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The version of the internet that existed concurrently with the dot-com bubble is spoken of in nearly reverential terms in the modern day. This is especially true for millennials, who had the privilege of growing up alongside the internet and witnessing the lawless, creative, and messy stages of a platform just finding its footing. One of the more popular trends that emerged out of the late Web 1.0 era was GeoCities, a web hosting service that allowed users to create and browse personal web pages based on their interests.

These sites contributed to so much of what we now consider to be early internet lore—malware you'd unknowingly download while trying to change your cursor, for example—all wrapped up in a chaotic little bow. It was an incredibly unique time in the history of web development, and with a growing push towards cyber minimalism and homogenization, nostalgia from those who yearn for a more personal corner of the internet was inevitable. And with the large number of technologically inclined folks who gained valuable coding skills during its era, perhaps Hypnospace Outlaw, too, was inevitable.

Described by developers Tendershoot as a "'90s internet simulator," Hypnospace Outlaw is a game in perennial danger of gaining a reputation as a quirky novelty. It certainly targets a certain niche, and it's an audience that's ripe for nostalgic exploitation. If all Hypnospace Outlaw had going for it was its retro web aesthetic, these would be valid concerns.

It's here where the game truly deserves its flowers; the internet of Hypnospace Outlaw is, without a doubt, a lovingly-crafted replica that ever so accurately emulates the early days of community web interaction. Each of its dozens and dozens of sites belongs to what feels like a real individual, each displaying their passions, their dreams, their vulnerabilities.

It's incredibly easy to get lost in, falling down one rabbit hole after another as you peer deeper into what each HypnOS user deemed important enough to share on their webpage. It doesn't take long to realize how genuine this world is; while a lot of the game's humor relies on satire, there's an underlying sincerity that permeates all of Hypnospace Outlaw, from its youngest and most insecure users to its oldest and loneliest. And again, it would have been easy to just highlight the halcyon, but HO also smartly draws attention to the cruelest parts of the internet—online disinhibition and lack of empathy are present in Hypnospace to a dismally realistic degree.

There is a tremendous amount of detail here, almost to the point of being superfluous—which only makes the game feel more immersive. There are hundreds of threads to follow and connections to make, and every player is likely to come away with a character they connected with, be it a washed-up musician struggling for one last shot at relevance or an elementary school child who enjoys listing her fictional planets. And for every story you revel in, there are five more you miss; returning to the game post-completion allows for players to connect the dots further. It's also endlessly interactive; there are annoying digital pets, endless pointless downloads, a surprisingly vast soundtrack, and creative web pages that are fascinating even out of context.

Comments about Hypnospace Outlaw's gameplay have been conspicuously absent so far, and while it would be accurate to describe the simple act of browsing the web part of the game, in this case, it refers to what pushes the game's narrative forward. Essentially, you act as a global internet moderator, reporting content that might be seen as "damaging to the brand" of HypnOS, identified through detective-style puzzle solving.

It's fine enough—some of the puzzles are well designed, and the solutions are generally open-ended enough to encourage multiple paths of approach—but some of the later game cases can be particularly obtuse, and the overarching story that Hypnospace Outlaw wants you to pay attention to falls pretty flat at the end. Unfortunately, it's almost always more fun to mindlessly scroll Hypnospace and learn about its denizens than it is to actually accomplish your tasks.

Though its gameplay is relatively unremarkable, Hypnospace Outlaw's biggest barrier to entry is certainly its theme. It's undeniable that, as charming as the game is, it requires some level of nostalgia for the era it's emulating in order to succeed fully. Don't be mistaken; this game feels completely authentic, and it's so clear that it was created out of a deep sense of love for what many salute as a simpler time. But its very concept guarantees its overly referential nature. For those who formerly inhabited this era of the internet or those with an interest in its history, Hypnospace Outlaw is, quite literally, a dream come true. Outside of its target audience, it's certainly still enjoyable, but its impact could be more limited.

Well, that's okay. What are you gonna do? You really just had to be there.

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