In Acorn Bot, players create and manage their own scavenging AI as it gathers scattered items in a randomly generated world. The AI is initially clueless about how to navigate and interact with its environment, relying on the player's input to learn and adapt.
As the bot evolves, players give it instructions on what to collect and avoid, while also teaching it to navigate through terrain and obstacles. The goal is to optimize the bot's efficiency and effectiveness in gathering resources, all while working within a limited energy budget.