Choose hackmud
Choose hackmud if you want a Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, and RPG game with Multi-player, MMO, and PvP. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. hackmud launched in 2016.
hackmud vs Terminal ESC
hackmud 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. hackmud (2016) is 8 years older than Terminal ESC (2024). Terminal ESC scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than hackmud (79% 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 84% cheaper on the Steam Store. Terminal ESC launched in 2024.
Both hackmud 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
 hackmud |  Terminal ESC | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2024 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, RPG | Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 18.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 79% positive (658 reviews) | 100% positive (18 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | ComCODE | Alpha Wave Entertainment |
Side by side
- Both are Indie games on Steam.
- hackmud (2016) is 8 years older than Terminal ESC (2024).
- Terminal ESC scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than hackmud (79% positive).
- Terminal ESC is currently ~84% cheaper on Steam than hackmud (2.99 USD vs. 18.99 USD).
- hackmud has co-op; Terminal ESC does not.
- Both are Deck Playable.
hackmud vs Terminal ESC — FAQ
- Should I play hackmud or Terminal ESC first?
- If you want chronology, hackmud (2016) 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 hackmud 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.
- Does Terminal ESC have multiplayer like hackmud?
- No. hackmud supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Co-op), while Terminal ESC is listed as single-player only.