Bitburner

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,234 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • grinding
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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.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,234 reviews
gameplay70 positive mentions
grinding59 negative mentions
  • gameplay361 mentions

    The gameplay of Bitburner is a unique blend of programming and incremental mechanics, where players write JavaScript scripts to automate tasks such as hacking and managing resources. While the game offers a rich variety of mechanics and a steep learning curve, some players find the gameplay can become repetitive after initial exploration, especially as they rely on established scripts. Overall, it provides an engaging experience for those interested in coding, with a supportive community and continuous updates that introduce new challenges and mechanics.

    • “The core gameplay revolves around writing JavaScript scripts to automate in-game actions such as hacking servers, managing finances, and enhancing your character's abilities.”
    • “Bitburner offers a unique twist on classic idle and incremental game mechanics by incorporating JavaScript programming to automate tasks.”
    • “The game provides a variety of mechanics and systems that can be changed through scripts written in JavaScript to automate gameplay, learn skills, play minigames, solve puzzles, and more in this cyberpunk text-based incremental RPG.”
    • “Gameplay is boring as hell once you get a couple of simple hack scripts set up.”
    • “Endgame can be repetitive: once you’ve automated most tasks, it can become a bit repetitive unless you dive into the more complex aspects of optimization or the stock market mechanic.”
    • “The gameplay itself is a little bit repetitive and boring after a while, with nothing else to do after you pwn it all, except if you are into workflow improvement.”
  • story167 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging and rich, particularly appreciating its cyberpunk themes and hidden lore, while others feel it lacks depth and fails to sustain interest over time. Many reviews highlight that the narrative unfolds gradually as players progress, often intertwining with gameplay mechanics, but some express disappointment in its minimalistic presentation and repetitive nature. Overall, while the story has its moments and can be intriguing, it may not be the primary draw for all players, especially those seeking a more traditional narrative experience.

    • “The game's storyline is engaging, and the characters you encounter throughout your journey are memorable and well-written.”
    • “The story is great and interesting, and interacting with the game's world reveals lore that will keep you engaged.”
    • “Great game, been playing it off and on for years on the browser, so glad the community kept developing it. It's an amazing cyberpunk game that has an interesting backstory that grabs your attention, and teaches you coding at the same time that you delve into the story.”
    • “The repetitive gameplay, weak storytelling, and concerns about long-term engagement left me with mixed feelings.”
    • “There is basically no story and there is no music, no graphics, just a rudimentary GUI.”
    • “The script writing aspect gives it a little bit of the illusion of depth, and apparently there's some kind of storyline to pursue, but there just wasn't enough there to capture my interest.”
  • grinding70 mentions

    The reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often seen as tedious and repetitive, requiring significant time investment, sometimes likened to needing "a second life" for it. While some players appreciate the automation and scripting aspects that can alleviate the grind, many still find the core gameplay loop to be monotonous and unappealing, especially during the early stages and after resets. Overall, the game balances between being engaging for those who enjoy scripting and frustratingly grindy for others.

    • “Next, the levels and stuff are done well; you're not really grinding that much at the start. You can pretty much get very far into the game with just a few minutes.”
    • “However, the idle aspect and the prestige mechanic have both been implemented in ways that are absolutely not tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's a tedious game of repeatedly visiting servers, typing a hack command and waiting, and then doing it again, and then again, and again.”
    • “Bitburner is a tedious grinding game that you are supposed to make into an idle game by writing your own automation scripts.”
  • graphics70 mentions

    The graphics of the game are predominantly text-based and minimalist, featuring ASCII art that aligns with its cyberpunk and hacker aesthetic. While some players appreciate the simplicity and find it enhances the immersive experience, others feel that the lack of detailed visuals may not appeal to those accustomed to modern gaming graphics. Overall, the design is intentional and caters to a niche audience interested in coding and automation rather than flashy visuals.

    • “Visually, Bitburner keeps things minimalist, which fits its hacker aesthetic perfectly.”
    • “The graphics are just text and reminiscent of The Matrix, making you feel like an actual hacker, so it adds to the vibe of the game and is pretty easy on the eyes.”
    • “I really liked the console look of the game and now it kinda looks like a bad web interface now that things are held in graphical buttons and such.”
    • “The graphics are simple ASCII-art style; there's effectively no sound (although this is not necessarily bad in an idle game); and the UI is basic but fairly clear, although there are a few bits of awkwardness.”
    • “Being a programming-based game, Bitburner's graphics might not meet the expectations of modern gamers.”
    • “The visuals are simplistic and lack the level of detail found in contemporary games.”
  • optimization49 mentions

    The game's optimization aspect is highly praised for its depth and complexity, offering players numerous opportunities to automate and enhance their coding skills through real-time problem-solving. While it provides a rewarding experience for those who enjoy technical challenges, some players find the endgame repetitive once most tasks are automated. Overall, it caters well to both novice programmers and advanced users seeking intricate optimization challenges, though there are concerns about performance issues on certain systems.

    • “For those who enjoy it, the game offers a wealth of content, including many complex systems that can be understood, automated, and optimized.”
    • “Progression feels earned: it's satisfying to see the impact of your optimizations in real time as you gain more resources, hack larger networks, and unlock more advanced features.”
    • “The actual gameplay poses optimization challenges, and then leaves it to you to figure out how you want to solve them.”
    • “Endgame can be repetitive: once you’ve automated most tasks, it can become a bit repetitive unless you dive into the more complex aspects of optimization or the stock market mechanic.”
    • “While I thrive on technical challenges, the constant cycle of hacking, coding, and script optimization started to feel like a grind rather than an enjoyable gaming experience.”
    • “But the problem is that even after you close the game, it is still running in the background using all your power, checked that many times with task manager or/and with performance monitor.”
  • music24 mentions

    The game's music aspect is largely criticized for its complete lack of sound and soundtrack, leaving players to rely on their own music playlists for an engaging experience. While some users have found enjoyment in pairing the game with their favorite tracks, many express a desire for an original soundtrack, particularly one that fits the cyberpunk theme. Overall, the absence of music detracts from the game's atmosphere, making it feel less immersive.

    • “Especially when paired with some hacker music playing in the background!”
    • “Playing the CP2077 OST in the background is icing on top of the 'h4kr' cake.”
    • “My only wish is that there was a massive soundtrack of cyberpunk-themed music, along with the ability to turn it off and adjust the volume.”
    • “The lack of music and sound effects makes the ever-existing 'coding' style look less interesting, which is a real shame since this would be a great game to provide new and interesting music.”
    • “The only downside to this game, in my opinion, is that it has no sound, which isn't even a big deal considering this is an idle game designed to be played in the background. However, I would still enjoy it if the dev added some kind of background music, like synthwave, which would work really well with the cyberpunk theme.”
    • “Only issue I have with it is that there is no music or soundtrack.”
  • humor21 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it both clever and entertaining, particularly through its witty scripting and references to hacking culture. Many reviewers noted that the game elicits genuine laughter, especially for those with programming knowledge, while some humorous elements may resonate less with non-programmers. Overall, the game's comedic approach enhances the experience, making it enjoyable and engaging for its audience.

    • “The funny thing about this game using real coding (JavaScript) is that you can literally get all achievements by running a script to tell the game to give you all achievements, lmao.”
    • “No other game made me laugh out loud that often, feeling like an evil genius.”
    • “Addictive with a good dose of humor, this is an excellent tool for any fledgling scripter/programmer that wants to learn some JS, and the sky is the limit.”
  • replayability17 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse strategies, engaging mechanics, and a vibrant community that enhances the experience. Players appreciate the semi-roguelite elements that allow for soft resets with bonuses, as well as hidden storylines that unfold over time. Overall, the game is described as endlessly replayable, offering new challenges and opportunities for exploration, making it a compelling choice for players seeking long-term engagement.

    • “Diverse strategies and automation techniques keep the game engaging, contributing to its high replayability.”
    • “Though the game can become a grind in mid-runs, its semi-roguelite aspect allows for soft-resetting most of your progress, giving it a tad bit more replayability.”
    • “Endlessly replayable and free! The game rewards players for trying to break it, while avoiding the rote repetition that many idle games fall into.”
    • “Though the game can become a grind in mid-runs, its semi-roguelite aspect allows you to soft-reset most of your progress but with some bonuses carrying over, giving it a tad bit more replayability.”
    • “You think you've reached the end of the replayability within the first hour, but there is a lot of hidden storyline/plot.”
    • “Also, you have to love a game that not only expects players to try to break it but rewards it in some ways, and it's set up with a lot of replayability and potentially more in the future while managing to avoid the rote repetition that a lot of idle games get into.”
  • monetization15 mentions

    The game is completely free to play, with no ads or microtransactions, providing a surprising amount of content without any intrusive monetization. Players appreciate the absence of in-game purchases, allowing for an uninterrupted gaming experience while still receiving ongoing updates. Overall, the monetization model is highly praised for its simplicity and user-friendliness.

    • “The amount of content in this game is surprising, taking into account that it is completely free to play - and there are no in-game purchase options either.”
    • “I recommend this game and as of 1.1.2024 it's still free to play with no DLC and no advertisements, so just go for it and enhance your programming abilities.”
    • “I hate being tracked or having ads tailored to me based on my likes.”
    • “No micro-transactions, in-game purchases, nothing.”
    • “No in-game purchases at all.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with users reporting frequent bugs and inconsistent behavior in scripts, often requiring hard reloads to resolve issues. While the troubleshooting aspect and community support are appreciated, the overall experience is marred by the unreliable API and frequent freezing, detracting from the enjoyment of coding and gameplay.

    • “Sadly, the API is so buggy (and badly designed) it ruins the fun.”
    • “One of the bigger issues I have with this game is that it is kind of buggy in that scripts will just randomly stop working at times, and only a hard reload with killing all running scripts will fix it.”
    • “It's difficult to figure out what's wrong if the program doesn't crash but returns the wrong values - sure, I can just print the variables to the console, but that doesn't work when my program locks up into an endless loop and freezes.”
  • emotional11 mentions

    The emotional responses to the game are varied, with players expressing feelings of excitement, nostalgia, and a mix of intelligence and confusion. Many found the plot engaging enough to evoke strong emotions, including tears, while others appreciated the game's ability to boost their confidence and coding skills. Overall, it creates a fun and immersive learning experience that resonates emotionally with both beginners and experienced players.

    • “I cried a lot because the plot is great.”
    • “Had to dust off old coding skills and was happy to learn new things that made me feel useful again.”
    • “Its exciting, and every time there is some story piece I can read, I'm sitting here with my nose almost touching the screen because I'm like 'oh my god, what happens now?!?'.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a mysterious and immersive cyberpunk setting that enhances the experience of uncovering puzzles and solving programming challenges. While the narrative is minimal, the atmospheric elements effectively engage players, making each decision feel impactful. Overall, the layered depth and unique ambiance contribute significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The game's strength lies in its mysterious atmosphere and layered depth, where every click and decision feels like uncovering another puzzle piece.”
    • “Has a significantly excellent cyberpunk atmosphere and gives me a lot of novel programming problems to solve.”
    • “There's not a lot of story overall, but the bits that are there create a great atmosphere and I enjoyed them a lot.”
    • “The same methods, the same scenario, and most importantly, the same atmosphere.”
    • “I'd say it can resemble more of a tycoon game at first, but it definitely builds up on atmosphere after a while.”
    • “So yes, if you like the idea of learning scripting in a text-based game set in a cyberpunk atmosphere, look no further.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

27hMedian play time
16948hAverage play time
8-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 27 analyzed playthroughs

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