The Farmer Was Replaced Brings Programming Puzzles and Automated Agriculture to Mobile Tomorrow

The Farmer Was Replaced is preparing to launch on iOS and Android on November 2, introducing its unusual combination of programming education and farming simulation to smartphones. Originally developed by Timon Herzog, the game challenges players to automate agricultural tasks by writing instructions for a small drone. Instead of planting and harvesting crops manually, players create programs using a simplified Python-like language.

The drone then follows those instructions, performing activities such as tilling soil, planting seeds, harvesting crops and collecting resources. Successful progression requires players to improve their code, automate repetitive tasks and discover increasingly efficient solutions. The mobile adaptation has been developed by Ateo, with considerable attention devoted to making code entry comfortable through a touchscreen interface.

The game also includes The Miner Was Replaced expansion, allowing players to explore additional automation challenges underground. The App Store lists the mobile version as free to download with an optional purchase to unlock the complete experience. Its November 2 release represents an interesting development because programming-oriented games have traditionally been associated with desktop computers and physical keyboards.

If the redesigned controls work well, the game could introduce coding concepts to a broader audience. Apparently the agricultural industry has finally found a way to solve its labour shortage: replace the farmer with a drone and spend the entire afternoon debugging the instructions.