Game2026

868-BACK

RPGStrategy

Developer Michael Brough

868-BACK is a computer-hacking strategy roguelike game where your mission is to dismantle capitalism one server at a time! Use hacking powers to fight enemies, steal the servers' data, and face increasingly nasty situations before being disconnected (again!) by the richest corporations on earth. From the Steam store page

253 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Oct 2, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works

Audience score

99
LovedLoved

160 positive · 1 negative
95% range 97–100%

Source+−=
Steam reviews16010
Bluesky *000
Mastodon *000

* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).

92 newer reactions are still waiting for a label.

Steam's own rating
Very Positive
178 of 179 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)

What people are saying

Summary pending — the reactions are listed below.

Reactions

60 of 253 · most liked first
  • Finji @finjico.bsky.socialBluesky · Feb 12, 2026

    👾 ANNOUNCING 868-BACK! Dismantle capitalism one server at a time in this computer-hacking strategy roguelike game by Michael Brough! Play the free demo in Steam Next Fest on Feb. 23rd! Wishlist on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/...

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  • Edmond Tran @edmondtran.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 2, 2026

    I love how Bennett Foddy played like 24 hours worth of 868-BACK over the past two days

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  • Finji @finjico.bsky.socialBluesky · Oct 1, 2026

    AUTUMN TREAT 🍬 EVERY FINJI GAME IS ON SALE ON STEAM! Including: 868-BACK - 10% OFF Night in the Woods - 50% OFF TUNIC - 50% OFF I WAS A TEENAGE EXOCOLONIST - 50% OFF WILMOT WORKS IT OUT - 30% OFF 🎃 store.steampowered.com/publisher/fi...

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  • Derek Yu @mossmouth.bsky.socialBluesky · May 27, 2026

    Eating good this week... 🎃MADHOUSE update on Monday. ⌨️868-BACK tomorrow (Thursday). Sequel to my favorite game from @smestorp.bsky.social, which is saying a lot because all his games are so compelling. 🐭Mina the Hollower on Friday. Can't wait to finally soak myself in those pixels... Big week!

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  • Finji @finjico.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 20, 2026

    Use your index, hacker! ‼️ 868-BACK is an upcoming strategy roguelike game about stealing from the rich & greedy MegaCorps. 👾 Play the free demo on Steam!

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  • Steam user Steam user …3536Steam reviews · May 29, 2026 · 23 h played

    Michael Brough makes deceptively simple-looking games that have an enormous amount of depth - his last game Cinco Paus is the only game I am still playing on my phone, nine years after it came out. I’m just a couple of hours into this new one and it already seems much deeper, bigger and more ambitious than the last one. You’ll probably be a little stumped at first! Getting to know his games, going from ‘totally lost’ to ‘lost in thought’ is a huge part of what’s enjoyable about them. /edit 2…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Rami Ismail (رامي) @ramiismail.comBluesky · Dec 15, 2024

    Michael's just sort of $30K, the point he won't have to cut anything from 868-BACK, the sequel to the phenomenal 868-HACK. It's a game that most game designers -especially those interested in roguelikes- will absolutely have on their "most anticipated" lists.

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  • Michael Brough @smestorp.bsky.socialBluesky · Nov 28, 2024

    868-BACK has met the target, thanks everyone! obviously more would help (a lot) but - this game is getting made!

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  • Bex @bexsaltsman.bsky.socialBluesky · May 29, 2026

    Quick thread because we launched 868-BACK yesterday and it's not everyday you get to launch the sequel to the game that inspired Overland and is made by one of the game designers you (and your husband) admire most on planet earth. So it's ok to say that 868-BACK is a bit of a 'bucket list' project.

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  • 👁️saac 👁️o @eyesack.bsky.socialBluesky · Aug 1, 2026

    868-BACK may have ruined me for all other games (for the feds, this is a statement by a fictional character in a video game)

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  • Monica Millions @monicamillions.bsky.socialBluesky · Jul 2, 2026

    disiri and I have been obsessed with 868-BACK, @smestorp.bsky.social‘s latest game. The writing and music are phenomenal, and construct a tech dystopia that’s just barely a parody. We’ve been singing Bootleg Burrito Blues to each other for weeks.

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  • Finji @finjico.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 18, 2026

    868-BACK is a computer-hacking roguelike strategy game inspired by dungeon crawlers — but the dungeons are computer servers, and your weapons are illicit software tools. AVAILABLE NOW on PC! Play the free demo 👾 store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/...

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  • Finji @finjico.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 2, 2026

    Take 868-BACK with you wherever you go!* * Those of you who've logged 40+ hours in the game already might want to leave it at home.

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  • Darren Grey @dgrey.bsky.socialBluesky · Dec 9, 2024

    Roguelike Radio is back, baby! @andrewdoull.bsky.social and I were compelled to do a comeback episode to interview Michael Brough about his upcoming game 868-BACK: www.roguelikeradio.com/2024/12/epis...

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  • Michael Brough @smestorp.bsky.socialBluesky · May 21, 2025

    we’re sharing a new trailer for 868-BACK as part of this @thinkygames.com event next week! it will introduce one of the three megacorporations that are your enemies in the game, and give a little glimpse into what we’ve been working on..

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  • Finji @finjico.bsky.socialBluesky · Sep 9, 2026

    You can now play the 868-BACK demo on web browser! 👾 finji.itch.io/868-back 868-BACK is a computer-hacking roguelike strategy game inspired by dungeon crawlers—but the dungeons are computer servers, and your weapons are illicit software tools!

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  • Finji @finjico.bsky.socialBluesky · Aug 3, 2026

    868-BACK is part of Steam's Cyberpunk Fest! 👾 Save 10% until August 10th! 💻 Your mission: dismantle capitalism one server at a time in this computer-hacking strategy roguelike game! store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/...

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  • Steam user Steam user …4209Steam reviews · Jun 1, 2026 · 520 h played

    This is, no hyperbole, the best video game ever made. Of course this might not be true for you. But it is genuinely true for me. And I play a lot of video games. Here is a list of wonderful experiences this game provides: — Discovering a lot of surprising and delightful things, and then discovering more surprising and delightful ways they interact — Using that knowledge to scrape together clever solutions to dire situations — Evaluating your starting situation and deciding which of several…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …3371Steam reviews · Jul 16, 2026 · 134 h played

    I'll just start out here by saying outright, this is not only the greatest roguelike I've ever played, but one of the best games I've ever played, period, and I've been gaming since the Atari 2600 era (born in '81, you see). In fact I think this might be my new all-time favorite. It's that good. Now, I'd had high expectations going into this one. I've played Michael Brough's games before, particularly 868-HACK and Cinco Paus, and have spent boatloads of time enjoying each (HACK primarily…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Liz England @lizardengland.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 4, 2026

    People always striving to be the best at a game what about those of us that are the undisputed champions at being the worst at a game? Unrelated I picked up 868-BACK.

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  • adamatomic @adamatomic.bsky.socialBluesky · May 28, 2026

    868-BACK is 868-AVAILABLE store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/...

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  • Tucker Hazell @tuckerhazell.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 22, 2026

    Brand new Dev Dive! I talked to Michael Brough and Tara MacAlister about 868-BACK, and what they went through to get the game released. This is a development story about how passion and creativity can fight through many struggles. @smestorp.bsky.social @finjico.bsky.social youtu.be/EB2iJ4DQx_Y

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  • adamatomic @adamatomic.bsky.socialBluesky · Feb 24, 2026

    the demo to 868-BACK is up for Next Fest!! store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/... Includes lovely tutorial to get old time Hackers and new Backers up to speed, excellent soundtrack, plus a peek at some of the WILD new progs that will be on offer...

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  • Chris Person @papapishu.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 5, 2026

    The problem with writing about 868-BACK is the game is fucking hard. That's good but if you want to be thorough it can drive you nuts.

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  • Finji @finjico.bsky.socialBluesky · May 19, 2026

    Taking down the richest corporations on earth -- in style! 😎 868-BACK is a computer-hacking strategy roguelike game where your mission is to dismantle capitalism one server at a time! ‼️ OUT MAY 28TH! 👾 Play the demo: store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/...

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  • Jake Eakle @jseakle.bsky.socialBluesky · Feb 12, 2026

    for years, 868-HACK was my favorite video game. eventually, Michael made Cinco Paus, and that became my favorite video game. then I became a playtester for 868-BACK, and you'll never guess what happened next. please wishlist, buy, and play this game. it is unbelievably good.

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  • Blaž Urban Gracar (Letibus Design) @letibus.bsky.socialBluesky · Jul 3, 2026

    Just wanted to make another shout out to @smestorp.bsky.social ‘s 868-BACK. I wasn’t as addicted to a game in YEARS. Crunchy, special, surprising and … funny to say this about a very difficult game, but also cozy and friendly? Recommended store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/...

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  • Liam @ GamingOnLinux @gamingonlinux.comBluesky · Jun 19, 2026

    868-BACK is a roguelike game where hacking is cool #868BACK #IndieGames #PCGaming #Linux

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  • Finji @finjico.bsky.socialBluesky · May 29, 2026

    The hackers are speaking up! 👾 868-BACK is 100% positive on Steam so far! 868-BACK is a computer-hacking roguelike strategy game inspired by dungeon crawlers — but the dungeons are computer servers, and your weapons are illicit software tools. ‼️OUT NOW: store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/...

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  • Josie Brechner - 500 FINGER FILLET demo OUT NOW @visager.bsky.socialBluesky · May 28, 2026

    I had the pleasure of chipping in with a bunch of additional sound design for 868-BACK! Come celebrate the release and check out this special game - a lot of love went into every part of it!!

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  • mcc @dryad.technologyBluesky · Feb 23, 2026

    1. "868-BACK" by Michael Brough store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/... This is the sequel to 868-HACK (the Best, most satisfyingly fast roguelike). The sequel includes a "campaign" mode, which this demo eschews, so this demo is basically a free, more refined version of 868-HACK.

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  • Chris Franklin @errant-signal.comBluesky · Jun 12, 2026

    I understand why 868-BACK doesn't let you start a new game mid-game, but it does make the initial process of learning how to play it well much more discouraging.

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  • Alex Zandra @zandravandra.comBluesky · Aug 26, 2026

    (my own voice) I'M IN it's time for @dryad.technology to teach me all about neat hacking game sequel —868-BACK— come join us! all the way into the far-flung future of... 2026 www.twitch.tv/zandravandra

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  • Chris Person @papapishu.bsky.socialBluesky · May 15, 2026

    I gotta play 868-BACK, the original game fucked my life up real bad.

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  • Steam user Steam user …3927Steam reviews · Jun 12, 2026 · 27 h played

    At 30 hours in, I've only begun to scratch at the surface of the game, but I feel safe calling it my favorite release of this year. It's a tightly-packed, intensely engaging puzzlebox of design, where no choice feels without weight and no feature is without unerring intent. You are always on the edge of a knife, never more than one mistake away from disaster, your obstacles machiavellian in their insurmountable simplicity. Every situation requires a brand new plan and reevaluation of your…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Matt Weiner @mattweiner19.bsky.socialBluesky · Jul 22, 2026

    let's talk 868-BACK, a great game! First let's do some basics, with the demo. Which is pretty much a playthrough of one dungeon, but they're not called "dungeons." I'll be getting into spoilers so mute #868BACKHEIST if you don't want to see this. store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/...

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  • sincerely, rob dubbin @robdubbin.bsky.socialBluesky · May 28, 2026

    oh yeah and this is important: before you do anything else, arguably before you even finish reading this, i personally believe you should drop what you’re doing and go buy 868-BACK, an instant classic videogame full of thrills and brilliant jokes, now available store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/...

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  • Finji @finjico.bsky.socialBluesky · May 6, 2026

    This server looks different 🤔 868-BACK is a computer-hacking strategy roguelike game releasing May 28th! 👾 Play the demo: store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/...

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  • Justin Smith @manbearcar.bsky.socialBluesky · Aug 10, 2026

    speedrunning 868-BACK instead of working on horsey game www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO9s...

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  • carrie z @somebypaths.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 15, 2026

    "868-BACK" is really difficult and cerebral and i'm usually not smart or patient enough for that kind of game, but this one is so full of idiosyncratic aesthetics and weird twists (and so nicely-paced) that i stuck with it, and i was rewarded by getting to feel smart and patient after all!

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  • Leon ._. @leonarnott.bsky.socialBluesky · May 28, 2026

    Hey! For the past quite-awhile I've been playtesting 868-BACK store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/86 8BACK/ It's the sequel to 868-HACK, one of my lifetime favourite minimalist traditional roguelikes, and let me personally guarantee you, this one's absolutely even better. It has the stuff in spades.

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  • Arnold Rauers @arnoldrauers.comBluesky · May 28, 2026

    868-BACK out later today. By the maestro @smestorp.bsky.social himself - 🤩 store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/...

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  • Finji @finjico.bsky.socialBluesky · Apr 22, 2026

    From 😊 to ☹️! You've bit off more than you can chew, hacker. Time to try again! 👾 868-BACK is a strategy roguelike game about hacking computer servers! Play the free demo on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/...

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  • Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.socialBluesky · Jul 2, 2026

    I never doubted @smestorp.bsky.social's ability to make a good game, but I'm blown away by how good 868-BACK is. I'm 40 hours in, and the game *still* feels as surprising as when I first booted it up.

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  • carrie z @somebypaths.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 15, 2026

    i played the computer game "868-BACK" over the weekend and somehow got a score that achieved 48th on the "leaderboard", which is the first and probably only time i'll ever appear on a leaderboard of any kind!

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  • Steam user Steam user …6346Steam reviews · Jun 6, 2026 · 9 h played

    An absurd amount of videogame. It's the Resident Evil 4 of turn based deconstructed roguelikes - in that it plays so intense and it's so terrifying that I play one or two runs and have to go take a break, put my brain in an ice bath. It is one of the capital K Kinkiest games because it really makes me question, "Why am I enjoying this game making me feel bad so much?" Need more hours in the day so I can get good at this and claw my way out of the negative numbers of the online leaderboards!…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …8335Steam reviews · Jun 1, 2026 · 3 h played

    folks this should have a million reviews and everyone should be discoursing about their favourite prog, what a generous beautiful beast What he’s so good at is defining a minimal ruleset and letting the possibility space sprawl out into something unfathomable but still fun to puzzle out move by move. That’s still the case, but here you’ll find an honestly disorienting generosity of features. after playing 400 hours of Michael’s cinco paus (which is considerably more spartan in its modifiers)…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • mcc @dryad.technologyBluesky · May 31, 2026

    Seeing some high level progs in 868-BACK I can't access yet and this game is gonna get into some *shenanigans*, huh

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  • Douglas Wilson @doougle.netBluesky · Jun 2, 2026

    I am dozens and dozens of hours into 868-BACK (I was beta testing prior to release) and I am still encountering weird (fun!) edge cases/gotchas and unexpected combos. First game I have played since Slice & Dice that has this staggering scope of emergent strategy. So good! bsky.app/profile/doou...

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  • Steam user Steam user …3337Steam reviews · Jun 3, 2026 · 21 h played

    this is the densest, richest chocolate cake i've ever tasted this is the neutron star of game design as i look at the mainframe, i can envision myself before Anubis at the threshold of Duat, holding out his scales except instead of scales it's 868-BACK, and instead of Anubis it's Michael Brough, and instead of Ammit it's me losing the run. starting again. the level of agency the player has in managing risk is intoxicating. "just a little more" turns into "♥♥♥♥ it we ball" in the blink of an…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …4175Steam reviews · May 28, 2026 · 1 h played

    it's GOOD and FUN, you should PLAY the TUTORIAL and feel the hubris of being a retired hacker and then play the rest of the game FOREVER

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • mcc @dryad.technologyBluesky · Aug 26, 2026

    Okay now streaming! This second! We are going to give Zandra a crash course in HACKING with the hot game of the summer (I have seriously been playing nothing else this summer) 868-BACK by @smestorp.bsky.social Remember: Their only crime…was curiosity. And wire fraud. And that helicopter they stole

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  • Baxter @cosmicspooks.bsky.socialBluesky · May 29, 2026

    only got to play maybe 20 minutes before work but 868-BACK is out and surprise surprise I'm already calling it an astounding masterpiece

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  • Nick Suttner @nsuttner.bsky.socialBluesky · May 28, 2026

    what an insane day for new videogames we got 868-BACK we got Map Map: A Game About Maps we got Soulbound Re-Cursed we got The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time what else we got??

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  • Finji @finjico.bsky.socialBluesky · Apr 9, 2026

    Meet the daemon - one of your enemies in strategy roguelike game 868-BACK. Sturdy, formidable, piercing eyes, also kinda cute? Play the free 868-BACK demo on Steam today! store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/...

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  • Alex Zandra @zandravandra.comBluesky · Aug 25, 2026

    hey hi tonight I'm gonna be streaming a game that @dryad.technology is excited to share with me: 868-BACK see you in a few hours!!

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  • Steam user Steam user …0764Steam reviews · May 31, 2026 · 5 h played

    I gave this game a shot after seeing high praise for the lead developer of it from other "weird" (affectionate) game developers whose products and opinions I respect. It's quite challenging but I'm very engrossed with the design of it; namely how it is able to combine multiple scopes of progression together seamlessly and create very satisfying puzzles to solve and optimize. I especially enjoy the explicit removal of the roguelike staple "wait until the enemy comes to me in a chokepoint"…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …3209Steam reviews · Jun 9, 2026 · 2 h played

    Started playing 868-BACK, and oh my god. It feels like I've never really played a real roguelike before. Like the world knew only checkers, and then someone came and invented chess. This will probably be my new obsession...

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Bex @bexsaltsman.bsky.socialBluesky · Feb 24, 2026

    I want everyone to play 868-BACK (sequel to 868-HACK) which is a computer-hacking strategy roguelike where you are working to dismantle capitalism one server at a time. It's Michael Brough's new game, the demo is up and it is pretty amazing. <3 store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/...

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  • Steam user Steam user …5419Steam reviews · Jun 23, 2026 · 19 h played

    I'm shocked to write this, because this game, on the face of it, does not seem like it is for me. I'm not a big roguelike guy. I tend to favor full-reset mechanics in physical/analog/board games. I had 868-BACK on my Wishlist for a long while, but it was more a curiosity than anything. Then, a few days ago, on a whim, I decided to try the demo. I was *instantly* hooked by the insane level of intricacy in the design. Now I can't stop thinking about it. The whole traditional roguelike genre…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →

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