Incremental and idle games are the unsung heroes of gaming—they let you dive into addictive cycles of progress, but they’re just as enjoyable when you step away and let the game take over. While both genres share the core idea of steady growth and satisfying upgrades, incremental games often demand active engagement, while idle games take it a step further, rewarding you even when you’re offline.
For this list, we’ve blended incremental and idle games based on Reddit recommendations. Why? Because the lines between the two genres are increasingly blurred, and many titles deliver the best of both worlds. Whether you prefer a full-on clicking frenzy or a passive empire-building experience, this curated list has you covered.
Best Incremental Games: Top Picks
After scouring Reddit threads and gathering feedback from gamers, we’ve identified 13 of the best incremental games that players love. From quirky titles to deep, strategic gems, this list celebrates the cream of the crop. Let’s dive into the fun!
Cookie Clicker
Platforms: PC, iOS, Android, Web Browser
Price: $2.99 (with optional purchases on mobile)
It’s impossible to talk about incremental games without mentioning the granddaddy of the genre: Cookie Clicker. This deceptively simple game, first launched as a browser-based project in 2013, sparked a revolution in idle gaming. At its core, the gameplay revolves around clicking a giant cookie to bake more cookies. Sounds simple, right? Well, it’s the intricate progression and absurd humor that elevate it into a legendary status.
The gameplay begins with humble clicks, but it doesn’t take long for the madness to spiral. Soon, you’re investing in upgrades like grandmas, farms, and even portals to alternate dimensions, all to increase your cookie production. With achievements, seasonal events, and layers of prestige mechanics that reset your progress for exponential gains, Cookie Clicker keeps you hooked for hours—if not days.
What sets Cookie Clicker apart is its endless sense of progression and the sheer absurdity of its concepts (cookie-based time travel, anyone?). While its simplicity might not appeal to players looking for action-packed gameplay, it’s a perfect stress-reliever or background companion to other activities. Whether you’re a newcomer to incremental games or a seasoned player, Cookie Clicker is a must-try classic that’s stood the test of time.
AdVenture Capitalist
Platforms: PC, mobile, PS4
Price: Free (with in-app purchases)
What’s the quickest way to join the ranks of the ultra-rich? Apparently, a lemonade stand! AdVenture Capitalist starts you off as a humble entrepreneur selling lemonade, but it doesn’t take long before you’re managing oil conglomerates, banking empires, and intergalactic ventures. It’s a classic rags-to-riches story—but with hilarious twists and lots of zeros.
The game’s appeal lies in its simplicity. You begin with a few clicks to earn profits manually, but soon, managers and automation come into play. This is where the game shines: you get to strategize on how to reinvest your earnings, upgrade your businesses, and expand your portfolio. The fun ramps up when you unlock space missions, pushing capitalism to ridiculous heights (ever heard of a moon cheese factory?).
What really makes AdVenture Capitalist stand out is its cheeky humor. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, often poking fun at the absurdities of the business world. While it’s a free game, some players may find the late-game grind a bit tedious unless they’re willing to spend money on boosts. But if you’re looking for a lighthearted, addictive clicker with a sense of humor, this one’s a no-brainer.
Orb of Creation
Platforms: PC (Steam)
Price: Around $4.99
What if you could harness the elements, bend the laws of magic, and build a universe out of nothing? Orb of Creation places you at the helm of magical creativity. Starting with just a single glowing orb, you’ll conjure resources, unlock new spells, and weave an intricate system of magical growth.
This game’s brilliance lies in its depth. Every spell you unlock opens new possibilities, but balancing your mana reserves and resource generation requires careful planning. Progression is layered and satisfying, with each discovery feeling like a mini-epiphany. The interface may seem overwhelming at first, but the gradual pace ensures you’ll quickly feel like a seasoned archmage.
Orb of Creation stands out for its unique theme and strategic complexity, making it perfect for players who enjoy tinkering with mechanics and figuring out optimal builds. If you’re looking for a magical twist on the incremental formula, this one’s pure alchemy.
Clicker Heroes
Platforms: PC, mobile, PS4, Xbox One
Price: Free (with in-app purchases)
Enter a world of endless monster-slaying in Clicker Heroes, an incremental RPG where your sole mission is to decimate waves of increasingly tougher foes. You’ll click (or tap) to attack, earn gold, and hire a team of quirky heroes to fight alongside you. These heroes come with their own upgrades and abilities, allowing you to deal absurd amounts of damage as you progress.
The charm of Clicker Heroes lies in its simplicity and addictiveness. Battles unfold in real-time, and your roster of heroes keeps the action going even when you’re offline. Each level introduces new, bizarre creatures to defeat and keeps you hooked with satisfying gold drops and hero upgrades.
Its weaknesses? The mid-to-late game can feel grindy, with slow progression unless you invest in microtransactions. However, the community-driven guides and builds make it rewarding for players who love optimization. For RPG fans looking for a casual yet engaging experience, Clicker Heroes is a must-try.
Antimatter Dimensions
Platforms: PC, mobile
Price: Free
Ever wanted to tinker with the universe’s most mind-bending forces? Antimatter Dimensions offers a deeply cerebral take on the incremental genre. You start by generating antimatter and gradually unlock new dimensions, each layer building on the last in a cascading loop of exponential growth.
This game is a mathematician’s dream. The mechanics revolve around finding efficiencies, optimizing production, and scaling up your dimensions. As you progress, you’ll encounter mechanics like “infinity” and “eternity,” which reset your progress but open up new gameplay systems. It’s a constant balancing act, and the rewards for figuring out optimal strategies are incredibly satisfying.
While its sci-fi theme and complex mechanics may intimidate newcomers, it’s a treasure trove for players who love numbers and strategy. If you’re the type who enjoys spreadsheets and exponential growth, Antimatter Dimensions is guaranteed to blow your mind—figuratively, of course.
Mr. Mine
Platforms: PC, mobile
Price: Free
Dig deep, dig often, and dig greedily in Mr. Mine, a charming incremental game where you manage a team of miners as they unearth treasures and resources. Starting with a simple pickaxe and a single worker, you’ll expand your mining operation, delve deeper into the earth, and uncover strange relics and mysteries.
What sets Mr. Mine apart is its mix of humor and strategy. Your workers, machines, and upgrades need careful management to maximize efficiency. The deeper you go, the more valuable resources you’ll find, but the risks and costs also increase. Expect to encounter quirky surprises as you uncover hidden secrets buried far below the surface.
The pixel-art style adds a nostalgic charm, and the gameplay loop is both engaging and rewarding. However, the repetitive nature of mining may wear thin for some players in the late game. Still, for fans of resource management and exploration, Mr. Mine is a dig worth taking.
Egg, Inc.
Platforms: PC, mobile
Price: Free (with in-app purchases)
Egg farming, but make it futuristic. In Egg, Inc., you’ll manage a quirky poultry empire, producing increasingly bizarre eggs like “superfood eggs” and “quantum eggs.” The game combines idle mechanics with strategy, as you optimize your hen houses, research, and shipping to maximize profits.
Visually, Egg, Inc. is a delight. Its clean, colorful design makes it easy to understand, while the humorous concept keeps you invested. Watching your farm grow from a humble backyard operation to a sprawling industrial complex is immensely satisfying. The game even features a prestige system, letting you reset and start anew with bonuses to climb even higher.
While early progression is fast and engaging, the later game introduces a grind that might frustrate impatient players. Still, the offline earning system and constant sense of progress make it one of the most beloved idle games in the genre.
Farmer Against Potatoes Idle
Platforms: PC (Steam)
Price: Around $5
In a world where potatoes have risen up, only one farmer can stand against them. Yes, you read that right—Farmer Against Potatoes Idle is a wacky incremental RPG where you fend off hordes of evil potatoes while building your farming empire. Equal parts bizarre and brilliant, this game combines idle mechanics with engaging RPG elements, creating a blend of humor, strategy, and endless upgrades.
As the titular farmer, you’ll battle increasingly powerful potatoes in turn-based combat, earning resources and experience to level up your skills. But it’s not all about fighting; you’ll also craft powerful items, upgrade your farm, and even explore new worlds. The game’s tongue-in-cheek humor and quirky writing make it stand out, and the layers of progression keep you coming back for more.
While the graphics are simple, the charm lies in the absurdity and depth of the systems. It’s a game that doesn’t take itself seriously, yet offers enough complexity to keep players hooked. If you’re in the mood for something both silly and strategic, Farmer Against Potatoes Idle delivers.
Sixty Four
Platforms: PC (Steam)
Price: Free
If you enjoy puzzles, strategy, and the satisfaction of exponential growth, Sixty Four delivers a unique twist on incremental gaming. This game centers on creating and managing “blocks” that generate resources, allowing you to unlock upgrades and climb the number ladder in increasingly complex ways.
The gameplay begins with simple block-building mechanics. You combine and merge blocks to reach higher levels, generating more points to invest in upgrades. Over time, you’ll unlock new layers of complexity, like automation systems, multipliers, and prestige options, adding depth to what starts as a straightforward experience.
What sets Sixty Four apart is its pacing and replayability. The game strikes a fine balance between active engagement and idle progression, rewarding players who experiment with strategies to maximize efficiency. Its clean, minimalist design ensures the focus remains on gameplay, but some might find the progression curve a little steep in the later stages.
For fans of incremental games who enjoy logic and planning, Sixty Four offers a satisfying journey into the world of numbers and optimization.
Idle Skilling
Platforms: PC, mobile
Price: Free
If you love RPG mechanics but don’t have the time to grind for hours, Idle Skilling might be your dream game. It combines idle gameplay with a deep progression system involving combat, crafting, and exploration. You’ll spend your time mastering skills like mining, fishing, and alchemy while sending your heroes to fight epic battles in dungeons.
What makes Idle Skilling shine is its variety. It’s not just about numbers going up—you’re constantly switching between activities, managing your resources, and strategizing your upgrades. Each skill tree feels like its own mini-game, and the interconnected systems add layers of complexity.
For newcomers, the sheer depth can feel overwhelming, but once you get the hang of it, Idle Skilling becomes an addictive loop of progress. The frequent updates and active development team ensure there’s always something new to explore.
Realm Grinder
Platforms: PC, mobile
Price: Free (with in-app purchases)
What if you could rule your own fantasy kingdom while casually sipping your coffee? Realm Grinder gives you that power, combining incremental mechanics with kingdom management. You start small, generating coins to build structures and recruit subjects. As your kingdom grows, you’ll align with factions—good, evil, or neutral—unlocking unique upgrades and bonuses.
One of the game’s standout features is its depth. Each faction offers a different playstyle, and the sheer number of options ensures no two playthroughs are the same. From elves with their rapid income boosts to demons with their destructive power, there’s a strategy for everyone.
The lore and world-building add extra flavor, giving you a reason to stay invested. However, the steep learning curve might intimidate new players, and progression slows significantly in the late game. But for fans of strategy and fantasy, Realm Grinder is a rewarding experience.
NGU Idle
Platforms: PC (Steam)
Price: Free
Short for “Numbers Go Up,” NGU Idle is an irreverent, meta take on incremental games that doesn’t take itself seriously—but its mechanics are no joke. You’ll level up, defeat bosses, and unlock absurd upgrades in a game that’s packed with humor and endless systems to explore.
What makes NGU Idle special is its personality. The writing is hilarious, with plenty of self-aware jokes and unexpected surprises. At the same time, the gameplay offers a satisfying mix of strategy and chaos. You’ll balance resource allocation, gear upgrades, and character stats, all while chasing the game’s overarching goal: making the numbers go up.
While the graphics are basic, the depth of the mechanics and the community-driven content make it a cult favorite among idle game fans. It’s perfect for players who enjoy optimization with a side of comedy.
A Dark Room
Platforms: PC, mobile, Switch
Price: Around $1–$10 (platform-dependent)
On the surface, A Dark Room is a minimalist text-based game about stoking a fire. But as you play, it evolves into something much more—a mysterious journey of survival, exploration, and discovery. This game blends idle mechanics with a rich narrative, slowly revealing its world as you gather resources, build structures, and explore the unknown.
The game’s strength lies in its pacing. Each action feels meaningful, and the minimalist design lets your imagination fill in the blanks. It’s a meditative experience, perfect for players who appreciate storytelling alongside their idle progression.
However, A Dark Room may not be for everyone. Its slower pace and text-based format might not appeal to players who prefer flashy visuals or fast action. But for those willing to immerse themselves, it’s a hauntingly beautiful experience that lingers long after the final click.
Final Thoughts
From the absurd hilarity of Farmer Against Potatoes Idle to the mind-bending mechanics of Antimatter Dimensions, this list showcases the wide variety of experiences incremental and idle games offer. Whether you’re here for the quirky humor, strategic depth, or the simple joy of watching numbers climb higher, these titles represent the best the genre has to offer.
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