Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality
24 games like Uplink (2026)
Every game below overlaps with Uplink on things players said about it rather than on our opinion of what feels alike. Each entry shows what it matched on, so you can throw out the ones matching on the part you did not care about.
The short version
- Closest match: Hacknet, which both cyberpunk, science fiction, story-rich, atmospheric and puzzle.
- Uplink is tagged Hacking, Indie, Strategy, Singleplayer, Cyberpunk, Simulation, Sci-fi, Real-Time with Pause by Steam players. Those tags are what the matching runs on.
- 24 games qualify, each with at least fifty player reviews behind its sentiment figure.
- 1 are free to download, so you can test the resemblance yourself at no cost.
How these were matched
Steam tags carry the most weight, because players apply them and they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Souls-like, Atmospheric and Cozy exist as tags and as nothing else, which is exactly the vocabulary this question needs. Formal genres count for less, themes and a shared studio for more.
Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are thrown out before matching. Nearly everything is tagged Singleplayer, so matching on it is matching on nothing. That cutoff is computed from the catalogue rather than fixed, so it moves as the catalogue grows.
All 24, closest first
- 1
Hacknet
Why it matched: both cyberpunk, science fiction, story-rich, atmospheric and puzzle; shares 9 player tags including Hacking, Simulation and Programming.
Hacknet is an immersive, terminal-based hacking simulator for PC. Dive down a rabbit hoIe as you follow the instructions of a recently deceased hacker, whose death may not have been the accident the media reports.
Hacknet at a glance Released 2015 Studio Team Fractal Alligator Player sentiment 94% positive of 26,101 Price $1.49 HackingSimulationProgrammingTypingStory RichCyberpunk2DSci-fi
- 2
Gunpoint
Why it matched: both science fiction, story-rich, strategy and puzzle; shares 7 player tags including Indie, Puzzle and 2D.
Gunpoint is a stealth puzzle game that lets you rewire its levels to trick people. You play a freelance spy who takes jobs from his clients to break into high security buildings and steal sensitive data.
Gunpoint at a glance Released 2013 Studio Suspicious Developments Player sentiment 98% positive of 13,326 Price $9.99 IndiePuzzle2DStrategyHackingStory RichSci-fi
- 3
Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut
Why it matched: both cyberpunk, science fiction, story-rich, atmospheric and strategy; shares 5 player tags including Cyberpunk, Story Rich and Strategy.
Harebrained Schemes' biggest Shadowrun game to date, and the definitive Shadowrun RPG experience available on PC. Now a standalone title with tons of new content & improvements!
Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut at a glance Released 2014 Studio Harebrained Schemes Player sentiment 89% positive of 6,570 Price $14.99 CyberpunkStory RichStrategySci-fiIndie
- 4
Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition
Why it matched: both cyberpunk, science fiction, story-rich, atmospheric and strategy; shares 5 player tags including Cyberpunk, Story Rich and Strategy.
Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition is the capstone title in Harebrained Schemes' Shadowrun series - and now includes the all-new, 6+ hr Shadows of Hong Kong Bonus Campaign. Experience the most impressive Shadowrun RPG yet, hailed as one of the best cRPG / strategy games of 2015!
Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition at a glance Released 2015 Studio Harebrained Schemes Player sentiment 87% positive of 4,839 Price $19.99 CyberpunkStory RichStrategyIndieSci-fi
- 5
Invisible, Inc.
Why it matched: both cyberpunk, science fiction, story-rich and strategy; shares 6 player tags including Cyberpunk, Strategy and Sci-fi.
Take control of Invisible's agents in the field and infiltrate the world's most dangerous corporations. Stealth, precision, and teamwork are essential in high-stakes, high-profit missions, where every move may cost an agent their life.
Invisible, Inc. at a glance Released 2015 Studio Klei Entertainment Player sentiment 91% positive of 5,778 Price $19.99 CyberpunkStrategySci-fiPerma DeathRogue-likeSimulation
- 6
Dreamfall Chapters
Why it matched: both cyberpunk, science fiction, story-rich, atmospheric and puzzle; shares 5 player tags including Story Rich, Cyberpunk and Sci-fi.
The Final Cut is the ultimate collector's edition of Dreamfall Chapters, a story-driven 3D adventure about choice and consequence, set in parallel worlds: a cyberpunk vision of the future and a magical fantasy realm.
Dreamfall Chapters at a glance Released 2017 Studio Red Thread Games Player sentiment 82% positive of 4,525 Price $24.99 Story RichCyberpunkSci-fiPuzzleIndie
- 7
Papers, Please
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, strategy and puzzle; shares 6 player tags including Indie, Simulation and Puzzle.
Congratulations. The October labor lottery is complete. Your name was pulled. For immediate placement, report to the Ministry of Admission at Grestin Border Checkpoint. An apartment will be provided for you and your family in East Grestin. Expect a Class-8 dwelling.
Papers, Please at a glance Released 2013 Studio Lucas Pope Player sentiment 97% positive of 80,337 Price $9.99 IndieSimulationPuzzleStory Rich2DStrategy
- 8
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
Why it matched: both cyberpunk, science fiction, story-rich, atmospheric and puzzle; shares 4 player tags including Story Rich, Sci-fi and Cyberpunk; released around the same time (2006).
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey, winner of multiple E3 awards as the best game in its genre, is the continuation of a saga that began in the award-winning The Longest Journey, considered to be one of the finest adventure games ever made.
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey at a glance Released 2006 Studio Funcom Player sentiment 84% positive of 1,235 Price $19.99 Story RichSci-fiCyberpunkPuzzle
- 9
CrossCode
Why it matched: both cyberpunk, science fiction, story-rich and puzzle; shares 6 player tags including Puzzle, Indie and 2D.
A retro-inspired 2D Action RPG set in the distant future. CrossCode combines 16-bit SNES-style graphics with butter-smooth physics, a fast-paced combat system, and engaging puzzle mechanics, served with a gripping sci-fi story.
CrossCode at a glance Released 2018 Studio Radical Fish Games Player sentiment 92% positive of 18,408 Price $19.99 PuzzleIndie2DStory RichSci-fiCyberpunk
- 10
Machinarium
Why it matched: both science fiction, story-rich, atmospheric and puzzle; shares 5 player tags including Puzzle, 2D and Story Rich; released around the same time (2009).
Machinarium is the award-winning independent adventure game developed by the makers of Samorost series, Botanicula and CHUCHEL. Help Josef the robot save his girlfriend Berta kidnapped by the Black Cap Brotherhood gang!
Machinarium at a glance Released 2009 Studio Amanita Design Player sentiment 95% positive of 20,634 Price $3.99 Puzzle2DStory RichSci-fiIndie
- 11
World of Goo
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, strategy and puzzle; shares 5 player tags including Puzzle, Indie and 2D; released around the same time (2008).
World of Goo is a multiple award winning physics based puzzle / construction game made entirely by two guys.
World of Goo at a glance Released 2008 Studio 2D Boy Player sentiment 94% positive of 6,589 Price $14.99 PuzzleIndie2DStory RichStrategy
- 12
Braid
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, strategy and puzzle; shares 5 player tags including Puzzle, Indie and 2D; released around the same time (2008).
This is the original version of Braid from 2009, which may not work well on newer systems. For an updated version of the game with nicer graphics, more levels and a large amount of developer commentary, see Braid, Anniversary Edition.
Braid at a glance Released 2008 Studio Jonathan Blow Player sentiment 93% positive of 9,957 Price $14.99 PuzzleIndie2DStory RichStrategy
- 13
FTL: Faster Than Light
Why it matched: both science fiction and strategy; shares 8 player tags including Rogue-like, Strategy and Sci-fi.
This "spaceship simulation roguelike-like" allows you to take your ship and crew on an adventure through a randomly generated galaxy filled with glory and bitter defeat.
FTL: Faster Than Light at a glance Released 2012 Studio Subset Games Player sentiment 95% positive of 78,616 Price $9.99 Rogue-likeStrategySci-fiIndiePerma DeathReal-Time with Pause2DSimulation
- 14
SpaceChem
Why it matched: both science fiction, strategy and puzzle; shares 7 player tags including Puzzle, Programming and Indie.
Zachtronics is back with an ambitious new design-based puzzle game. Take on the role of a Reactor Engineer working for SpaceChem, the leading chemical synthesizer for frontier colonies. Construct elaborate factories to transform raw materials into valuable chemical products!
SpaceChem at a glance Released 2011 Studio Zachtronics Player sentiment 92% positive of 5,085 Price $9.99 PuzzleProgrammingIndieSci-fi2DSimulationStrategy
- 15
Halo Wars
Why it matched: both science fiction, story-rich, atmospheric and strategy; shares 4 player tags including Strategy, Sci-fi and Simulation; released around the same time (2009).
Halo Wars: Definitive Edition is an enhanced version of the real-time strategy classic, Halo Wars, updated to run natively on PC. Halo Wars: Definitive Edition includes improved graphics, new achievements and all of the DLC created for the landmark real-time strategy game.
Halo Wars at a glance Released 2009 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 91% positive of 9,517 Price $19.99 StrategySci-fiSimulationStory Rich
- 16
Mark of the Ninja
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric, strategy and puzzle; shares 5 player tags including Indie, 2D and Puzzle.
In Mark of the Ninja, you'll know what it is to truly be a ninja. You must be silent, agile and clever to outwit your opponents in a world of gorgeous scenery and flowing animation. Marked with cursed tattoos giving you heightened senses, every situation presents you with options.
Mark of the Ninja at a glance Released Not recorded Studio Klei Entertainment Player sentiment 97% positive of 15,877 Price Not listed Indie2DPuzzleStory RichStrategy
- 17
Inscryption
Why it matched: both story-rich, strategy and puzzle; shares 6 player tags including Story Rich, Puzzle and Strategy.
Inscryption is an inky black card-based odyssey that blends the deckbuilding roguelike, escape-room style puzzles, and psychological horror into a blood-laced smoothie. Darker still are the secrets inscrybed upon the cards...
Inscryption at a glance Released 2021 Studio Daniel Mullins Games Player sentiment 97% positive of 148,199 Price $19.99 Story RichPuzzleStrategyRogue-likeExperimental2D
- 18
Outer Wilds
Why it matched: both science fiction, story-rich, atmospheric and puzzle; shares 5 player tags including Story Rich, Puzzle and Indie.
Named Game of the Year 2019 by Giant Bomb, Polygon, Eurogamer, and The Guardian, Outer Wilds is a critically-acclaimed and award-winning open world mystery about a solar system trapped in an endless time loop.
Outer Wilds at a glance Released http Studio Mobius Digital Player sentiment 96% positive of 107,214 Price $14.99 Story RichPuzzleIndieSci-fiSimulation
- 19
Into the Breach
Why it matched: both science fiction, strategy and puzzle; shares 6 player tags including Strategy, Indie and Rogue-like.
Control powerful mechs from the future to defeat an alien threat. Each attempt to save the world presents a new randomly generated challenge in this turn-based strategy game.
Into the Breach at a glance Released 2018 Studio Subset Games Player sentiment 94% positive of 22,246 Price $14.99 StrategyIndieRogue-likePuzzleSci-fiSimulation
- 20
Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition
Why it matched: both cyberpunk, science fiction, story-rich and atmospheric; shares 4 player tags including Cyberpunk, Immersive Sim and Sci-fi; released around the same time (2007).
The year is 2052. The world's economies are close to collapse and the gap between the insanely wealthy and the desperately poor grows ever wider. Worst of all, an ages old conspiracy bent on world domination has decided that the time is right to emerge from the shadows and take control.
Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition at a glance Released 2007 Studio Ion Storm Player sentiment 95% positive of 15,619 Price $6.99 CyberpunkImmersive SimSci-fiStory Rich
- 21
Pony Island
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric and puzzle; shares 6 player tags including Puzzle, Indie and Hacking.
Pony Island is a suspense puzzle game in disguise. You are in limbo, trapped in a malevolent and malfunctioning arcade machine devised by the devil himself. It is not a game about ponies.
Pony Island at a glance Released 2016 Studio Daniel Mullins Games Player sentiment 95% positive of 18,104 Price $4.99 PuzzleIndieHackingExperimental2DStory Rich
- 22
Lobotomy Corporation | Monster Management Simulation
Why it matched: both story-rich, atmospheric and strategy; shares 6 player tags including Story Rich, Simulation and Indie.
A roguelite monster-management simulation inspired by the likes of the SCP Foundation, Cabin in the Woods, and Warehouse 13. Order your employees to perform work with the creatures and watch as it unfolds; harness greater energy, and expand the facility
Lobotomy Corporation | Monster Management Simulation at a glance Released 2018 Studio ProjectMoon Player sentiment 94% positive of 56,811 Price $24.99 Story RichSimulationIndieStrategy2DRogue-like
- 23
Endless Sky
Why it matched: both science fiction, story-rich and strategy; shares 6 player tags including Sci-fi, Simulation and 2D.
Endless Sky is a 2D space trading and combat game inspired by the classic Escape Velocity series. Work your way up from a relatively wimpy shuttle, cargo ship, or fighter, to a highly upgraded and customized flagship or to a massive fleet of warships or freighters.
Endless Sky at a glance Released 2015 Studio Michael Zahniser Player sentiment 92% positive of 7,092 Price Free Sci-fiSimulation2DIndieStrategyStory Rich
- 24
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus
Why it matched: both science fiction, story-rich, atmospheric and strategy; shares 4 player tags including Strategy, Sci-fi and Indie.
MECHANICUS II ANNOUNCED! Take control of one of the most technologically advanced factions in the Imperium: the Adeptus Mechanicus. In this turn-based tactical game, your every decision will weigh heavily on the outcome of the conflict. Will you be blessed by the Omnissiah?
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus at a glance Released 2018 Studio Bulwark Studios Player sentiment 91% positive of 14,603 Price $29.99 StrategySci-fiIndieStory Rich
Common questions
What game is most like Uplink?
Hacknet, on the evidence we have. It both cyberpunk, science fiction, story-rich, atmospheric and puzzle. That is a statement about overlap, not a promise you will like it as much: two games can share every tag and still feel different to play.
How is "similar to Uplink" decided?
By overlap on the tags Steam players applied to each game, the formal genres, the themes both sit in, and whether the same studio made them. Tags carry the most weight because players write them, so they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are ignored: matching on "Singleplayer" is matching on nothing. Every entry below shows exactly what it matched on.
Are these ranked by quality?
No. They are ordered by how much they overlap with Uplink. Where two games overlap equally, the better received one goes first, but that only moves a game a place or two. Each entry shows its own player sentiment so you can weigh that separately.
Do you get paid for these recommendations?
No. The order is computed from tag and genre overlap and nothing else. No placement here can be bought, and a game appearing high on this page is a statement about resemblance rather than an endorsement.