Bitburner

After five years of development and contributions from hundreds of developers, Bitburner has finally made its way onto Steam. If you’re currently learning how to code, or you already know how and you’re looking for something new to do, Bitburner is for you. You'll take on the role of an unknown hacker in a dark, dystopian world where you must use your programming skills to hack into servers, solve real programming questions, and trade in the stock market to earn money.

This game is an open-source programming hacking sim that takes inspiration from games like Else Heart.break(), Hacknet, Uplink, and Deus Ex.

You’re In

The main mechanic you’ll be playing within Bitburner is its programming. (This game will definitely be best for those who already know how to code; however, it is not required to play the game.) You'll write scripts in JavaScript to automate gameplay and access information in the game, which can be a fun and challenging task for players who are new to coding. If you are an experienced programmer, you will find that the game provides a variety of mechanics and systems that can be changed through coding and solved or automated in whatever way you find suitable.

Level Up Your Skills

You can hack through a network of servers to train your abilities and earn money. This is done by completing various tasks, such as stealing files or planting viruses, and can be a fun way to hone your hacking skills. You can earn rewards and improve your character with a huge variety of "Augmentations". These help you become a more skilled hacker, increase your stats, and unlock new abilities.

Make that Passive Income!

One of the most interesting aspects of Bitburner is its stock market feature. You can trade in the stock market and write automated trading scripts to earn money. This adds a new layer of complexity to the game and requires players to use their coding skills to create successful trading algorithms. It's a unique feature that sets Bitburner apart from other idle incremental RPGs.

Explore Through Research and Discovery

Earn money and improve your skills as you complete mini-games and challenges. You can explore the world and discover different companies, locations, and factions. There are secret perma-upgrades that can be unlocked throughout the game, which definitely gives a sense of achievement for those who enjoy exploring and completing challenges.

Personal Rating 6/10

In conclusion, Bitburner is a unique and challenging game that requires programming skills to play. It offers a variety of mechanics and systems that can be changed through coding and provides an enjoyable way to improve your hacking skills. However, the complexity can be a drawback for beginners, and it does get a bit repetitive over time. Despite that, though, it's worth checking out if you enjoy programming-based games and are looking for a new challenge.

Pros:

• Requires programming skills, providing a fun and challenging experience for those who enjoy coding
• Offers a variety of mechanics and systems that can be changed through coding, allowing for a high degree of customization
• Provides mini-games, trading in the stock market, and other gameplay mechanics that keep things interesting
• Includes a tutorial for beginners to get started with the game
• Provides a sense of achievement through unlocking secret perma-upgrades

Cons:

• Has a steep learning curve that may be difficult for beginners
• Can become repetitive over time
• Lacks a clear storyline or purpose, leaving the player to explore and create their own objectives
• Requires a significant time investment
• May not be appealing to those who do not enjoy programming or idle incremental RPGs