Pragmata: Non-Combat Playthroughs Possible, Build Customization is Key

Pragmata introduces a unique combat system blending hacking and traditional shooting, a design choice that initially raised concerns among some players regarding the mix of puzzles and action. However, in a recent interview with Famitsu, Director Cho Yonghee and Producer Naoto Oyama clarified that the development team has carefully considered and catered to diverse player preferences.

According to Oyama, the game begins with a roughly equal balance between hacking and shooting mechanics. As players progress through the game, they unlock various modules and abilities, enabling extensive customization of their preferred playstyle.

Depending on your character's build, a single hack can sometimes inflict more damage than a single shot, leading to vastly different gameplay experiences.

The developers further confirmed that during a March preview event, some participants successfully completed the demo utilizing only hacking, proving the viability of non-combat-focused approaches. Interestingly, even the creators themselves adopt varied playstyles when playing Pragmata.

I personally lean towards emphasizing hacking. By chaining hacks together, I can consistently chip away at enemy health. For situations requiring burst damage, I'll either deploy powerful weapons or utilize multi-hacks to overwhelm several targets simultaneously.

I approach Pragmata more like an action game, frequently employing combat-centric strategies. However, I do switch to hacking occasionally. By combining these techniques, it's possible to stun multiple enemies, setting them up for quick takedowns and efficiently clearing groups.

Pragmata is scheduled for release on April 17, 2026, across PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch 2. A playable demo is currently available for eager players.