Ever dreamt of being a slick hacker, a la Hugh Jackman in Swordfish? Well, maybe real-life hacking is a bit too risky, but fear not! We've got a list of the coolest hacking games on PC that let you live out your hacking fantasies without breaking any laws.

1. Watch Dogs: Legion
Where to Buy: Steam, Humble

First up is Watch Dogs: Legion, set in a near-future dystopian London. You can play as anyone in this game, recruiting NPCs with special skills for your Legion hacktivist team. From remote-controlling cars to sneaking into security cameras, this game takes "hack the planet" to a whole new level.

2. Ctrl Alt Ego
Where to Buy: Steam

Released in 2022, Ctrl Alt Ego is an immersive sim where you play as a disembodied mind inhabiting various computer-controlled devices. With an open approach to puzzle-solving, it offers a unique hacking experience where you collect "ego" to take control of different devices.

3. Hypnospace Outlaw
Where to Buy: Steam, GOG, Humble, Itch.io, Epic Games Store

In Hypnospace Outlaw, you work for the man, navigating a 90s webspace, censoring content with your digital banhammer. It captures the '90s internet vibe, and though not literal hacking, the hacker vibes are unmatched.

4. Minecraft
Where to Buy: Microsoft

Yes, Minecraft made the list! Beyond its survival gameplay, Minecraft's creative community has crafted everything from computers to entire countries within the game. It's a testament to the creativity that hacking minds can bring to this sandbox.

5. Song Of Farca
Where to Buy: Steam, GOG, Humble, Epic Games Store

Under house arrest for hacking? No problem! In Song Of Farca, you play as Isabella Song, a hacker confined to her flat but free to roam the internet. It's a top-down representation of hacking, using your wits to solve cases and uncover the larger story.

6. Exapunks
Where to Buy: Steam, GOG, Humble, Itch.io

Exapunks, another gem from Zachtronics, is a programming game set in a 1990s vision of hackerdom. Program tiny spiderbots to replicate and spread inside a host machine, unleashing your hacking prowess to manipulate the game world.

7. Gunpoint
Where to Buy: Steam, Humble

In Gunpoint, you're a shady spy breaking into guarded buildings to steal data. Armed with the Crosslink device, manipulate the level's wiring, rewire switches, and even firearms. Pneumatic trousers, wacky violence, and a touch of social engineering – it's all in there!

8. Midnight Protocol
Where to Buy: Steam, GOG, Humble

Midnight Protocol is a turn-based strategy game set in the world of computer networks. As Data, a hacktivist, you break into networks, uncovering the mystery of your leaked identity. Played entirely with your keyboard, it offers a unique and immersive hacking experience.

9. Hackmud
Where to Buy: Steam, Itch.io

Welcome to the terrible, wonderful world of Hackmud, an online hacking game where players, existing as AI bots, navigate a connected future-world. It's a challenging and intense experience, requiring knowledge of basic JavaScript and offering a taste of the hacker's life.

10. Shenzhen I/O
Where to Buy: Steam, GOG, Humble, Itch.io

Another Zachtronics masterpiece, Shenzhen I/O, puts you in the shoes of an expatriate in industrial China, working for an electronics firm. Tinker with numbers, optimize designs, and move chips around on a circuit board to fulfill various tasks for your clients.

11. Quadrilateral Cowboy
Where to Buy: Steam, Humble, Itch.io

Brendon Chung's Quadrilateral Cowboy is a first-person hacking game where you control a team of thieves. Solve environmental puzzles by typing commands into your 'deck,' a computer-in-a-briefcase, and execute heists in a stylish retro-cyberpunk world.

12. Duskers
Where to Buy: Steam, GOG, Humble

Duskers takes a unique approach, putting you in control of a squad of drones exploring derelict spaceships. With a command-line terminal interface, use motion scanners, sensors, and strategic planning to salvage resources while avoiding hostile alien threats.

13. Uplink
Where to Buy: Steam, GOG, Humble

Considered a classic, Uplink is the game that comes to mind when thinking of hacking sims. Join an agency of hackers-for-hire, break into networks, and upgrade your rig to tackle more challenging systems. It's a theatrical and thrilling cyberpunk experience.

14. Hacknet
Where to Buy: Steam, GOG, Humble, Itch.io

Similar to Uplink, Hacknet immerses you in the world of hacking, but with a more modern twist. Uncover the mystery behind an unknown benefactor's death while running programs, exploring directories, and causing digital mayhem through the command-line interface.

15. else Heart.Break()
Where to Buy: Steam, GOG, Humble

Topping our list is else Heart.Break(), is a Scandi adventure that starts slow but evolves into one of the smartest games out there. Play as Sebastian, a soda salesman turned hacker, exploring the city of Dorisburg. With a unique 'modifier,' hack any object in the game, learn a programming language called SPRAK, and bend the rules of the game itself.

So, there you have it – the cream of the crop of hacking games for your PC. Dive in, enjoy the hacking experience, and remember, it's all in good, virtual fun! Happy hacking!