknet is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than Darknet (9.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Hacknet is Deck Unsupported, Darknet is Deck Playable.
Hacknet vs Darknet — FAQ
- Should I play Hacknet or Darknet first?
- If you want chronology, Hacknet (2015) came out before Darknet (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 Hacknet and Darknet 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.