hackmud

hackmud

Released Sep 2016

hackmud is a retro cyberpunk RPG where you play a digital persona in a chaotic, unpredictable, and often goofy abandoned internet. Enter a 90s hacker movie filled with scripts, scams, and sabotage. Explore the world of digital secrets and forge your legacy through cunning, creativity, or disruption.

77% positive · 846 reviews
Not yet
Released, ongoing live service game
High confidence
Live Service
Not yet
Released, ongoing live service game
High confidence
Live Service

Where to buy

Steam $18.99
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Evaluation

hackmud launched on September 22, 2016 and has been in sustained, active development ever since — with the pace of updates clearly accelerating in recent years. ComCODE (the developer, now operating as a 501(c)(3) non-profit) has shipped multiple major systems since late 2024: the Marks System in November 2024, a major update including OST Vol. 2 and the priv_store in June 2025, and a full Seasons system in September 2025. The Seasons system is particularly significant — it introduces two-month rotating cycles with co-op and competitive goals, corporation rankings and dividends, season-end events, and ongoing in-game monetization through bits purchases for cosmetics like music tracks, titles, and ascii hats. This structure is explicitly designed to repeat indefinitely, with each season setting up the next. The developer's September 22, 2025 post explicitly states that their "primary goal continues to be a financially healthy game that pays for servers and ongoing development," and that their "next target is being able to fund development, allowing us to continue creating new features and systems." This is a direct statement of intent to keep building. The most recent client update was on December 29, 2025, and the overall post-2024 pattern shows consistent feature and content releases every few weeks to months. There is no indication of any planned stopping point — the seasonal structure, ongoing monetization, and developer mission statements all point to a game designed to run and grow indefinitely.
Evidence
Developer introduces hackmud Seasons — two-month rotating cycles with co-op/competitive goals, corporation dividends, season-end events, and new in-game currency (Qubits). Developer explicitly states their ongoing goal is to fund continued server costs and development of new features and systems.
news post · Sep 22, 2025 source development ongoing
high
Major update ships OST Vol. 2, priv_store, new audio systems with monetized track purchases, and in-game balance changes. Developer describes continued development toward a 'grander vision' and frames ComCODE as a non-profit mission to keep growing the game.
news post · Jun 26, 2025 source development ongoing
high

Content

1 of 1 released · no outstanding content
Released
Dec 2016

Media

Details

Developer
Publisher
ComCODE
Achievements
—
Platform
Windows, macOS, Linux
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · Co-op · PvP

About this game

In the abandoned internet, the old rules are dead. Don't just follow the script, write your own. This is a system waiting to be subverted by the operators who dare to learn its rules.

Your goals are your own:

  • Will you become a digital archaeologist, piecing together the fragmented lore and forgotten secrets of the multi-user domain?

  • Will you design and build your own games, tools, or cryptic puzzles, becoming a renowned Weaver whose creations are sought by others?

  • Will you build a name for yourself as a trusted voice, a data trafficker, or simply the host of the most exclusive social hubs on the net?

  • Will you build a corporate empire, discover and exploit security flaws, or become a notorious con artist who scams rivals out of their fortunes?

The choice is yours. But first, we'll give you the tools of the trade. A guiding hand will walk you through the fundamentals, ensuring you're fully equipped to make your mark on the system.

LIVE THE 90s HACKER FANTASY

This is pure retro-futuristic immersion. The unique interface pulls you into the fantasy, while the deep, atmospheric soundtrack by legendary composers Lena Raine (Celeste, Minecraft) and Ryan Ike (West of Loathing, Gunpoint) makes the abandoned net feel alive, dangerous, and full of secrets.

A DEEP, PERSISTENT WORLD, DEFINED BY YOUR ACTIONS

Explore a persistent world where player-run corporations, underground economies, and shifting alliances are the content. Your actions create lasting change, from destroying the market to uncovering bizarre lore and puzzles that have been unsolved for a decade. This is a world with real stakes and real depth, shaped by its community.

YOUR REPUTATION IS EVERYTHING

Success in hackmud isn't measured in levels, but in influence. Your reputation is your most valuable asset. Will you be known as a trustworthy system builder, a fearsome data thief, or an untraceable digital ghost? Master subterfuge, forge alliances, and betray rivals… every interaction contributes to the legend you build.

A FOOTHOLD IN THE CHAOS

The marks system provides a guided, hands-on onboarding experience so you don’t have to worry about being a fresh face in a den of veteran hackers. It will teach you the basics and build the foundation you'll need to survive, compete, and ultimately thrive.

YOUR CURIOSITY IS THE ONLY PREREQUISITE

Your journey starts by wielding scripts from other players: a taste of magic that invites you to look under the hood. This curiosity is how hackmud creates coders, often from players who have never written a line of code before.

Last evaluated Jun 27, 2026
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