[possibilistic]

I really like this idea. I don't have much time for gaming anymore, but something like this would be a selling point for me. I could write such a game off as an academic exercise.

There are a lot of AI/ML techniques you'd have to know or become familiar with. I imagine the competition to build the best bot at any given task, or best all-around bot, would be quite intense.

Someone please make this game.

[iambot]

I reckon Notch's games[1] would be the perfect fit, for zones like the OP mentions. A place for the "little Coder" to learn ML/AI etc

[1]: Minecraft or 0x10c etc.