Mainlining (2017) · Tastebuds

After MI7 has been hacked, your primary goal is to bring a cyber-criminal network to justice. Played entirely from within the environment of your computer's desktop, Mainlining is a thrilling point and click hacking adventure that features a gripping narrative which will have you hooked from the very first case.

Simulator Adventure Indie Mystery cyberpunk hacking digital distribution pax east 2016 pax west 2016 simulated operating systemPC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch

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Character

Grave, contemporary, unpretentious and resolved.

gravecomic
contemporarynostalgic
unpretentiousprestige
resolvedopen-ended
character-ledplot-driven

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From the critics

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Gaming NexusKinsey DanzisJan 20179/10
Mainlining kills two birds with one stone, fulfilling a childhood fantasy and just plain being a great game at the same time. If you're looking for a unique sort of puzzle/mystery game, definitely give this a try; it's obvious that Sam Read and Rebelephant have worked hard on this, and the result is a truly enjoyable game that's fun for fans of many game genres. Well worth the money.
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GameSpewRuaraidh DempsterFeb 20178/10
For all its linearity, Mainlining does a fantastic job of making you feel like a detective. It’s as much a puzzle game as it is a point-and-click, and the continous light-hearted humour keeps the experience from feeling too drab.
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Hardcore GamerJordan HelmJan 20173.5/5
Though not the first of its kind and by no means the most original tale spun from out this current trend of liberty-vouching discussion, Mainlining is a smart and cleverly put-together point-and-click piece that is layered enough with its puzzles but prominently more effective in its use of real World culture in providing that added sense of personally historic immersion.
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Nintendo LifePJ O'ReillyJun 20194/10
Mainlining fails to really provide any interesting commentary on its chosen subject matter, revelling instead in caricatures we’ve all experienced a hundred times before; stuff you’ll have seen done better in any Grand Theft Auto game that has parody websites involved. Its gameplay too often degenerates into trial-and-error and lacks any sort of consequences for the player getting things wrong, which renders the whole investigative process pretty much pointless.
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Culture of GamingMike SzokeJun 20193/10
Mainlining offers little but a frustrating experience on the Nintendo Switch. It’s all too clear how the PC version would be superior in every single regard, while also costing five dollars less there. From broken mechanics, poor keyboard functionality, and no indication of what you’re supposed to be doing, Mainlining is a game that I wouldn’t recommend to anyone. If the idea does at all intrigue you, look into the original PC version. It’s likely that even a basic laptop could run the game, and with the amount of typing needed and window jumping required, a keyboard and mouse are practically a must for a decent experience.
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Snippets via OpenCritic, where 21% of critics recommend it.

About the game

Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch
Developer: Rebelephant
Publisher: Merge Games
Released: January 26, 2017
Modes: Single player
Engine: GameMaker

IGDB rating 7.0/10 from 4 ratings.

Screenshots

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