10 Best Video Game Hackers

Hacking is a common occurrence in both present-day and futuristic games. Sometimes people hack into databases to acquire information, while other times, they take over control of fancy tech. While hacking isn’t generally considered noble in real life, it’s often heroic figures doing it in games. This is because the targets of their hacks are people who deserve it, whether it be evil individuals or corrupt companies.

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Occasionally, it isn’t about the target. Sometimes the protagonist just needs an important piece of information and hacking is the only way to get it. Regardless of why they do what they do, the following hackers are the most interesting in gaming history.

10

Marcus Holloway – Watch Dogs 2

The Watch Dogs series is all about a group of hackers called DedSec. So, there are a lot of talented hackers in these games. The standout character among them is Marcus Holloway. He is the protagonist of the second instalment and an all-around good guy.

Marcus uses his incredible computer knowledge to fight against the corrupt tech company Blume. They have significant control over digital information in the cities where they operate, and they abuse that fact for their own gain. Holloway is one of the main people halting their evil schemes.

9

Barbara Gordon – Batman: Arkham Series

Barbara Gordon plays multiple different roles in the Batman universe. Sometimes, she dons a cowl and takes up the persona of Batgirl. On other occasions, she goes by Oracle and uses her tech skills to assist Batman in his crusades.

During the Arkham series, she is certainly playing the role of Oracle. And she is integral to the Dark Knight’s various successful missions. She supports the protagonist in any way she can, including using her hacking skills to access information that is not supposed to be viewable by the public.

8

Tali’Zorah – Mass Effect Series

Due to one of the most impressive bits of tech in gaming, the Omni-Tool, many characters in the Mass Effect series have the ability to hack. Yet, few have the same level of tech-savvy as the extremely likable Tali’Zorah.

She has a range of tech-based talents, and hacking is one of them. Throughout the story, she doesn’t get an abundance of opportunities to showcase her hacking talents. But she is capable of gaining control of synthetic beings during combat.

7

Alyx Vance – Half-Life Series

Whether she’s a supporting character in Half-Life 2 or the protagonist in her own game, Alyx Vance is an important figure in the iconic series. She serves as a key member of the resistance effort that is trying to fight back against the tyrannical Combine.

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While she’s not seen as a warrior, she is willing to get her hands dirty when the time comes. Yet, her main way of fighting The Combine is through her tech skills. She is capable of disrupting and taking control of various pieces of Combine equipment. On top of that, she transforms her robot dog into a much more ferocious beast, which also causes her adversaries a few issues.

6

Sombra – Overwatch Series

Sombra isn’t the type of hacker that sits in a secret location surrounded by screens. Instead, she is very much a fighter, which she has to be since she features in a PvP multiplayer shooter.

This proves how adept she is at hacking since she must do it quickly in the heat of battle. The targets of her hacks are her opposition, as she’s capable of temporarily disabling their abilities, giving her the upper hand. Not only that, but she can also disable pieces of equipment they’ve put down to really neutralize them.

5

Sam Fisher – Splinter Cell Series

Sam Fisher from the Splinter Cell series has all sorts of talents. He is an expert at things like close-quarters combat, infiltration, and stealth. So, you probably don’t think of him as a hacker, but he does have skills in this area.

He showcases these talents in several of the series’ instalments. They allow him to access restricted emails, unlock doors, and tap into security feeds. This helps significantly with his espionage efforts. And the fact he has these abilities, along with his other talents, proves that he’s among the best spies in gaming.

4

Kinzie Kensington – Saints Row Series

In the first two Saints Row games, the protagonist crew was filled with the stereotypical people you expect to see in a street gang. The Saints branch out in the third game, though, by recruiting a few different types of people, including Kinzie.

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She is a socially awkward young woman who just so happens to be incredibly intelligent, especially when it comes to computers. So much so that she used to work as an intelligence agent for the FBI. For the Saints, she makes fancy tech and hacks anything they need hacking. She’s even able to hack the Deckers, which is a gang made up of computer geniuses.

3

Cortana – Halo Series

When it comes to hacking, Cortana has a distinct advantage over other characters. After all, she is not a mere human. Instead, she is an incredibly advanced A.I.

Thus, she didn’t need to spend years learning to hack. She could naturally hack into systems, seemingly from the moment she was created. Throughout the series, she uses these powers on a few occasions. Yet, you arguably don’t get to see her hacking skills in all their glory, as her main role is to support Master Chief.

2

Hal Emmerich – Metal Gear Solid Series

Solid Snake is one of the greatest heroes in video game history and is talented in many ways. Yet, he’s not exactly a genius when it comes to technology. So, he needs some help in that regard, which comes in the form of Hal Emmerich, aka Otacon.

Hal typically provides Snake with tech support throughout his missions and makes most of his gear. He also sometimes hacks things for his long-time friend, whether that be databases to gather information or doors for Snake to go through.

1

Futaba Sakura – Persona 5

There are plenty of compelling characters in Persona 5, and Futaba Sakura is among the best. She has extreme social anxiety to the point where she never wants to venture outside. Thus, she spends her entire life behind a computer screen.

She happens to be very dangerous in this position, though, due to her immense hacking skills. Without going too far into spoiler territory, her talents become evident during the story. And it doesn’t take her long to become a valuable member of the main crew.

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