Hacknet is a terminal-based hacking simulator where you type real UNIX-like commands to scan, probe, and infiltrate nodes across a simulated cyber network, uncovering a story through emails, files, and persistent exploration. Players typically experience it as a solo, immersive session focused on typing accuracy and methodical discovery rather than fast action or stunning visuals, often running multiple terminal windows or programs at once while diving into Steam Workshop extensions for extra campaigns. At 1080p this scenario matters because the resolution keeps text perfectly crisp and makes the scanline and bloom effects look exactly as intended without demanding heavy rendering power. The game is primarily CPU-bound: network calculations, probe simulations, and command processing create load on the processor, while the GPU handles only basic OpenGL drawing and light effects. Stutter or lag during dense scans can break the fiction of being inside a real terminal, and older or low-core CPUs sometimes cause the interface to hang when multiple programs run simultaneously. Common pain points include high CPU usage leading to unresponsive states on laptops or older systems, especially when exploring complex Workshop content. Many players also mistakenly assume the game needs a powerful graphics card because of its cyberpunk aesthetic, when in reality integrated graphics compatibility and single-core speed matter far more. Before choosing a PC, understand that Hacknet benefits most from a responsive modern CPU, enough RAM to keep everything in memory, and fast storage so loading new nodes or mods never interrupts your flow.