Hack the Loop
In Hack the Loop, enter a charming cardboard world where everything—robots, doors, and mechanisms—runs on simple looping programs. But rules are made to be broken! Observe, tweak, and reprogram the world around you to solve puzzles your way. With multiple solutions to every challenge, creativity is your greatest tool. Will you hack the loop or get stuck in it?
I’m excited to expand on this concept! Expect more challenging puzzles, new robot types, greater program variety, and achievements in future updates.
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Controls (Keyboard Only):
- WASD – Move
- Space – Dodge roll
- R – Restart level
- T – Skip level (for the game jam, so you can experience everything even if you're stuck or if you encounter bugs)
- E – View and hack programs
- Arrow Keys – Navigate the program
- E – Swap instructions
Credits:
- Models and arts made during the jam.
- In game music: Snow City Theme by Tarush Singhal - CC0
- Menu music: Town Them RPG by cynicmusic - CC0
Download
Click download now to get access to the following files:
Comments
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3:57.53
video (embed broken?)
Great run! Way better than mine.
I didn’t know the shortcuts at 1:16 (avoiding button on the ground), 1:41 (rolling to jump on the second robot) and, 2:44 (rolling to jump over a large gap). Nice find!
At 0:44, have you tried hacking the first door instead, so it stays closed? I think it requires less travel time.
At 2:00, you tried to climb on the wall, and it should work. You need to be slightly on the left of the slope, then you should be able to walk on top of the horizontal wall (in the video, you were on the right side of the slope) but it is quite risky of course.
Yeah I know a bunch of skips I'm yet to implement for consistency. I'll implement the one at 0:44, should save a second or so. And the skip at 2:00 is neat.
<timestamps according to real time, not ingame time>
at 0:12 you can hack the door before it begins closing, being able to walk through without it first closing and opening.
at 1:45 you can go along the bottom. Alongside the skip at the last part it could save a ton of time since you basically skip any waiting at all in that one.
2:44 obviously I didn't do the skip first time, but that one is very precise and I don't have a setup, effectively random. Needs more testing.
3:00 you can definetly go on top to the left and around, but its quite precise. Could save like a whole minute. (You can get pushed up the first part by the robot)
4:05 there's a skip, you can get on top and jump past the turrets to skip two shooting cycles, but its quite precise. (you need to do it at the top left border)
4:20 going through the middle is faster but risky and has a lot of RNG.
Sub3 is definetly possible, just very hard.
You just don't miss! Sub 5. Will continue to push further. Perhaps an online leaderboard like for speedjam? Would be fun!
Thanks for playing! I thought about speed-running when I designed the game. I’ll add a leader-board just for you :P
YOOOO Tysm <3
Hyped to see where you take this project.
I loved it ! The game mechanic is awesome and the cardboard style is very well done. The levels are challenging ! I would be happy to hack more cardboard robots. 🥰
It took me some time to realize that Paper Boy get crushed differently depending on the direction it is walking to. This detail made me laugh !
Love the game, love the puzzles. Can't wait for more. Some of those crushed Paper Boys was on purpose, sorry not sorry 😂.
Very good game! The command sub system is well done! Would love to see more puzzles 😊
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