Finished the farm and want more code-driven automation? These are the games players recommend most often in the community, grouped by what you liked about The Farmer Was Replaced.
Quick picks
| If you liked… | Play |
|---|---|
| More of the same, underground | The Miner Was Replaced (DLC) |
| Real code, open-ended | Bitburner, Screeps |
| Programming a farm / colony of bots | Autonauts, Colobot |
| Learning Python or JavaScript | CodeCombat |
| Short logic puzzles | Human Resource Machine, 7 Billion Humans |
| Low-level / hardware | Turing Complete, Shenzhen I/O, TIS-100, Exapunks |
1. The Miner Was Replaced
The first DLC (November 2, 2026): same drone and language, now mining underground — coal, quartz, mushrooms, dynamite, ruins, mushroom sorting and Minesweeper. Needs the base game. Our overview.
2. Bitburner
A free hacking-themed idle game where you write real JavaScript to automate everything. The closest match if you enjoyed optimizing scripts and watching numbers climb.
3. Autonauts
Build a colony and teach bots farming, crafting and building with a visual block language. The theme is almost the same — automating farm work with robots — with a gentler coding curve.
4. CodeCombat
A browser game that teaches Python and JavaScript by moving a hero through levels with code. Good for younger players or anyone who wants to turn the game’s Python-like syntax into real Python.
5. Human Resource Machine
A short, funny puzzle game from Tomorrow Corporation: you program an office worker with assembly-like commands. Each level is a tiny algorithm, like the farm’s early unlocks.
6. 7 Billion Humans
The sequel to Human Resource Machine: you program a whole crowd of workers at once — the “many drones in parallel” feeling from Megafarm.
7. Turing Complete
Build a computer from logic gates, then write assembly for it. Recommended in the community for players who liked the farm’s puzzle side and want to go lower level.
8. Shenzhen I/O, TIS-100 and Exapunks
Zachtronics programming puzzles: tiny assembly languages, tight constraints and leaderboards for size and speed — the same “optimize your solution” itch as maze and cactus.
9. Screeps
An MMO where your units run your JavaScript around the clock. Very open-ended and long-term; for players who want automation that runs while they’re away.
10. Colobot
An older (now open-source) game where you program robots in a C-like language to colonize a planet. Often mentioned as the game The Farmer Was Replaced reminds people of.
Which one should you play first?
- Want something free and deep: Bitburner.
- Want the same cozy automation vibe: Autonauts.
- Want short puzzles: Human Resource Machine.
- Want more of this exact game: The Miner Was Replaced.
FAQ
Is The Farmer Was Replaced good for learning to code? Yes. The language is Python-like and introduces loops, functions and lists one at a time. CodeCombat is the best next step for real Python.
What is the closest game to The Farmer Was Replaced? Its own DLC, The Miner Was Replaced. Outside of it, Autonauts (bot farming) and Bitburner (script automation).
Are there free games like it? Bitburner is free on Steam and in the browser; CodeCombat has free levels.