Mainlining Demo review

Meh

by Chefski

❌ Played on 11.28.2025 Mainlining is a cybercrime hacker game with a Windows XP aesthetic, where you work as part of a cybercrime investigation team. You use an old-school PC interface to track criminals involved in online drug sales, firearms trafficking, and more. The gameplay is a puzzle where you gather evidence, infiltrate websites, and track suspects. The first case had me buying drugs to gather proof, backdooring into the seller's website, and downloading server files. The concept is interesting, but the game’s limitations are frustrating. You can’t resize windows, go backward in your notepad, or close previous tabs—basic PC functions that should be available. These restrictions make the gameplay feel unnecessarily tedious and reduce immersion, turning straightforward tasks into cumbersome actions. The pixelated graphics fit the aesthetic but hinder usability. The artistic choices are cool for the retro feel, but they come at the expense of basic functionality, making simple tasks frustrating. At $15 MSRP, I can’t recommend this game. Even if it were free, the limitations and obtuse gameplay left me frustrated. Despite working in IT, I managed to finish the first case, but the overall experience didn’t leave me wanting more. Rating: 2.3/5 – Not a bad game, but the restrictions on basic functionality made it hard to enjoy.# Mainlining T