Best Idler Linux Games on Steam
Steam currently has 1,806 Idler games, but not all of them are able to be played on Linux builds. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Idler game rankings were last updated on 7/25/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best idler games on Steam
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- Free idler games on Steam
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1. Virtual Cottage
Virtual Cottage gives you a comfy place to rest and be productive without any distractions. Open the game, set yourself a goal and enjoy the atmosphere.
Virtual Cottage holds the #1 spot for "best Linux Idler game on Steam" with a Player Score of 95. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,492 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 9,283 positive reviews and 209 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Virtual Cottage on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
2. shapez
shapez is a game about building factories to automate the creation and processing of increasingly complex shapes across an infinitely expanding map.
shapez has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Linux Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 11,691 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 11,276 positive reviews and 415 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $0.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play shapez on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $0.99 |
| Release Date | 6/7/2020 |
| Franchise | Doyoyo Games |
| Developer | Tobias Springer |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1318690 |
3. WorldBox - God Simulator
WorldBox is the ULTIMATE god simulator and sandbox game. A petri dish for your fantasy civilizations. Create your own world or destroy it using many powers. Watch civilizations grow, form kingdoms, colonize new lands, sail to far continents, wars to ignite, empires to fall and towns to burn!
WorldBox - God Simulator has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Linux Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 34,772 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 32,931 positive reviews and 1,841 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 12/2/2021 |
| Developer | Maxim Karpenko |
| Publisher | Maxim Karpenko |
| Steam App Id | 1206560 |
4. Bitburner
Bitburner is a programming-based incremental game. Write scripts in JavaScript to automate gameplay, learn skills, play minigames, solve puzzles, and more in this cyberpunk text-based incremental RPG.
Bitburner has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Linux Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,104 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,804 positive reviews and 300 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Bitburner on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 12/10/2021 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Fulcrum Games |
| Steam App Id | 1812820 |
5. Ages of Conflict: World War Simulator
Ages of Conflict is a versatile Map Simulation game where you spawn and observe custom or random AI nations battle it out across an infinite number of worlds. Command nations to nudge the world events into your liking.
Ages of Conflict: World War Simulator has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Linux Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,822 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,706 positive reviews and 116 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $6.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Ages of Conflict: World War Simulator on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $6.99 |
| Release Date | 2/17/2023 |
| Developer | JoySpark Games |
| Publisher | JoySpark Games |
| Steam App Id | 2186320 |
6. Luna's Fishing Garden
Luna's Fishing Garden is a short, cozy fishing and building game. Catch fish, trade it in and create the garden of your dreams by planting new trees, placing water objects and bringing animals to the archipelago.
Luna's Fishing Garden has achieved a Player Score of 90, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Linux Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,898 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,798 positive reviews and 100 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $7.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $7.99 |
| Release Date | 6/16/2021 |
| Franchise | Coldwild Games |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Coldwild Games |
| Steam App Id | 1477790 |
7. Viridi
Nurture a small pot of succulents that grow in real time. Viridi is a safe haven, a place you can return to for a moment of peace and quiet whenever you need it.
Viridi has achieved a Player Score of 89, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Linux Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,050 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,313 positive reviews and 737 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Viridi on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 8/19/2015 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Ice Water Games |
| Steam App Id | 375950 |
8. THE LONGING
An unusual mix of adventure and idle game. In utter loneliness deep below the surface, it's your task to wait for the awakening of your king... for 400 days.
THE LONGING has achieved a Player Score of 89, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Linux Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,063 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,588 positive reviews and 475 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 3/5/2020 |
| Franchise | Application Systems |
| Developer | Studio Seufz |
| Publisher | Application Systems Heidelberg |
| Steam App Id | 893850 |
9. Unnamed Space Idle
Destroy endless waves of alien ships that have all but wiped out humanity in this long form, unfolding, sci-fi idle game. Customize your ship with different weapons and defenses to defeat specific enemy types and utilize a ton of different systems to increase your overall power.
Unnamed Space Idle has achieved a Player Score of 88, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Linux Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,627 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,512 positive reviews and 115 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Unnamed Space Idle on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 7/27/2023 |
| Developer | Sylv |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2471100 |
10. Melvor Idle
Inspired by RuneScape, Melvor Idle takes the core of what makes an adventure game so addictive and strips it down to its purest form! This is a feature-rich, idle/incremental game combining a distinctly familiar feel with a fresh gameplay experience. Maxing 20+ skills has never been more zen.
Melvor Idle has achieved a Player Score of 88, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Linux Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 12,558 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 11,359 positive reviews and 1,199 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Melvor Idle on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 11/18/2021 |
| Franchise | Jagex Ltd |
| Developer | Games by Malcs |
| Publisher | Jagex Ltd |
| Steam App Id | 1267910 |
More Idler Linux Games on Steam
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Idler games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 200 | 10/7/2020 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,709 | 6/7/2020 | 94 | $0.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,351 | 12/2/2021 | 93 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 555 | 12/10/2021 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 136 | 2/17/2023 | 92 | $6.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 6/16/2021 | 90 | $7.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 154 | 8/19/2015 | 89 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 48 | 3/5/2020 | 89 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 3,780 | 7/27/2023 | 88 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 5,764 | 11/18/2021 | 88 | $9.99 | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 25). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 25). Virtual Cottage on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 24). shapez on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 11). WorldBox - God Simulator on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 26). Bitburner on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 24). Ages of Conflict: World War Simulator on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 11). Luna's Fishing Garden on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 27). Viridi on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 24). THE LONGING on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 27). Unnamed Space Idle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 24). Melvor Idle on Steam. Steam Store.