
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,742
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Illuminati
- 2–6 players
- 60–180 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 1987

Rules assistance for Hacker II: The Dark Side
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Hacker II: The Dark Side is an expansion for Hacker released in 1993 for 2–8 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Steve Jackson (I).
This is the expansion set to the popular Hacker crime card game by Steve Jackson Games. The game is to be played with the original Hacker release and allows 7 to 8 players to play. It includes new features such as outdials, military upgrades, multiple accounts, virtual bridges and increased security. Along with all these goodies includes new threats such as Black ICE, viruses and the worm. Expands: Hacker Re-implemented by: Hacker: Deluxe Edition
Hacker II: The Dark Side supports 2–8 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Hacker II: The Dark Side is 120 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Hacker II: The Dark Side for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Hacker II: The Dark Side has a complexity rating of 2.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Hacker II: The Dark Side belongs to these categories: Card Game, Political, and Expansion for Base-game. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Hacker II: The Dark Side and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Hacker II: The Dark Side are: Steve Jackson (I). These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Hacker II: The Dark Side as an expansion for Hacker. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Hacker to use it. Check that your edition of Hacker is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.