The Mainframe is lost, and you might be the only person still able to fight the MegaCorps. Released in May 2026 by indie developer Michael Brough and publisher Finji, 868-BACK is a computer-hacking strategy roguelike game that asks a simple question: can you dismantle capitalism one server at a time? If you want to survive the claustrophobic digital grids, steal glittering data, and expose the richest corporations on earth, you cannot rely on luck. You need a definitive strategy. This exact 868-BACK MegaCorps factions guide is designed to break down the corporate hazards, unique server architectures, and illicit software tools required to beat the game.
The original 868-HACK defined a hyper-condensed style of tactical puzzle gameplay. Its sequel expands that vision into a sprawling campaign where you build a character across multiple runs, infiltrating increasingly hostile networks. You are not a hero in this cyberpunk dystopia; you are a digital parasite bleeding the system dry. But the corporations have evolved. They deploy smarter ICE (Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics), swarm the board with lethal tasks, and protect their data behind multi-step server architectures. To reach the Mainframe, you have to know exactly who you are hacking.
Why Every Hacker Needs an 868-BACK MegaCorps Factions Guide
The genius of 868-BACK lies in its restrictive geometry. The entire battlefield is a claustrophobic 6x6 grid. You are moving around in a tiny pressure cooker that gets steadily more panic-inducing with every single turn. Out of the 36 available squares, several are occupied by unbreakable walls, data nodes, and exit ports. This leaves you with a terrifyingly small amount of maneuverable space. The core tension of the game is built upon a brutal risk-reward economy. Every time you move to Siphon Data—the in-game currency needed to survive and upgrade your loadout—you inherently increase the corporate threat level, causing Hostile Tasks to spawn directly onto the board.
You cannot simply clear a room, take a breath, and casually walk to the exit. The game enforces a persistent threat mechanic: when you switch levels, any enemies you haven't killed travel to the new level with you. This means that a sloppy hack on a low-tier server will cascade into an unmanageable swarm by the time you reach the deeper network layers. You have to balance the greed of siphoning every last byte of Moola against the tactical reality of a crowded board.
Understanding the specific factions that control these servers is the only way to anticipate what kind of hostile tasks will spawn. A generic, one-size-fits-all approach guarantees your avatar will be disconnected and your run terminated. You need to know which megacorporation owns the node you are infiltrating, what their specific defensive doctrine is, and which Progs (programs) you need in your deck to counter them.
Unified Megacorp: The First Threat in the 868-BACK MegaCorps Factions Guide
As revealed in the game’s early trailers and developer updates, UNIFIED MEGACORP is one of the three primary megacorporations dominating the digital landscape. What makes them a true threat is their Multi-Step Server Architecture. Unlike smaller, easily exploited targets, hacking them is a Multi-Step Process requiring you to navigate Multiple Connected Nodes while surviving relentless Hostile Task Swarms.
Unified Megacorp relies heavily on a doctrine of attrition. Their servers are designed to bleed your resources by throwing low-tier but highly aggressive security programs at you in massive numbers. When you first enter a Unified node, the initial threat level might seem entirely manageable. However, because their architecture spans multiple connected grids, the persistent enemy mechanic becomes a logistical nightmare. If you leave three hostile tasks alive on the first node because you rushed the exit, they will follow you to the second, instantly joining the fresh wave of defenders waiting for you there.
The corporate hazard unique to Unified is their "Swarm ICE." These programs do not deal massive damage individually, but their AI is programmed to manipulate the 6x6 grid to cut off your escape routes. They will flank you, pin you against the edges of the board, and force you to burn your most valuable Progs just to create a single path to the exit. To survive Unified Megacorp, your deck must prioritize area-of-effect (AoE) deletion tools and high-mobility Progs. High Moola Payouts are certainly available within their network, but only if you have the discipline to extract before the swarm reaches a critical, mathematically unsolvable mass.
Kuro-Tek and OmniStat: Expanding the Corporate Roster
While Unified Megacorp acts as the gatekeeper to the mid-game, the remaining two factions in the "big three" require entirely different tactical approaches. The 868-BACK community has quickly learned that relying on the same brute-force deck build for every single run is a guaranteed death sentence.
Kuro-Tek Industries operates on a doctrine of stealth, misdirection, and resource starvation. Their servers are visually distinct, often shrouded in a digital fog that obscures the exact location of high-value data nodes and exit ports. The primary corporate hazard here is the "Data-Drain Virus." Instead of swarming you with physical damage tasks that end your run immediately, Kuro-Tek's hostile tasks target your Moola and your stored Progs. A single misstep or poor grid positioning can strip you of the currency you need to buy vital upgrades, leaving you defenseless for the next level. Hacking Kuro-Tek requires surgical precision. You need diagnostic Progs that reveal hidden nodes, and single-target deletion software to snipe their viruses from across the board before they can drain your reserves.
OmniStat Financial, on the other hand, is the brute-force final boss of the corporate world. Because they control the massive banking servers, the data payouts are astronomically high, but their ICE is heavily armored and unforgiving. OmniStat deploys "Juggernaut Tasks"—slow-moving, highly durable enemies that take multiple hits to delete. On a tight 6x6 grid, a Juggernaut acts as a mobile wall, shrinking your playable space with every turn it takes. Surviving OmniStat requires armor-piercing Progs and clever environmental manipulation. You have to use the grid itself as a weapon, luring Juggernauts into dead ends while you siphon the financial data and sprint for the exit.
Petty Companies vs. The Mainframe
Not every server you infiltrate is owned by the big three. According to the developer, most of the network consists of petty companies operating a single independent server. These smaller nodes offer quick data grabs before tackling the MegaCorps, serving as the economic backbone of your early-game progression.
Petty companies are essential to your campaign survival. Because they only consist of a single server, you do not have to worry about the multi-step attrition that defines the MegaCorps. You can enter, siphon the data, and extract without the fear of dragging a massive swarm of enemies into a secondary node. These independent servers are where you build your wealth, purchase essential Progs from black-market nodes, and prepare your deck for the major corporate heists.
However, players will occasionally encounter unique weird stuff that defies standard corporate ICE. These anomalous servers feature glitched geometry, unpredictable enemy spawn patterns, and rare, highly experimental Progs. They are massive gambles. You might walk away with a game-breaking ability that carries your run, or you might find yourself trapped in a corrupted grid with no exit, surrounded by erratic AI.
The ultimate goal is finding the lost Mainframe hidden deep within the architecture. The Mainframe is the heart of the capitalist machine, heavily guarded by a coalition of all three MegaCorps. To even access it, you must have systematically dismantled their outer defenses, siphoned enough data to build an elite deck, and mastered the rhythm of the grid.
Advanced Deck Strategies for Your 868-BACK MegaCorps Factions Guide
To survive the escalating difficulty, you must collect Progs. These act as your illicit software tools—essentially hacking spells that allow you to manipulate the board and clear the sector of enemies. When Corporate ICE deployed onto the grid threatens to overwhelm your position, Executing illicit software! is your only reliable way out. As you gather Moola and build your character across runs, knowing when it is Time to collect Progs. versus when to immediately extract becomes the ultimate test of a hacker's skill.
868-BACK introduces a campaign mode that fundamentally changes how you approach these tools compared to its predecessor. In the original game, a run was a self-contained puzzle. Now, you are building a character across multiple infiltrations. This means you have to think deeply about deck synergy. Are you building a mobility-focused Hacker who dances around Juggernaut tasks without firing a shot? Or are you building a heavy-hitting Cyborg who tanks damage and deletes Swarm ICE with brute force?
Your Progs must complement your intended target. If you are preparing to hit a Unified Megacorp multi-step server, you need Progs that clear multiple enemies at once, like chain-lightning viruses or grid-wipes. If you are targeting a Kuro-Tek node, you need diagnostic tools and single-target snipes to protect your Moola. Hoarding Progs is just as dangerous as ignoring them; your storage space is limited, and carrying the wrong software into a MegaCorp server will leave you dead in the water.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is 868-BACK? 868-BACK is a computer-hacking strategy roguelike game developed by Michael Brough and published by Finji, released in May 2026. It is the highly anticipated sequel to the acclaimed indie game 868-HACK, featuring a campaign mode, persistent character building, and complex corporate factions.
How do MegaCorps differ from independent servers? Independent servers (or "petty companies") consist of a single 6x6 grid. MegaCorps control multiple connected servers, making hacking them a multi-step process. This is significantly more dangerous because enemies you fail to kill on the first server will follow you to the next.
Do enemies carry over between levels? Yes. One of the most punishing mechanics in the game is that any hostile tasks left alive when you exit a server node will travel with you to the next level. This forces players to balance the urge to run away with the necessity of board control.
What are Progs and Moola? Moola is the in-game currency, generated by siphoning data nodes on the grid. Progs are programs—illicit software tools that act as your weapons and abilities. You use Moola to purchase and upgrade Progs to survive increasingly difficult servers.
Sources
- Finji Official Press Release: 868-BACK Launch Date Announcement (May 2026).
- Michael Brough Developer Updates via BackerKit: "868-BACK trailer: UNIFIED" and Q&A sessions.
- Steam Community Database: 868-BACK Early Access and Achievement Data.