The “hacking” genre – When gamers become hackers

Hack is not just about tapping on the keyboard and “successfully accessing” like in Hollywood movies. In the gaming world, hacking has become a genre of its own, where players not only play the role but also live in the rhythm of lines of code, secrets and moral choices.
If movies and novels have long told stories about mysterious technological geniuses, games bring something that no other story can: let players decide their own ending.
And now, this genre is gradually exploding – from smart indie games to AAA blockbusters. Zach Barth, the “father” of studio Zachtronics, believes that “game hacking” is a nostalgic loop, inspired by 80s-90s movies, but revived by the attraction of modern technology.
So if you want to try the feeling of being a hacker, a supervisor, or even a controller of an entire country… then here are the 10 most worth-playing hacking and surveillance games that you should not miss.
American Arcadia (2023/24)
Role: Office worker & stage technician
A glamorous city where people live in luxury without knowing that they are being broadcast 24/7 in a Truman Show-style program. You will play as Trevor – a man trying to escape this fake world, and Angela – a stage technician who is helping him from the other side of the screen.
One person escapes. One person hacks the system. Two perspectives, one breathtaking story.
The game is scheduled to release in 2023–2024. Ready to break into Arcadia?

9️, Don’t Feed the Monkeys (2018)
Role: Secret Surveillance Officer
You join the “Primate Observation Club” – where your job is to spy on people via hidden cameras.
You just observe… but who can resist? Help, blackmail, or sabotage – it’s all up to you.
A game that’s both funny and creepy.
If you liked Dave the Diver or Not For Broadcast, you’ll love this one.
8️, Her Story (2015)
Role: Anonymous Investigator
A missing man. A wife with conflicting testimonies. And you – who’s watching dozens of interrogation videos to piece together the truth.
The game is a mix of real movies and old computer interfaces, making you feel like you’re actually looking up data in a police station.
Tense, mysterious, and extremely engaging.
If you liked Lies of P or Immortality, don’t miss Her Story.
7️, Operation: Tango (2021)

Role: Hacker or Spy
A top-notch co-op game – where you and your teammates must work together perfectly: one person hacks the system, the other acts on the scene.
This is a test of communication, trust, and heart rate.
Perfect for couples who like to play games together!
If you loved It Takes Two, this is the “hacked version” of it.
6️, Orwell (2016)
Role: Head of National Surveillance
You are “Big Brother”.
The mission: hunt down terrorists by reading private messages, emails, and citizen files.
The feeling of power mixed with guilt will make you both curious and uncomfortable – because every decision can ruin someone’s life.
Inspired by the Edward Snowden leaks, Orwell is a moral test for all players.
5️, Hacknet (2015)
Role: Hacker looking for the mystery of his colleague's death
No flashy interface, just a cold command line screen. But it's that minimalism that makes you feel like you're actually hacking.
A dead hacker leaves you a clue, and your mission is to find out the secret behind the world's largest security system.
Learn a fair amount of real security skills, and it's extremely engaging.
If you've played Uplink or Shenzhen I/O, you'll feel right at home.

4️System Shock (1994)
Role: Hacker causes global AI disaster
A monument. You hack into the SHODAN artificial intelligence, accidentally erasing its morality – and then have to confront the creature you created.
Without System Shock, we probably wouldn’t have Deus Ex or BioShock today.
A nostalgic masterpiece, both philosophical and cyberpunk.
3️, Not For Broadcast (2020)
Role: News editor for a totalitarian government
You control the entire national TV news.
Cut scenes, censor, hide the truth – or expose it all.
The story changes with every choice you make, and every second can decide the fate of an entire nation.
A satirical, clever and extremely creative game.
2️, Papers, Please (2013)
Role: Border Patrol Agent in a dystopian country
“Where are the papers?” – the most haunting line in the game.
You check passports, detect illegal immigrants, and sometimes… have to decide whether to break the law to help them or not.
A small game but contains big questions about morality, power and humanity.
With over 20 endings, Papers, Please is an experience not to be missed.
1️, Watch Dogs (2014)
Role: Hacker takes revenge on the entire city
You are Aiden Pearce – a hacker who can control the whole of Chicago with… a phone.
From traffic lights to bank accounts, all it takes is a few taps. But behind that is family tragedy, guilt and the question: “How much power is too much?”
Ubisoft even brought in experts from Kaspersky Lab to help ensure the “realism” of the hacking mechanics in the game.
And interestingly, Watch Dogs: Legion was later hacked in real life!
Conclusion
The hacking genre in games is more than just a technological adventure – it is a mirror of the real world, where the lines between privacy and power are increasingly blurred.
Each game here puts you in front of difficult choices, and it is you – not AI – who will decide what is right and what is wrong.