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Games like Bitburner

Fulcrum Games, Hydroflame · 2021 · Windows, macOS, Linux

Steam: 94 % positive of 7,458 reviews, as of Oct 28

Bitburner is a programming-based incremental game. Write scripts in JavaScript to automate gameplay, learn skills, play minigames, solve puzzles, and more in this cyberpunk text-based incremental RPG.

24 games that play like Bitburner and 24 that look like it. Closest by gameplay: Uplink, Hacknet and EXAPUNKS.

Player tags

  • Programming
  • Idler
  • Hacking
  • Automation
  • Free to Play
  • Text-Based
  • Cyberpunk
  • Simulation
Map region: Open-World Action
Open on Steam ↗

Steam reviews

What players say

Most players recommend this free idle game for its programming challenges, though beginners find the learning curve steep and the documentation dense.

Many players enjoy writing JavaScript scripts that automate hacking, money-making and the other systems the game unlocks, and they say the work teaches real coding skills. Players praise how deep the automation goes, with minigames, factions and a corporation sim to script, and how the game keeps running while they are away. Some complain that the tutorial and documentation assume prior programming knowledge, that the in-game editor is clumsy, and that the early game feels repetitive. Several players with very long playtimes say the late game grinds, while newcomers mostly describe the early steep learning curve as the main hurdle. Some reviewers dislike the lack of graphics and music, and a few want more narrative elements.

Praised

  • Real JavaScript automation

    Players enjoy writing actual scripts that automate progress, and they say this builds practical coding skills.

    Many players
  • Deep, long-lasting systems

    Many systems, factions and minigames give players plenty to optimise, and the game rewards long play.

    Many players
  • Idle play in the background

    Scripts keep earning while players are away, so they can return later and find progress made.

    Some players
  • Learning through play

    Players say the game teaches JavaScript and programming ideas through applied problems rather than lectures.

    Some players

Criticised

  • Steep learning curve

    Newcomers find the tutorial and documentation hard to follow and say the early game needs more guidance.

    Many players
  • Dense documentation

    Players find the documentation text-heavy and hard to read, and want in-game docs or a clearer format.

    Some players
  • Repetitive early game

    Players find the early loop of writing similar code and waiting too slow and small.

    Some players
  • No graphics or music

    Players note the text-only presentation and lack of audio or visual style, and some want more story or roleplay.

    A few players
Who it suits
Suited to players who like programming, automation and incremental games, and to beginners who want to learn JavaScript through practice.
Who should skip it
Players who want graphics, a strong story or quick action, or who do not want to write code, should skip it.

Short vs. long playtime: Players with hundreds of hours mostly praise the depth of the automation, while newer players focus on the early learning curve and the slow start.

Summarised by AI from 80 Steam reviews (English, helpful and recent), as of Oct 28, 2026.

Best matches

Plays and looks like Bitburner

These games are close to it by gameplay and by look, so they appear in both lists below.

By gameplay

Plays like Bitburner

Matched from Steam descriptions and player tags. The tags under each game are the ones both games share.

More matches

  1. Cyber Manhunt92 % positive of 14,575Shared: Hacking · Cyberpunk · Simulation
  2. HackHub - Ultimate Hacker Simulator88 % positive of 995
  3. Net.Attack() - Code or Die!80 % positive of 515Shared: Programming · Hacking · Cyberpunk
  4. SHENZHEN I/O95 % positive of 3,762Shared: Programming · Hacking · Automation
  5. hack_me67 % positive of 1,455Shared: Programming · Hacking · Simulation
  6. TIS-10096 % positive of 3,399Shared: Programming · Hacking · Automation
  7. The Farmer Was Replaced94 % positive of 9,533Shared: Programming · Idler · Automation
  8. DROP - System Breach86 % positive of 179Shared: Hacking · Simulation · Puzzle
  9. Turing Complete95 % positive of 5,744Shared: Programming · Hacking · Automation
  10. Hacker Simulator74 % positive of 1,232Shared: Programming · Hacking · Cyberpunk
  11. Idle Hacking: An Inaction RPG80 % positive of 261Shared: Idler · Hacking · Text-Based
  12. Hacker's Journey75 % positive of 249Shared: Programming · Hacking · Text-Based

By look

Looks like Bitburner

Matched from screenshots. Each card shows the screenshot closest to the look of this game.

More matches

  1. MHRD87 % positive of 439
  2. Antimatter Dimensions92 % positive of 4,675
  3. Hacker Evolution70 % positive of 419
  4. BYTEPATH92 % positive of 305
  5. Open Sorcery98 % positive of 311
  6. Comet 6473 % positive of 183
  7. TIS-10096 % positive of 3,399
  8. SanctuaryRPG: Black Edition91 % positive of 1,024
  9. Untrusted50 % positive of 10
  10. Upload Labs90 % positive of 8,910
  11. Hack RUN84 % positive of 239
  12. Rogue95 % positive of 501

At a glance

What games like Bitburner have in common

  • The tags they share most often with Bitburner: Hacking (22 of 24), Programming (15) and Cyberpunk (7).
  • They came out between 2006 and 2026, 12 of them after Bitburner (2021).
  • Best rated by Steam players: Nodebuster (96 % positive of 13,930).

How these matches work

Matches come from embeddings of Steam descriptions, player tags and screenshots, computed offline. “Plays like” compares what the games are about and how players tag them; “Looks like” compares their screenshots. The share of positive reviews is based on Steam user reviews.

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