Best Open-World Games For Feeling Like A Hacker

Summary

Hacking in open-world games often involves fun minigames, usually in the form of logic and number-based puzzles.
Games like GTA 5 and Saints Row 4 feature hacking in important missions.
Hacking mechanics in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided assist with stealth and offer diverse abilities.

Many people see hacking as a mysterious skill, often shown in movies and games as something quick and almost magical. In fact, video games frequently use hacking as a way for players to unlock new parts of a game or change how the game works.

Many games include enjoyable minigames – often simple puzzles involving logic or numbers – that players need to solve as part of hacking. Here’s a ranking of some of the best open-world games that make you *feel* like a hacker, based on how fun the hacking is and how central it is to the game.

Saints Row 4

Take Control Of Stores & The Simulation

In Saints Row 4, hacking plays a key role, introduced during the “Hack the World” mission. As the Third Street Saints try to wrest control of the simulation from the Zin, players can hack into stores using a grid – starting at 4×4 and expanding to 6×6. The goal is to connect an entry point to an exit point by completing a circuit through various nodes on the grid, and often there’s more than one way to do it.

Even though the main character seems incredibly powerful, they can still be hurt while hacking, making speed crucial. While the hacking isn’t realistic, it’s a really fun and effective way to cause chaos in the game world.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag

Optional Hacking To Gain More Intel On Abstergo

Many fans find the modern-day parts of the Assassin’s Creed games less appealing, as they typically prefer experiencing the historical settings and completing missions there. However, Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag includes enjoyable optional content set in present-day Montreal’s Abstergo headquarters, allowing players to hack computers and uncover additional details.

Hacking computers involves one of three different minigames: navigating a glowing dot around a sphere, completing an obstacle course similar to the classic game *Frogger*, or solving multiplication puzzles using prime numbers. While some players might find these puzzles a bit challenging, they become entirely optional after the initial few story-related hacking sequences.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Hacking Is A Key Component Of Many Missions

In the popular game Grand Theft Auto 5, many missions involve hacking, whether it’s to prepare for a heist or during the heist itself. Sometimes your character’s phone handles the hacking automatically, but often you’ll need to complete a quick, timed puzzle to succeed.

These games often challenge players to find the correct codes or sequences to open things, like in the mini-game Lester’s Circuit Breaker, where you steer a line through a maze without hitting the walls. Hacking also appears in many different missions within *GTA Online*.

SCUM

Quick Calculations Under Pressure

In the challenging survival game SCUM, players are often surprised to find that solving math problems is key to unlocking Abandoned Bunkers. While the game features plenty of weapons – some of which can be found in these bunkers – the most important tool for gaining access isn’t a firearm, it’s your own mind.

Figuring out the total score takes some getting used to because the calculation isn’t based on standard math. Instead, it works by adding and adjusting numbers from the top down. Plus, you might find key cards hidden around the island, which lets you skip this puzzle altogether sometimes.

Batman Arkham City

Unlock Doors, Shut Down Security & Uncover Secrets

Batman is famous for his fighting skills and high-tech tools, and you’ll find plenty of both in Batman: Arkham City. One cool gadget is the Cryptographic Sequencer, which lets Batman hack computers and control panels all over the dangerous city.

Finding an access panel triggers a puzzle on Batman’s device. Players need to rotate both analog sticks to the right positions to decode a message. Solving this puzzle lets Batman unlock doors, enter restricted zones, control security systems, and uncover secrets left by the Riddler.

Sleeping Dogs

Take Over Surveillance Cameras & Bust Drug Dealers

Even after more than ten years, *Sleeping Dogs* is still a fantastic game that doesn’t get enough recognition. It features satisfying hand-to-hand combat, a compelling story, and enjoyable side missions. Players take on the role of Wei Shen, an undercover cop who can hack into security cameras in Hong Kong’s criminal districts and then use his fighting skills to take down the local thugs.

A number-based puzzle, similar to Wordle, appears on the screen and must be solved to unlock the security cameras. Once inside, Wei can then make a call to the police, report a drug deal in progress, and watch as the dealer is arrested.

Fallout 4

Click The Correct Word To Access Terminals

Throughout their journey in Fallout 4, players will find plenty of chances to use the hacking skill. Terminals to hack are common throughout the Commonwealth, and the game’s expansions add even more.

Okay, so if my character is really smart, hacking is way easier. The puzzles give me fewer letters to work with, which is awesome. Even if I guess wrong, the game tells me how many letters I got right, so I can narrow it down. Plus, I noticed those little bracket symbols do stuff – sometimes they knock out wrong answers, and other times they give me more tries before the terminal locks up. It’s a really neat system!

Cyberpunk 2077

One Of The Best Aspects Of Gameplay

Even though it had a rocky start, Cyberpunk 2077 is now considered one of the best role-playing games available. Hacking is a significant feature, and a core part of this is the ‘breach protocol.’ This involves accessing computer systems and decrypting data by quickly clicking on a sequence of characters. Successfully completing these hacking challenges rewards the player with money and materials for crafting.

One of the most exciting parts of the game is using Quickhacks during fights. These let you play stealthily, control security systems like cameras and turrets, disable them completely, or even directly harm enemies. If you have enough RAM in your cyberdeck, you can also remotely hijack cars.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Hacks Assist With Stealth & A Non-Lethal Approach

Okay, so in *Deus Ex: Mankind Divided*, I spend a lot of time hacking around Prague in 2029. It’s a big part of the game, just like in the older *Deus Ex* titles. The game is all about futuristic tech, and I can upgrade my character, Adam Jensen, with augmentations that actually make hacking easier – which is awesome because there’s a *lot* of hacking to do!

The hacking game begins with a blue crystal displayed on a 3D map. Players need to connect green points without being noticed. While some actions increase the chance of getting caught, taking risks can earn extra experience or in-game currency. Hacking, especially remotely, is helpful for staying hidden, unlocking new locations, disabling security systems, and even controlling drones or vehicles.

Watch Dogs 2

Manipulate The World With A Click

When it comes to hacking in video games, Watch Dogs 2 is often considered the strongest title. In the heavily monitored city of San Francisco, the main character, Marcus Holloway, constantly uses his hacking abilities to stay one step ahead of the police and achieve his goals.

With just a tap on his phone, Marcus can create widespread disruption. He can disable power, manipulate vehicles, and even frame innocent people as criminals by altering data. This ability also lets him create diversions, slip past security systems, and unlock new locations. As he levels up, Marcus gains access to even more powerful hacking tools, opening up a huge range of exciting options.

2025-09-17 14:42