Gaming is on everyone’s minds. Be it children or the elderly, making time for a game every then and now isn’t quite the issue. But, gaming actively is not everyone’s cup of tea. Adults have work to go to and children have schools to attend. So, how else can you get a sense of accomplishment while gaming passively? In come idle games. Let us learn about the best idle games out there for us to click-click on.
What Are Idle Games?
Idle games are games that progress on their own, with minimal to no interaction with the players. These games revolve more around strategizing than physical gameplay. For example, a player has to decide if they wish to mine a rock or chop a tree.
The games are free-to-play, although the graphics are quite simple as the platform is especially popular among kids. Some most played idle games on Roblox include Roblox Cookie Clicker, Clicker Adventures, Case Clicker, etc. Merge idle games. Merge idle games are a comparatively new genre of incremental games.
- We collected 229 of the best free online idle games. These games include browser games for both your computer and mobile devices, as well as apps for your Android and iOS phones and tablets. They include new idle games such as Doggo Clicker and top idle games such as Idle Food Empire Inc., Candy Clicker 2, and Doggo Clicker.
- Browse Idle Games. By somethingggg - Everyone likes numbe. By JamesG466 - Semi-idle game where yo. By Playsaurus - Kill monsters, collect. By XmmmX99 - A mix between a strategy. By GreenSatellite - Gather resources,. By Baldurans - Build power plants, kee. By DivineGames - Check out Realm Grind. By GazThomas - Harvest.
- Nov 18, 2020 Fortunately, this list ranks all the best click and idle games on Steam. Ready to click and collect? In the clicker game Insaniquarium Deluxe, players manage a tank of aquatic creatures, starting each stage with two guppies. This puzzle video game features its own currency called 'shells.' Another incremental or clicker game is Soda Dungeon.
- It’s more in line with a story-based survival horror game. Genre hopping like this is a great sign going forward for idle games. So, there you have it: some of the best idle games out there. Idle games can appeal to those types of gamers that need to unwind and just let a simple story or game mechanic take them away.
Once they make their decision, the game automatically collects the ores from the rock or wood from the trees, even when the game is offline or running in the background. You can log back into an idle game an year later and you’ll find 365 days worth of progress in-game.
With this in mind, it must be made clear that idle games, also known as clicker games, can be played by people who like being active in games. The only difference is that an active player will progress through the game at a faster pace than a player who plays the same game idly.
Most idle games give players a plethora of choices as to which direction they wish to progress their game in. Players must decide the same and watch the game unravel on its own. Wouldn’t it be fun coming back to a game and having accomplished something new every time?
Why Do People Prefer Top Idle Games?
Idle games have been on a rise recently, with more and more game developers bringing new idle games to the market. These games are played by different kinds of gamers, from children wanting to learn something, to adults wanting to try out something fun. Let’s look at why these games are so popular.
1) Minimal Physical Interaction – As the name suggests, idle games require people to have minimal physical interaction with the game. This means players do not need to sit in front of their screens for elongated periods of time to progress in the game.
2) New Accomplishment on Returning – Not only do these games involve minimal interaction, they ensure that every time a player jumps back into the game, they’ve accomplished something. This is either in the form of a reward or game progress.
3) Clarity of Targets – Idle games although require strategizing with regards to how to proceed in the game, they have clear targets. Players do not have to knock on their brain to wonder what really needs to be done. It’s just a matter of how you want it done.
4) Constant Growth – Be it in the form of numbers or in-game items, idle games give players a constant feeling of growth. Psychologically, humans enjoy the concept of seeing numbers grow in their favor and these idle games just do the needful in that regard.
Now, let’s look at some of the best idle games/best clicker games on the market!
Top 7 Idle Games in 2021: Experts’ Choices
Unable to narrow down your choice to the best ideal games of 2021? We’ve got you covered.
Here’s a quick overview of the top 7 idle games of 2021 before we move to the detailed review of each game!
- Cells to Singularity: Evolution Never Ends (Available on Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows and macOS)
- Egg, Inc. (Available on Android and iOS)
- Clicker Heroes (Available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, web browser, iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows and MacOS)
- Penguin Isle (Available Android and iOS)
- Doge Miner 2 (Available on web browser, Android and iOS)
- Lego Tower (Android and iOS)
- Cookie Clicker (Available in web browser, Android and iOS)
1. Cells To Singularity: Evolution Never Ends
Cells to Singularity is one of the best idle games for Android and iOS. It is a game that parents would love to make their children play. The game teaches players the journey of the earth, from a single cell till the time we colonize Mars. Yes, we haven’t colonized Mars yet but the game sure seems to have a foresight. Users learn how the cell developed into what we are today ,i.e., humans.
Players have to click on Earth to collect “entropy” to upgrade and progress into the game. After initial upgrades which hardly take a minute, the game starts collecting the said “entropy” on its own. So, players can come back online to find a tonne of upgrades waiting to happen.
The game allows users to learn not only about human evolution, but also about the Mesozoic Era of the dinosaurs. It also takes you on a trip to different human eras, and ultimately delves into the fictitious world of “Sentient Androids” and the “Colonization of Mars”.
Players can also boost their progress using different methods, making the overall gameplay faster. Learning has never been so easy and fun!
Pros
- Beautiful and theme-specific graphics
- Intuitive user interface (UI)
- Comprises a second game with somewhat different mechanics
2. Egg, Inc.
The most eggtastic idle clicker game of all is Egg Inc. The motive of the game is very simple. Build a chicken farm and turn that small farm into a multi-billion dollar business. Although the premise of the game is very simple, a lot of thought needs to be put into how to make it a successful business instead of a slow growing farm.
Players have to constantly upgrade their farms with new equipment and buildings. An advanced farm equals more chicken. More chicken means more eggs. Chicken in the game lay different types of eggs which players may sell to earn profit.
This profit can be used to buy a lot of stuff, viz., more buildings, more chicken, more delivery trucks etc. Players also can use “Research” to further improve their farms, on their way to becoming egg business tycoons. Eggcelent, isn’t it?
Pros
- Simple and relax game format
- Provides great sense of progress
- Comprises good sense of humor
- Play for free
Cons
- No separate gaming modes
- At one point, it becomes necessary to spend real money to proceed in the game
3. Clicker Heroes
Clicker Heroes is one of the best idle games for Steam and PC. It is without a doubt one of the most fun clicker games to have ever come out. The player’s screen is divided into two sections. The right side of the screen has a monster on it, and the left side of the screen has player upgrades on it. The objective of the game is very simple.
Tap on the monsters on the right to kill them. The monsters drop gold when they die. Using this gold, players can buy upgrades from the left side of the section.
As the game progresses, every click becomes more damaging. After enough upgrades, the game starts doing auto damage to the monsters which is when players can stop manually clicking. But clicking manually alongside the actual damage accelerates the game progress by a lot. Wanted to be a hero? All you need to do is click!
Pros
- Hardly requires any input from the player
- Minimum clicking
- Easy to understand and play
4. Penguin Isle
Penguin Isle is one of the most beautiful idle games for you to play. It is regarded as one of the best idle games for iOS and Android. The game has beautiful cinematic graphics that are really easy on the eyes. The basic premise of the game is to build an island for penguins.
You hatch penguins, assign tasks to them, put costumes on them and basically, waddle around. There are different work areas on the island that generate coins. You can upgrade the penguins assigned to these work areas to generate even more coins to unlock more such areas on the island.
The coins are initially collected manually but in a matter of minutes can be collected automatically.
Therefore, the more the penguins, more the coins, and bigger the island. The game offers a lot of sitting back and enjoying the view. If you’ve ever had this urge to learn about penguins, Penguin Isle is the way to go!
Pros
- Cute characters
- Compelling sound effects and visuals
- Easy and intuitive controls
5. Doge Miner 2
Hearing or reading the word “Doge” makes us all excited, doesn’t it? That is because Doge has been one of the most loved memes of all times – Doge the Shiba Inu. Your favorite meme now has its own game!
The game is very similar in gameplay to Click Heroes. You have a mining rock on the left of your screens and player upgrades to the right of the screen. All you have to do is click on the rock to earn coins which will be used to upgrade your mining abilities.
What makes this game a lot more fun are the captions of the famous memes that come along with it such as “Such wow, much crazy, so fluff”. These captions not only make the whole experience more than just about clicking but also makes it melt our hearts. So, click the rock and get some Dogecoins! “Much quick, such fast.”
Cons
- Slow progress
6. Lego Tower
Legos are a part of every person’s childhood. Nimblebit’s Lego Tower is an incredible upgrade to their previous tower game, the 64-bit gaming style themed “Tiny Tower”. The objective of the game is very simple. Players build a tower, floor by floor.
Building a new floor takes some time, and as the tower keeps growing, more and more time is needed to build floors. Players must make residential apartments to first house Lego characters, who they may then assign to different work floors. These Lego characters pay the player rent and also bring in coins from working on different floors.
The excitement of building new floors, finding unique costumes, designing the tower makes the game very wholesome, which is the perfect combination to be one of the best idle clicker games. So, Lego and build some towers!
Pros
- Lots of interesting building and rebuilding activities
- Detailed and realistic
7. Cookie Clicker
Is it even possible to talk about idle games and not mention Cookie Clicker? Cookie Clicker can be called a pioneer in the idle gaming world. Although it was not the first clicker game, it sure was the game that put the idle clicker game genre in front of the world.
The game has the same concept as Click Heroes and Doge Miner 2, but it gets the number 1 spot because if not for Cookie Clicker, the other 2 may never have existed. So, you can call it the best idle game for browsers!
Players have to click on the big cookie on the left to earn smaller cookies, which they may then use to upgrade buildings etc. The upgrades help in obtaining cookies faster and faster with every upgrade. No need to ask your mom for the cookie jar anymore!
Pros
- Fun game
- The leaderboard keeps you on your toes
- Intuitive controls
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Best Idle Games
What makes a good idle game?A lot of elements are kept in mind before making a good idle game. These are:
1) Ease of Playing – The most basic of rules for an idle game is that it isn’t supposed to be hard. Idle games are easy to understand games which can easily be played idly, without having to scratch your head over what to do.
2) Unlimited Upgrades – As we know, idle games revolve around collecting a lot of in-game currency. Be it cookies or coins, players should be given ample amounts of possible upgrades to make the game interesting. It also makes players not to stop playing the said game.
3) External Upgrades – It’s obvious that people usually do not like spending while playing idle games. But a good idle game should always allow users the option to enhance or speed up their game with in-game purchases using money.
4) Ability to Stay Inactive – What’s the point of an idle game if you’re constantly being made to interact with the game? Active interaction should be an option in an idle game, not a mandate.
5) Lots of Alternates – A game gets boring if it is too simple and you don’t have much to do. So a good idle game focuses on giving players alternate pathways towards achieving the ultimate goal, as simple as it may be.
6) Interactive Story and Artwork – What is the best way to make any game interesting? Adding an emotion or story to it. Doge Miner 2 is the best example of the same. The developers have taken attention from players by working on their attachment to a simple dog meme.
7) Constant Rewards – Another important thing is to ensure that players are constantly being rewarded by the game. Without being rewarded, a sense of disappointment may set in the players, which will ultimately result in them not playing the game anymore.
All the games listed above are the best idle games to play on smartphones and tablets.
Final Words
Be it active gaming or passive idle gaming, people need gaming. Idle games are the best way to experience games without really having to play them! So, if you haven’t been able to play a lot of games, download one of the games we’ve listed above and get clicking!
If you have any queries, questions or suggestions, feel free to let us know in the comments below!
|Playing Idle games on Android is like running in your sleep - it still counts
When you have a full schedule, but you're a gamer at heart and cannot stand not playing anything, you must figure something out. Idle games on Android are usually the best solution since they let you progress quite effectively even without being active for long periods of time.
You can play several idle games at a time, and it could only take minutes to finish all your dailies. There are plenty of idle type of games out there, and I am sure there is one for you - no matter if you like to play Android RPGs, tycoon games or whatnot.
Idle games usually fall under 1 of 2 categories: one of them is the true idle game, where you can leave your game untouched for hours, and still gain plenty of progress in the meantime (resources, levels, currency, etc.), and pseudo-idle games that label themselves as idle. The latter would be the idle clickers and the like, where you progress significantly more by tapping than you would for just being idle. I'm personally not a tremendous fan of those, even though I've played my fair share of them.
If you're not familiar with either, then all you need to know about idle games is that they can be quite charming (if you find the right ones for you). So, if you're still seeking, then let me give you a hand! Use the list below to learn what are some of the best idle games for Android that you can download and play right now!
AFK Arena
AFK Arena is one of the best idle RPGs on Android that you could get your hands on. There are millions of players of this game, keeping it one of the best idle games you can play. The best part, however, is that you can choose exactly how you want to play. You'll have steady progress regardless of how much time you spend in-game - be it more active or more on the AFK side.
Fallout Shelter
Many of you know the Fallout series. What you might not know, however, is that Fallout Shelter is a really, really good idle game. The basics of the game are pretty simple: you build your own vault, add more rooms, and populate those rooms with various people. In the meantime, you'll start producing various resources and that's pretty much it.
There are many layers to this game, but at its core, it's just a truly well-made idle game that's worth playing.
Ode To Heroes
If you want to play an idle game, but still care a lot about the graphics aspect of the game, the character design and the story behind it, Ode to Heroes is a perfect choice. This game has a stunning art style, plenty of idle progressing in terms of resources, and it's easy enough to play while maintaining all the rich aspects of a typical RPG.
There are parts of the game that require you to put some online time, such as acquiring characters, signing up for dungeons and training, but most of the aspects can be completed by simply being idle.
Neko Atsume
Although this game is not your typical idle game, it still is somewhat of an idle game. The game is super simple (and extremely adorable), and it's something you could play anytime, as long as you have your phone laying around.
The basics are simple: you place down food, and you wait for cats to pop up. Whenever a new cat visits you, it will be added to your collection. If you love cats, don't mind waiting for things to happen and have plenty of spare time, I highly recommend this game.
Almost a Hero - Idle RPG Clicker
Almost a Hero is the epitome of an idle game where characters aren't heroes per se, although they actually 'are'. It doesn't really make sense, does it? Well, it's complicated.
The storyline in the game is a fairly simple but fun one, and you'll recruit non-heroes to your team. You'll have full control over the relics, equipment and character evolution, and as long as you keep fighting, you'll eventually turn your normal characters into more or less... heroes.
Girls X Battle 2
Girls X Battle 2 is the sequel to Girls X Battle, which is an equally awesome idle game. In this game, you only have to worry about your hero formation once (when deploying the characters), and the rest is history. You can do daily quests, but they are never mandatory, just like the plenty of other content that you can choose to do or skip altogether.
Overall, the game is very exciting for an idle game, since you can deploy various characters in a million different ways, all in order to defeat enemies easier. With cute chibi anime graphics, seasonal content and a multitude of customizations, I'm sure you'll place this game at the top of your list of best idle games for Android as well.
Epic Monster TD - RPG Tower Defense
You probably didn't expect an actually good pixel-graphic game to fall under both tower defense and the idle genre, and to do that really well. The truth is, Epic Monster TD is surprisingly good, and although the towers you get will rely on a gacha system, the rates are very high (and it's fairly easy to get the expensive towers).
All in all, if you want a great 8-bit game with fun little plays on popular memes (like the doge tower and many more) and the ability to progress while idle, you should give this one a try. You won't regret it.
Cookies Inc. - Clicker Idle Game
I mentioned in the intro that there are a couple of types of idle games - you have your normal idles, and the idle clickers. Even though I am not a big fan of the idle clicker, I couldn't just pass on Cookies Inc. This game is amazing for a number of reasons.
It's simple, it's fun, it's rewarding, and the cookies collection is just out of this world! You'll join thousands of other players in the cookie grind, and let's be honest - who doesn't like a good cookie?
Ulala: Idle Adventure
Trimps
You want a game where being idle pays off quite a lot? How about a game where you play as a prehistoric character, fending off various dinosaurs while teaming up with 3 other players who are also casually idling around?
Ulala: Idle Adventure is crazy fun, and it has plenty of features to keep you entertained while online as well (even though the main thing you'll see is your character running around, casting spells, and attacking dinos). From cooking weird prehistoric foods to gathering T-Rex pets and whatnot, you'll have a chance to make history... sort of.
Best Idle Games Browser
Hamster Tycoon: Cake Maker
Hamsters are adorable no matter what, but have you ever imagined those adorable hamsters baking cakes? Picture this - a chunky, fluffy hamster with its tiny hands holding a piping bag to ice some cakes. Sounds good? It's all about to come true in Tycoon Hamster Game.
Bear through unbelievably adorable stages in this idle game, and develop your cake factory run by hamsters. Hire specialists in decorating, baking and even a tireless little runner powering the wheel (yeah, that'd be THE hamster wheel).
Just a fair warning before you try this game: the cuteness levels are through the roof!