Darknet is an underrated gem in the VR puzzle genre and is an elegantly addictive experience that deserves far more recognition than it’s received. If you're looking for a cerebral VR title that respects your time and offers something different, Darknet is absolutely worth a look. Its core gameplay loop is both accessible and compelling. Whether you're in the mood for a laid-back session or ready to channel your inner “hacker man,” the game scales beautifully to meet your pace. The puzzle mechanics feel genuinely original, offering something fresh in a genre that often recycles familiar formats. I'm honestly surprised it hasn’t been duplicated for mobile or PC platforms outside VR. One of its biggest strengths is how comfortably it plays in VR. There’s no need for full-body movement, which makes it ideal for longer sessions or limited play spaces. I highly recommend using a swivel chair for easy rotation (it’s a subtle tip that enhances the experience significantly).
Game Tags
About This Game
Darknet is a strategy/puzzle game in which you play as an elite hacker in the Net. Plug into cyberspace, using viruses, worms, and exploits to steal the data before your signal gets traced!
After winning awards on PSVR, Oculus Rift, and Gear VR, Darknet is now available for the HTC Vive and also INCLUDES A NON-VR VERSION for those without a headset!
DEEP GAMEPLAY: “Darknet is the closest thing to a killer app for the system... It seems simple at first, but Darknet quickly grows to require a lot of second- and third-order logical thinking, under what can be a strict time limit. More than anything else, Darknet was what I was excited to play every time.” - Ars Technica
CYBERPUNK HACKING: “Darknet is the hacking VR game we’ve all been waiting for since our first viewing of HACKERS, Johnny Mnemonic, or Tron… Everything I wanted out of a hacking game since 1995. The future is finally here and I’m cracking nodes, dropping viruses, staying one-step ahead of security.” - BigSushi.fm
GREAT FOR VR: “When I dove into the cyberspace simulation, I lost myself in the illusion. My relationship to meat space was momentarily forgotten. And that’s precisely what a virtual reality game ought to do for the player… It is the best Oculus Rift game I’ve ever played.” - DailyDot
AWARD-WINNING:
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED:
After winning awards on PSVR, Oculus Rift, and Gear VR, Darknet is now available for the HTC Vive and also INCLUDES A NON-VR VERSION for those without a headset!
Features
DEEP GAMEPLAY: “Darknet is the closest thing to a killer app for the system... It seems simple at first, but Darknet quickly grows to require a lot of second- and third-order logical thinking, under what can be a strict time limit. More than anything else, Darknet was what I was excited to play every time.” - Ars Technica
CYBERPUNK HACKING: “Darknet is the hacking VR game we’ve all been waiting for since our first viewing of HACKERS, Johnny Mnemonic, or Tron… Everything I wanted out of a hacking game since 1995. The future is finally here and I’m cracking nodes, dropping viruses, staying one-step ahead of security.” - BigSushi.fm
GREAT FOR VR: “When I dove into the cyberspace simulation, I lost myself in the illusion. My relationship to meat space was momentarily forgotten. And that’s precisely what a virtual reality game ought to do for the player… It is the best Oculus Rift game I’ve ever played.” - DailyDot
AWARD-WINNING:
- BEST GAMEPLAY - Proto Awards 2014
- FINALIST - IndieCade 2015
- GRAND PRIZE- Oculus VR Jam
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED:
- "Darknet is one of the oldest VR games around, and still one of the best.” - The Verge
- “Enjoy solving puzzles? Strategizing? Does the description ‘cyberpunk hacking in virtual reality’ light up your eyes like Christmas morning? Darknet is reminiscent of Hollywood's appalling movie interpretation of "hacking" from the '90s, but it's fun and engaging.” - CNET
- “Completely worth your time. An interesting puzzle game where you have to hack into different computer system using an array of tools, it also winkingly makes fun of the 90s-era version of VR. If you ever wanted to pretend you were a hacker from the 1995 film Hackers, this is a pretty good place to start.” - Polygon
- "And therein lies the beauty of Darknet. The game is simple on its surface, yet it's filled with challenges that keep you pressing on to beat the next one. I thought I was going to play Darknet for 20 minutes or so to get a feel for the game. Little did I know, three hours would pass before I gazed upon (actual) reality again." - Tom's Hardware
Screenshots
User Reviews
Overwhelmingly Positive
1 user reviews
100%
Positive
User #685108
english
1 hrs at review
System Requirements
Minimum
Minimum:
- OS *: Windows 7, Windows 8,
- Processor: Intel i5-4590 equivalent or greater
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD R9 290 equivalent or greater
- Storage: 2 GB available space
- VR Support: SteamVR
FAQ
How much does Darknet cost?
Darknet costs $14.99.
What are the system requirements for Darknet?
Minimum: Minimum: OS *: Windows 7, Windows 8, Processor: Intel i5-4590 equivalent or greater Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD R9 290 equivalent or greater Storage: 2 GB available space VR Support: SteamVR
What platforms is Darknet available on?
Darknet is available on Windows PC.
Is Darknet worth buying?
Darknet has 100% positive reviews from 1 players.
When was Darknet released?
Darknet was released on Jun 8, 2017.
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