By
Hayley Williams
 on

4350481 idlegames


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While they may have had their peak popularity in the mid-2010s, the finest idle games remain entertaining due to their gratifying, low-effort gameplay style.

Emerging into the spotlight with the success of Cookie Clicker in 2013, idle games are marked by exceptionally simplistic gameplay and are often referred to as “clickers” because of the mechanic of clicking to accumulate currency. With enhancements that afford the chance to earn currency passively, many of these games essentially play themselves, thus the genre’s title.

Idle games are typically crafted to be played in the background, allowing players to check in occasionally to purchase enhancements and make tactical choices. Consequently, many were initially envisioned as browser games, although several of the most popular idle titles have since transitioned to platforms like Steam, iOS, and Android.

Due to their straightforward mechanics, idle games can showcase a vast array of themes and settings, in addition to intersecting with numerous game genres such as RPGs and strategy games. There is considerable overlap with strategy and simulation games, including a recent trend of farming and management-themed idle games inspired by the cozy-gaming movement.

A recent trend within the idle genre has led to an increase in bottom-screen gameplay, where games are crafted to reside along your taskbar, enabling you to monitor activity while handling other tasks. This format is particularly suited for management sims, featuring options like farming, fishing, and cat cafes.

Though idle games are relatively simple to create, perfecting them can be quite challenging, making it tough to distinguish the quality titles from the mediocre ones. We’ve selected 24 of the top idle games currently available, listed without any specific order, featuring a mix of classic idle games and more inventive interpretations of the genre. For further suggestions, check out our selections for some of the best casual games such as Animal Crossing, Wordle, and Stardew Valley.

Milky Way Idle

Milky Way Idle

  • Platforms: Web, PC
  • Developer: Cheze
  • Release date: March 7, 2025 (Early Access)

A fresh idle RPG with a unique bovine twist, Milky Way Idle sets itself apart by incorporating multiplayer elements, including in-game chat, trading, guilds, and the option to team up for tougher dungeons. Similar to other idle RPGs, Milky Way Idle automates the grinding process, allowing you to schedule tasks so you can easily level up, craft gear, and tackle dungeons even while offline. The title suggests not just its celestial theme— you’ll also unlock a barn filled with magical cows, and your primary skill is milking, which then enables the ancient craft of cheesesmithing. Milky Way Idle is a relatively new addition to the genre, launching in early access in March 2025, with the game’s first significant content update arriving in April, and the developers have committed to regular updates every one to two months.

Cornerpond

Cornerpond

  • Platforms: PC
  • Developer: Foolsroom
  • Release date: April 22, 2025

Cornerpond is a compact fishing game designed to linger in the corner of your screen, facilitating multitasking with essential work—or simply other games. Click into the game when you get a bite and reel in a fish, offering various species to catch. The fish can be sold for upgrades that enhance your fishing ability or you can use your in-game currency to personalize your avatar. The game currently offers five distinct biomes, each with unique fish and a journal to complete.

What Lurks Below

What Lurks Below

  • Platforms: PC
  • Developer: James Kelly
  • Release date: April 7, 2025

Brief yet impactful, What Lurks Below is a spooky, semi-active incremental game that invites players to unearth the secrets beneath. Gather the enigmatic substance that rises from the abyss, compel unfortunate souls to gather it, and delve deeper into the void that once was Gloomhaven. Shorter than many incremental games, What Lurks Below introduces an intriguing eldritch mystery, enhanced by simplistic yet striking pixel graphics that amplify the eerie feel.

Bongo Cat

Bongo Cat

  • Platforms: PC
  • Developer: Marcel Zurawka
  • Release date: March 5, 2025

Charming and uncomplicated, Bongo Cat is a delightful rendition of the idle game that will have you breezing through your day’s tasks. This free game on Steam places a tiny cartoon cat on your desktop taskbar, who taps his paws like a bongo with every key press or mouse click—in any app. The game accumulates points as typical clicker games do and periodically grants items of varying rarity based on RNG. Though it lacks complex gameplay, Bongo Cat serves as a delightful companion to motivate you through your workday—or to pair with another clicker game. Bongo Cat is a complimentary title on Steam, but various items and cosmetics can be purchased through microtransactions.

The Farmer Was Replaced

The Farmer Was Replaced

  • Platforms: PC
  • Developer: Timon Herzog
  • Release date: February 11, 2023 (Early Access)

As one of the highest-rated idle games on Steam, even in early access, The Farmer Was Replaced is a farming simulator where you are tasked with automating a farm, but with one significant twist:

You need to develop the programming for the drones on your own. The Farmer Was Replaced employs a straightforward Python-like coding language, teaching players fundamental programming principles at the start of the game, rendering it an unexpectedly instructive idle game. The gameplay gradually advances to more intricate assignments and has a notably briefer conclusion than various idle games. However, with no time restrictions, gamers can opt to be as engaged or inactive as they choose in their strategy for The Farmer Was Replaced.