59
MONSTER
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.
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Reviews
16 reviews found90
Gaming Nexus
Jan 25, 2017
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. * The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company. I've been involved with games since I was a little kid, when I would watch my father play World of Warcraft for hours—and later, of course, mooch off of his account.
80
GameSpew
Feb 7, 2017
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. Unfortunately, its linearity can still leads to some annoyances.
80
Saving Content
Jun 24, 2019
It’s hard to say much else about the game without giving away some fun story beats, but overall Mainlining is a fun game with great, consistent art direction and some very clever (and mostly faithful) old style hacking mechanics. While it almost certainly plays best elsewhere, the Switch version is impressively competent and it’s a great themed adventure that is both challenging and satisfying.
72
PC Gamer
Mar 24, 2017
Summary and quote unavailable.
70
Hardcore Gamer
Jan 26, 2017
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. Though solving its numerous cases might not deviate wildly from the convention of hacking protocols and research-gathering processes, Rebelephant do at least recognize that the simplest of inputs can often instill the greatest feelings of accomplishment.
70
The Overpowered Noobs
Jan 31, 2017
Summary and quote unavailable.
66
The Game Fanatics
Feb 8, 2017
I think these questions are invaluable to ask yourself after you finish the game because there isn’t a correct answer. These are the same questions hackers in the real world deal with daily, how far is too far to do something for the greater good? Mainlining may not be the most unique game play experience you will play all year but it certainly brings up questions and ideas that you will be playing out in your head long after the last suspect is caught.
60
The Digital Fix
Feb 27, 2017
Summary and quote unavailable.
58
Gaming Masters
Feb 11, 2017
Summary and quote unavailable.
50
Nintendojo
Jul 11, 2019
Let’s be honest, presenting a point-and-click adventure in the form of a point-and-click operating system is kind of genius, even if the idea doesn’t fully translate to a console like the Switch. Of course, there is a certain benefit to the fact that this isn’t a game driven by twitch reflexes; the cumbersome nature of the touch and controller inputs serve only to slow the gameplay, rather than outright ruin it. Still, the frustration presented by these control issues alongside the failure to realize the potential of the concept and story are still very real and are likely to impact the overall enjoyment of any gamer longing to live their fantasies of being a white hat hacker. By no means is the overall experience beyond redemption, but one can’t help but feel the PC is the better fit. Nintendojo was provided a copy of this game for review by a third party, though that does not affect our recommendation.