hackmud similar games & best alternatives

hackmud - Trailer
hackmud - hackmud_1.avif
hackmud - hackmud_2.avif
hackmud - hackmud_3.avif
hackmud - hackmud_4.avif
hackmud - hackmud_5.avif
hackmud - hackmud_6.avif

hackmud

Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2016

Should you play it?

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.

What works

  • High skill and creativity in scripting
  • Strong and supportive community
  • Deep and challenging puzzles
  • Immersive cyberpunk atmosphere
  • Active developer engagement

Things to keep in mind

  • Steep learning curve for non-programmers
  • Server and chat stability issues at launch
  • Small player base limits mmo experience
  • Text-based interface may deter casual players
  • Potential frustration from pvp losses

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • Nexus 5X

  • Grey Hack

  • I wanna be the Creator

  • Out of the Park Baseball 26

  • Out of the Park Baseball 27

  • Untrusted

Less fellowship-oriented

Games that feels like hackmud but with less of a community feel

  • Duskers

  • Rift Wizard

  • Door in the Woods

  • Approaching Infinity

  • Rift Wizard 2

  • SanctuaryRPG: Black Edition

Less competitive

Games that feels like hackmud but with less competition against others

  • Hacknet

  • Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead

  • cyberpunkdreams

  • Cogmind

  • Caves of Qud

  • Mr. Sun's Hatbox

More violent

Games that feels like hackmud but with more combat and destruction

  • KeeperRL

  • Hearts of Iron IV

  • Arena of Kings

  • Subspace Continuum

  • UnEpic

  • Distant Worlds: Universe

Choose your own criteria ->

Similarity map

How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

hackmud: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Status, Fellowship, Domination. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story, Domination. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence.

Last update: 03/08/2026