After MI7 has been hacked, your primary goal is to bring a cyber-criminal network to justice. Played entirely from within the environment of your computer's desktop, Mainlining is a thrilling point and click hacking adventure that features a gripping narrative which will have you hooked from the very first case.
You take on the role of an agent for the mysterious government agency MI7, with the entire game taking place on a simulated computer desktop. Using various hacking tools and techniques, you must investigate cyber crimes and gather evidence to arrest suspects.
The core gameplay loop involves hacking into suspects' computers and devices to access their files and communications. You can ping IP addresses, connect to computers, and download documents and data. While the hacking itself is relatively simple, the challenge lies in determining which information is relevant to each case.
Once you've gathered enough evidence against a suspect, you can submit a request to arrest them. However, the game doesn't always make it clear what specific evidence is required, so you'll need to experiment and try different combinations of files and information. Arresting the wrong person can result in a "false arrest", but there are usually multiple ways to solve each case.
The game recreates the look and feel of an early 2000s computer desktop, complete with familiar program icons and file structures. This helps players feel immersed in the role of a cyber investigator, and the simple point-and-click interactions are easy to pick up.
While the overall narrative is fairly linear, you have a good degree of freedom in how you approach each case. You can choose which suspects to investigate, what evidence to gather, and how to build your case. This nonlinearity allows for multiple solutions and a sense of player agency.
The puzzles, while not overly difficult, still provide a satisfying level of challenge. The game doesn't hold your hand, but it also doesn't resort to illogical or obtuse solutions. Figuring out which evidence to submit often requires careful thinking and exploration.
Some players noted that the gameplay could become repetitive, as the hacking mechanics don't significantly evolve beyond the initial tutorial. Additionally, the arrest process was seen as overly rigid, where missing a single piece of evidence could result in a "false arrest" with little feedback.