Review · Adventure · Nintendo Switch · PC
Mainlining
By the LumiKin editors
Reviewed: 01 May 2026
Nintendo Switch · PC
Rebelephant · 2017
LumiScore
71/100
Recommended
Mainlining is a hacking-themed adventure that builds problem solving and critical thinking through its puzzles and narrative.
Growth (BDS)
55
Risk (RIS)
0
Daily limit
120min
Age guidance
7+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.66 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.43 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.45 | |
Mainlining encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic thinking through its hacking-themed puzzles and narrative. Players will engage with ethical reasoning as they decide how to pursue their investigations.
Design risks
| R1 | Dopamine pressure | 0.00 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.00 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.00 | |
The game's narrative could be perceived as subtly propagandistic against government surveillance. While it contains mild violence and language, these are not central to the gameplay.
Heads up
- Monthly spendTypical real-money spend by engaged players: $0–0/mo.