Players Like...

❤ Realistic and Immersive Hacking Mechanics

Players praise the game for its highly realistic and immersive hacking experience. The game accurately portrays real-world hacking techniques and tools, including information gathering, port scanning, vulnerability exploitation, and more. An OSCP/OSCE/GXPN-certified pentester noted, "This game is... shockingly accurate in many regards. Obviously you won't learn how to hack IRL, but a LOT of the methodologies (enum, fingerprint, exploit, create a C2 channel, etc) and strategies mirror life very closely." A self-described "Linux guy" who has used many of the tools featured in the game praised the realistic workflow, stating, "The most annoying by far is that each type of command requires a separate type of terminal, when in reality you could punch everything in the same terminal, normally."

❤ Engaging and Challenging Gameplay Loop

The core gameplay loop revolves around investigating targets, identifying vulnerabilities, and exploiting those weaknesses to achieve mission objectives. Players highlight the engaging and challenging nature of this process, with one reviewer noting that the game provides "access to stuff like pdfs, CCTVs, eaves drop on cellphones, and of course DRONES." Another player praised the "out-of-the-box thinking" required, stating, "Several of the puzzles the game presented to me require some out-of-the-box thinking much like you'd use in real life pentesting."

❤ Progression and Skill Development

The game features a comprehensive "Training Boot Camp" that teaches players a wide range of cybersecurity techniques, from information gathering to digital forensics. As one player noted, "The academy is designed to be fun but also accessible even if you have never used a terminal in your life." In addition to the training missions, the game's main campaign and open-world content provide opportunities for players to apply their newfound skills in increasingly challenging scenarios. One reviewer stated that the game "got me interested in this whole industry" and inspired them to pursue further cybersecurity education and training.

❤ Alternate Reality Game (ARG) Elements

The game tasks players with conducting real-world research, such as visiting websites and analyzing documents, to solve in-game puzzles and missions. As one player described, "It mixes real world information. So you might be tasked with going to a real website or Wikipedia to dig up real information. And use it to decipher something in the game, and then hack the whatever using your 'Spy Agent' OS." These ARG elements add an extra layer of immersion and challenge to the hacking experience, with players appreciating the opportunity to blend the digital and physical worlds in their quest to become elite cyber warfare agents.