Bitburner review

Bitburner is the strongest pick for anyone who wants hacking to mean actual code. The Steam page describes a programming-based idle incremental RPG in which you write JavaScript to automate the game, hack through a network of servers to earn money, solve real programming questions and trade on an in-game stock market with your own scripts. More than 100 Augmentations upgrade your character, and the project lists hundreds of open source contributors behind five years of development before its Steam release. It is free, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with a 512 MB RAM minimum, and 94% of 6,061 Steam user reviews are positive. The developers say a basic programming background is recommended but not required. It ranks below Hacknet because the idle structure is slow and the interface is plain text, which suits coders more than players looking for a story.

Who it is for

Programmers and coding learners who want a free hacking game

Price

Free to play on Steam, no purchase required.

Write scripts in JavaScript to automate gameplay, learn skills, play minigames, solve puzzles, and more in this cyberpunk text-based incremental RPG. Install Game
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Write scripts in JavaScript to automate gameplay
• Hack through a network of servers to train abilities and earn money
• Solve real programming questions for rewards
• 100+ Augmentations to improve your character
• Stock market trading with automated trading scripts

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free to play, with no purchase required on Steam
• Strength: 94% of 6,061 Steam user reviews are positive
• Strength: Open source, with a web version listed by the developers
• Weakness: Incremental idle structure, so progress is slow by design
• Weakness: A basic programming background is recommended
• Weakness: Text-based interface with little visual presentation

Key facts

• Developer: Fulcrum Games, Hydroflame and over 250 GitHub contributors
• Publisher: Fulcrum Games
• Released on Steam: December 10, 2021
• Minimum RAM: 512 MB
• Steam user reviews: 94% positive of 6,061

Where it ranks

Bitburner is No. 2 in our Best Hacker Games verdict.