Idle games are a great way to kill time. They usually only take up a small portion of your computer screen, allowing you to work, play larger games, or browse the web at the same time. If you want your own little digital space, you’ve come to the right place. This article introduces the 15 best idle games to play when you’re bored.
15 Best Idle Games on Mobile and Desktop
Here’s a list of the top idle games on Android, iOS, PC, and Mac.
1. Realm Grinder
Realm Grinder, designed by Kongregate, is a free incremental game on Steam, browsers, Android, and iOS. The game combines clicker and strategic mechanics.
In the very beginning, you click to earn gold coins for later building and upgrading. The house you build will automatically generate money and resources, so you don’t have to click all the time. In the middle end, you can focus on upgrading the route, switching to another “race”, and other strategies to become stronger.
2. Rusty’s Retirement
If you love healing and relaxing idle-farming games, don’t miss Rusty’s Retirement. This is a lovely half-idle farming game on Steam that allows you to control a little robot, Rusty, to cultivate, water, and harvest vegetables. You can place the game window at the bottom of the screen so you can watch videos, work, or do other things at the same time.
3. Exponential Idle
Math can sound difficult, but the idle-math game Exponential Idle is great for everyone, including those who struggle with math. A mathematical formula is the core of the game. And you only need to click on “upgrade” occasionally, and the rest will be handled by exponential growth. You can play Exponential Idle on mobile and desktop.
4. Kittens Game
Kittens Game is a text-based idle strategy game on the Google Play Store and App Store. At first, you’ll need to click “Gather Catnip” to collect resources like catnip, wood, and mines to hire cats to gain loot. Then, you can use these resources to build, research new technologies, and unlock more things. Finally, you can trade with other races and even manage the universe.
5. Trimps
Trimps is one of the best online idle games designed by Kongregate, available on browsers and Steam. The game looks like Excel, full of stats and tables. You can control a group of “Trimps” to collect resources and fight, to help you upgrade. Later on, you’ll unlock advanced features like challenge modes, space tech, and a deep legacy system for long-term progression.
6. Universal Paperclips
Universal Paperclips is one of the best clicker games on iPhone, Android, and browsers. In the game, you can choose to constantly click the “Make Paperclip” button to create paperclips or buy auto-clippers for incremental lucrative. You can even lower or raise the price per clip. What’s important is that the real price units make you feel like you’re actually making money.
7. Magic Research
Magic Research is one of the best idle RPG games on iOS, Android, Steam, and browsers. It is also based on text instead of graphics. In the game, you are the headmaster of a newly created institution of magic, aiming to research magic and enhance the reputation of the college. You’ll need to create enough Mana to unlock new magic and technologies manually.
8. Egg, Inc.
Egg, Inc. is one of the best free idle games on mobile. In the game, you can tap the screen to release chickens, build and upgrade chicken coops, grain silos, and transport vehicles to increase egg production and revenue.
9. Loop Hero
Loop Hero is a pixel art idle game designed by a Russian game studio, available on Switch, Xbox, iOS, Android, Epic Games, and Steam. The game’s unique feature is that heroes move and fight automatically on the map, and players do not directly control them. Instead, players influence their survival and growth from “behind the scenes” in three ways: place terrain cards, manage equipment, and build camps.
Related: The Best Free Crossplay Games on PC, PS4, and More [2025]
10. Melvor Idle
Melvor Idle is one of the best RPG incremental games on Android, iOS, Steam, and web browsers. In the game, you can gain equipment, resources, and pets from challenging monsters and dungeons. Farms, alchemy labs, warehouses, and other locations serve as backup sites for obtaining and managing resources.
11. NGU IDLE
NGU IDLE is undoubtedly one of the best idle RPG games on Steam, mobile, and browsers. You can first enhance your combat ability to beat more enemies for resources. Then, you use these resources to upgrade systems like Time Machine, Yggdrasil, and advanced training.
What’s more, the game is full of parody and humorous elements.
12. (the) Gnorp Apologue
(the) Gnorp Apologue is one of the best idle games on Steam. In the game, you’ll lead Gnorps to earn Shards by knocking a white rock. Enough Shards will trigger a “Compression” event, which generates a rare resource called “Zybellium” for upgrading arrows to fire rockets and unlocking new buildings. The game graphics are colorful, and the character design is cute.
13. Unnamed Space Idle
Unnamed Space Idle is an idle sci-fi game designed by u/Rankith, available on Steam, iOS, and Android. You are a spaceship commander, aiming to fight aliens, upgrade the spaceship, and explore the wide universe. Each time you beat enemies, resources will fall off. You can also use the automatic income system to upgrade your spaceship.
14. Cookie Clicker
Cookie Clicker is one of the pioneers of incremental games. Released in 2013, Cookie Clicker is followed by many idle clicker games. You click the screen to make cookies, then hire a grandma to help you. After the capital is piled up enough, you can build farms and empires to create more. Then, you can choose to ascend to start from the beginning, but with more stats and grandmas.
You can play Cookie Clicker on the Google Play Store, Steam, Xbox, Switch, and browsers.
15. Antimatter Dimensions
Antimatter Dimensions is one of the best free idle games on Steam, Android, and browsers.
The game has eight dimensions, forming a progressive production chain. The first dimension is used to produce antimatter, and the subsequent dimensions help you create the next layer of dimensions until you create antimatter. Then, you can use antimatter to upgrade to more dimensions to obtain more antimatter.
Other Great Idle Games
Here’s a list of other good idle games recommended by Reddit users.
- Cell to Singularity
- CLICKPOCALYPSE II
- Farm RPG
- Cell: Idle Factory Incremental
- Idle Research
- Blade Idle
- Armory & Machine
- Tap Titans 2
- AdVenture Capitalist
- Leaf Blower Revolution
- Cube Farm
Tip: There are also many idle games from other countries. If your region doesn’t support the game, use a VPN to unblock the geo-restrictions. LightningX VPN is one of the best VPNs for unblocking browsers, apps, or other services. It uses the best VPN protocols based on top algorithms. It offers 2,000+ servers in 70+ countries, allowing you to unblock idle games from anywhere. You can set it up on computers, phones, tablets, smart TVs, and browsers.
What Are Idle Games?
An idle game, also called an incremental game or clicker game, is a type of video game centered on the idle style, meaning the game progress is not active and occurs with little interaction from the player.
A classic idle game usually allows players to obtain resources from the beginning manually and then use these resources to purchase automatic tools and manufacturers to generate more products or points.
As of now, idle games develop into many forms, but have the same core, such as the games mentioned in the post.
In the End
The post introduces the 15 best idle games and a list of other great options. If you’ve already picked up your favorite ones, just turn on the game and place it on the bottom screen of your device. And then start the little journey!
