The linear campaign moves from your first compromised machine to the final mission, introducing techniques as the story advances. Its terminal-and-desktop interface and scenarios designed by cybersecurity experts give Hacker's Journey a clear focus. At Kinguin, it costs ≈ $1.78; the Steam player rating is 76% from 243 reviews.At $4.49 on Steam, Kinguin offers a direct price comparison for a linear campaign built around realistic cyberattack scenarios.
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Price History
Past 36 months · Updated daily
Historical Low~ $4.492026-07Current Low Across Stores~ $4.49SteamAt its historical low now
Prices cover Steam and 39 authorized stores; only legitimate offers are counted. The chart shows weekly market-wide lows and Steam's official price across the past 36 months.
01About Hacker's Journey
Hacker's Journey is a story-driven hacking simulator where you progress through a linear campaign of connected missions. A hybrid terminal-and-desktop interface frames attacks on web applications, networks, and infrastructure.The Steam player rating is 76% across 243 reviews.
Credits
Developer
Electric Heart
Publisher
Electric Heart
Steam player reviews
76%positiveMostly Positive243 Steam reviews
Lowest recorded in 36 months
$4.492026-07-21 · SSteamBase game · same records as the chart above; USD history, not a regional Steam low.
Language support
Language
Interface
Subtitles
Audio
Simplified Chinese
Yes
Yes
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English
Yes
Yes
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Turkish
Yes
Yes
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Show 4 more languages
Language
Interface
Subtitles
Audio
Portuguese-Brazil
Yes
Yes
—
Russian
Yes
Yes
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Spanish-Latin America
Yes
Yes
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Spanish
Yes
Yes
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Steam PC edition data · 2026-10-19
02Before you buy
Story campaign
The campaign follows a linear story, with each mission advancing the plot and introducing techniques.
Interface and techniques
A hybrid terminal-and-desktop interface accompanies scenarios involving SQL injection, IDOR, privilege escalation, and supply-chain attacks.
Languages
Steam lists English and six other interface languages, with subtitles for each; none has full audio listed.
03Frequently asked questions
Is there a connected campaign?
Yes. The description says the story runs from your first compromised box to the final mission.
What do the missions cover?
The scenarios cover web application exploitation, network and infrastructure attacks, reconnaissance, and privilege escalation, among other topics.
Who designed the scenarios?
The game description says cybersecurity researchers who do this work professionally designed the scenarios.
Popular Steam reviews
Native-language selection · 10 reviews
Selected helpful reviews in this language show both recommendations and criticisms. This selection does not represent the overall positive rating; opinions reflect the version reviewed.
RecommendedSteam player
Interesting so far, but when you type it is constantly having double letters appear, which means you have to keep deleting and then retyping. It's okay at first, but after a while, you don't want to play anymore from frustration.
Edit: The developer seems to have fixed the issue with double letters.
Keeps getting better the further I dive into the game. I'm learning some concepts too. Worth the money.Show moreShow less
1.5 hours at review40 people found this helpful
Not recommendedSteam player
The store page promises a realistic, multi-phase hacking experience designed by cybersecurity professionals with "no Hollywood hacking." Unfortunately, the actual game doesn't match the marketing at all.
What you actually get is a very short (~90 minute) linear walkthrough that plays out like a rigid checklist. You get to try "one of everything" mentioned in the description—skimming, ransomware, crypto laundering, bug bounties—but none of it has any actual depth:
Dead Economy: You earn thousands of dollars from your hacks, but you can’t actually spend it on anything. The money sits on screen as a useless number with no progression or utility.
Non-Interactive Systems: The web pages you navigate to feel flat and non-interactive, and the text/emails feel extremely generic and AI-generated. You aren't actually problem-solving; you're just clicking through a strict track.
Cop-Out Ending: The narrative jumps wildly from stealing a wallet in class to high-stakes black-hat hacking, only to abruptly end when the contact who pushed you into hacking gets revealed as a fed/informant. It wraps up with a flashing red/blue screen (simulating getting pulled over), a fake news article, and an end button.
Even for $5, gamers expect an actual game loop or a short, authentic handcrafted experience—not a brief interactive PowerPoint with dead-end systems and a rushed ending. If you’re looking for a real hands-on terminal or network hacking simulator with actual depth, look at titles like Hacknet, Grey Hack, or Nite Team 4 instead.Show moreShow less
3.1 hours at review47 people found this helpful
RecommendedSteam player
The workflow feels pretty authentic. I actually laughed out loud when I didn't get a bounty for the third vulnerability—it’s just *that* realistic! For once in a main storyline, I finally got to play the bad guy (black hat), and I found it super fun. The pixel-art conference was a nice surprise, too. As for the AI-translated emails, I thought the tutorial was actually pretty good. Sure, you can instantly tell it was written by an AI, but it’s surprisingly vivid and engaging. You can tell this is an indie game with a very small team, but the overall quality is still really solid.
That said, I did run into a few issues:
1. The whole thing feels very front-end driven, so there’s not much room for free exploration. A lot of the interface only lets you click on the main storyline interactions, and clicking anywhere else does nothing, which makes it feel a bit dull. I’d love to see more freedom of interaction in future updates.
2. The text highlighting in the emails is incorrect.
3. The Hashcat tutorial is a bit confusing. It doesn't highlight the third part after the colon, and the logic of just using numbers like 1 and 2 is *too* simplified. It actually caused me to copy-paste the hash values incorrectly.
4. The guidance for the video episode task isn't great. I spent 10 minutes on it with no luck, so I’ll probably take a break and try again in a few days.
5. Really hope the devs add an achievement system in the future!Show moreShow less
2.5 hours at review14 people found this helpful
Not recommendedSteam player
I was unnecessarily harsh in my original review, and I want to apologize to the developers for that. Making and shipping a game is incredibly difficult, and I genuinely respect the work that went into getting this project across the finish line.
That said, my core criticism remains. The game promised an experience that, for me, it didn't ultimately deliver. Based on the Steam store page and trailers, I expected something closer to Hacknet (a more open-ended, hands-on experience where you're actually learning and applying Linux commands or security concepts). Instead, I found a much more linear experience, with many of the websites, systems, and interactions feeling underdeveloped or shallow.
There's a genuinely interesting concept here, but the execution didn't feel polished enough to fully sell the immersion. The UI, writing, and overall presentation often felt unfinished, and while I can't speak to the developers' background or process, some aspects had the kind of generic feel that AI-assisted content can sometimes have. Whether or not that's actually the case isn't really the point—the final product lacked the level of refinement I was hoping for.
I may have picked up a few security concepts along the way, but I ultimately came away disappointed because the experience didn't match the expectations set by the marketing. I think this game either needs significantly more polish to realize its vision, or its store page should set expectations more accurately. There's a good idea at its core, but I just don't think it's there yet.Show moreShow less
1.8 hours at review41 people found this helpful
RecommendedSteam player
best hacking game , only one thing...please add the possibility to open more web pages in the browser, not only one.Show moreShow less
2.2 hours at review6 people found this helpful
Not recommendedSteam player
Played for a bit, but the game feels VERY surface levels. The emails you receive in games are obviously AI written. The wepages you have to navigate too are non-interactive.
There is better game for this niche out there: Nite Team 4, Hacknet, Grey HackShow moreShow less
0.2 hours at review26 people found this helpful
RecommendedSteam player
Hacking has to be learned.
This game is not suitable for beginners and also not for professional hackers.
It simulates hacking mechanisms, but simplifies a lot to make it playable, nothing wrong with it.
However, it can still seem too difficult for absolute beginners in this case.
And if you are like me, you are quite good with English, know a few simple basic hack techniques, but stumble with some of the technical terms, then you are cooked.
Nevertheless, you shouldn't take the game description too seriously, it still remains only a game.
The game interface looks very realistic, visiting websites, downloading and installing software, checking emails etc etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1ZpPZ4UMn4
Hacken will gelernt sein.
Dieses Spiel ist nicht für Anfänger und auch nicht für Profihacker geeignet.
Es simuliert Hacking Mechanismen, vereinfacht allerdings vieles um es spielbar zu machen, nichts dagegen einzuwenden.
Allerdings kann es für absolute Anfänger in diesem Fall trotzdem zu schwer wirken.
Und wenn man wie ich, zwar des englischen mächtig ist, ein paar simple grundlegende Hack Techniken kennt, aber bei einigen der technischen Begriffe ins straucheln gerät, bist du erledigt.
Nichtsdestotrotz sollte man die Spielbeschreibung nicht zu ernst nehmen, es bleibt nach wie vor nur ein Spiel. Die Spieloberfläche wirkt sehr realistisch, Websiten besuchen, Software runterladen und installieren, Emails checken etc etc.Show moreShow less
0.9 hours at review4 people found this helpful
Received for free
Not recommendedSteam player
For sure this is not the most realistic hacking simulator ever. Game feels unfinished, buggy and empty. It's more like an AI generated demo. Websites don't really work other that what your are supposed to see. Terminal does not TAB complete, no copy/paste etc.
I was pretty hyped and wanted to like this, the idea is great, execution unfortunately not.Show moreShow less
1 hours at review14 people found this helpful
RecommendedSteam player
Hackers Journey is an educational hacking simulator that sets out to deliver a more authentic look at cybersecurity than the exaggerated depictions commonly found in games and films. Developed and published by Electric Heart, it emphasizes realistic hacking techniques, practical problem-solving, and ethical cybersecurity concepts rather than over-the-top action. The game places players in the role of an aspiring hacker who gradually builds technical skills by investigating vulnerabilities, infiltrating systems, and completing increasingly sophisticated digital operations. Its commitment to realism gives it a distinctive identity, making it appealing not only to simulation fans but also to players interested in learning the fundamentals of cybersecurity through interactive gameplay.
The campaign is designed around a series of connected missions that steadily expand both the story and the player's understanding of hacking concepts. Early objectives introduce the basics of system exploration and reconnaissance before progressing into more advanced topics such as web application vulnerabilities, SQL injection, insecure direct object references, privilege escalation, ransomware, payment card skimming, supply chain attacks, and cryptocurrency-related investigations. Every new assignment introduces additional layers of complexity without feeling overwhelming, allowing players to develop confidence while naturally absorbing concepts inspired by real security practices. Rather than relying on fictional shortcuts, the game encourages logical thinking and methodical investigation, making each successful exploit feel earned.
One of the game's greatest strengths is the way it recreates the workflow of a cybersecurity professional. Players spend much of their time working through command-line interfaces, examining system files, navigating simulated operating systems, and gathering intelligence before attempting to exploit weaknesses. This approach creates a satisfying sense of immersion because success depends on understanding information and making informed decisions instead of simply pressing the correct button. Although the interface remains approachable for newcomers, it still provides enough depth to capture the atmosphere of penetration testing and vulnerability assessment. The balance between accessibility and authenticity allows players with little technical knowledge to enjoy the experience while offering more experienced users mechanics that feel surprisingly credible.
The educational component is woven naturally into the gameplay instead of interrupting the experience with lengthy tutorials. Every mission demonstrates how poor security practices can expose systems to attacks, giving players insight into why cybersecurity is such an important field. Because the scenarios are based on vulnerabilities encountered in the real world, the lessons remain engaging without feeling like classroom exercises. The game succeeds in presenting hacking as a discipline built on research, patience, and technical understanding rather than reckless criminal activity, making it both entertaining and informative.
Presentation is functional rather than flashy, but that decision works well for the type of experience Electric Heart aims to create. Most of the visuals revolve around desktop environments, terminal windows, web interfaces, and digital tools, reinforcing the impression that players are working inside realistic computer systems. Clean interface design keeps information organized and readable, while understated audio effects enhance immersion without distracting from the puzzle-solving aspects of gameplay. Although players looking for cutting-edge graphics may not find much visual spectacle, the minimalist presentation complements the game's emphasis on realism.
The game's linear mission structure means players have limited freedom compared to larger sandbox hacking simulators. However, this focused design also allows the developers to carefully control the pacing of both the narrative and the educational progression. Each challenge builds logically on previous lessons, ensuring that players continue learning while facing increasingly demanding scenarios. Those expecting unlimited experimentation may wish for more open-ended systems, but the guided structure ultimately benefits the game's teaching objectives and keeps the campaign engaging from beginning to end.
Hackers Journey stands out as a thoughtful and well-crafted cybersecurity simulation that successfully combines education with entertaining gameplay. Its realistic hacking scenarios, authentic investigative mechanics, and carefully structured progression create an experience that is both intellectually rewarding and enjoyable. While its niche subject matter and linear design may not appeal to every player, those with an interest in technology, ethical hacking, or simulation games will find plenty to appreciate. Electric Heart has created a game that respects its audience's intelligence while delivering a convincing glimpse into the world of cybersecurity.
Rating: 7/10Show moreShow less
13.2 hours at review4 people found this helpful
Not recommendedSteam player
ChatGPT 5.5 made this game. Yes. Specifically that model. Look at the first window that pops up when the game starts. ONLY openai does that style. Game is unfinished, shallow, and the mechanics all feel bland because AI wrote it and all the mechanics. I have no issue with AI when you put in the effort to actually design using it. Instead this "game dev" just vibe coded all the mechanics for the game too instead of taking time to create his own design architecture.Show moreShow less
1.3 hours at review11 people found this helpful
Source: original Steam user reviews. Helpful votes are an archived snapshot, not live data. Last collected: 08/15/2026.
Kinguin, it costs ≈ $1.78; the Steam player rating is 76% from 243 reviews. At $4.49 on Steam, 