Best Idler Games on Steam
Steam currently has 1,608 Idler games available to download and play. 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 4/30/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free idler games on Steam
- Best idler Steam Deck games
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- Best idler Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Cookie Clicker
An idle game about making cookies! Originally released in 2013 on the web, and actively developed since then. This is the official version for Steam.
Cookie Clicker holds the #1 spot for "best Idler game on Steam" with a Player Score of 95. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 62,879 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 60,939 positive reviews and 1,940 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Cookie Clicker on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $4.99 |
| Release Date | 9/1/2021 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Playsaurus |
| Steam App Id | 1454400 |
2. LIZARDS MUST DIE
The great exploits of the Ancient Rus in the war with the lizards. Immerse yourself in the world of Hyperborea and defeat hordes of Lizards and other unholy who encroached on holy places Ancestors. Choose a blessed hero and go save the world from the green plague.
LIZARDS MUST DIE has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 23,925 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 23,245 positive reviews and 680 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $0.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play LIZARDS MUST DIE on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $0.99 |
| Release Date | 9/27/2023 |
| Franchise | Agafonoff Official Group |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2532550 |
3. 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 has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,161 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,961 positive reviews and 200 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).
4. Outpath: First Journey
Outpath: First Journey is a prologue chapter of the main game, Outpath. An experimental clicker base building game. Craft, gather & manage resources, build your base and buy more islands to exploit and expand!
Outpath: First Journey has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,708 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,593 positive reviews and 115 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Outpath: First Journey on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 12/17/2022 |
| Franchise | Davii Projects |
| Developer | David Moralejo Sánchez |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2237980 |
5. 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 #5 spot for the best Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 11,157 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 10,766 positive reviews and 391 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly 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 shapez on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 6/7/2020 |
| Franchise | Doyoyo Games |
| Developer | Tobias Springer |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1318690 |
6. 英雄黄昏-文字三国志&曹贼模拟器
这是三国玩家的童话世界，新奇而独特，虽然其貌不扬，但内在很丰富。在游戏里扮演着类似穿越者的角色，在三国世界可以自由地实现各种幻想，甚至可以体验当曹贼的乐趣，另外还可以挂机摸鱼。它的缺点除了没有画面和上手较难，还没有团队，只有业余的作者一人，因热爱而坚持，若有反馈可以联系作者。
英雄黄昏-文字三国志&曹贼模拟器 has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,765 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,706 positive reviews and 59 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
7. NGU IDLE
NGU Idle is a Free To Play Idle game that's full of weird humor, tons of upgrades and hundreds of hours of content! Try out NGU Idle today and experience the joy of Numbers Going Up!
NGU IDLE has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 11,022 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 10,594 positive reviews and 428 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play NGU IDLE on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
8. Spirit City: Lofi Sessions
Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is a gamified focus tool, set to a soothing lofi soundtrack. Discover and collect Spirits, customize your cozy virtual space, and facilitate your real-life tasks with a collection of handy features designed to improve concentration and ease stress.
Spirit City: Lofi Sessions has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,236 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,152 positive reviews and 84 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $11.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Spirit City: Lofi Sessions on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $11.99 |
| Release Date | 4/8/2024 |
| Developer | Mooncube Games |
| Publisher | Mooncube Games |
| Steam App Id | 2113850 |
9. Garden Galaxy
Discover, collect and organise to create your own unique garden in this relaxing idle / creative sandbox!
Garden Galaxy has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,684 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,656 positive reviews and 28 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Garden Galaxy on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 12/14/2022 |
| Developer | Anneka Tran |
| Publisher | Anneka Tran |
| Steam App Id | 1970460 |
10. (the) Gnorp Apologue
(the) Gnorp Apologue is the journey of the gnorps as you guide them towards their goal of delightfully excessive wealth accumulation.
(the) Gnorp Apologue has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Idler games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,526 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,379 positive reviews and 147 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $6.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play (the) Gnorp Apologue on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
More Idler Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Idler games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 9,593 | 9/1/2021 | 95 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 23 | 9/27/2023 | 95 | $0.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 301 | 10/7/2020 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 5 | 12/17/2022 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 238 | 6/7/2020 | 94 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 35 | 9/29/2021 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 3,443 | 10/1/2019 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,466 | 4/8/2024 | 93 | $11.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 56 | 12/14/2022 | 93 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 358 | 12/14/2023 | 93 | $6.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,307 | 12/2/2021 | 93 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 10,946 | 4/26/2024 | 93 | $6.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,208 | 8/25/2022 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,757 | 12/4/2020 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 4/10/2023 | 92 | $6.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 526 | 12/10/2021 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 33 | 2/2/2024 | 92 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 267 | 2/17/2023 | 92 | $6.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 8 | 8/31/2023 | 91 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 295 | 7/9/2020 | 91 | Free | 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, April 30). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 30). Cookie Clicker on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 5). LIZARDS MUST DIE on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 8). Virtual Cottage on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 22). Outpath: First Journey on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 13). shapez on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 26). 英雄黄昏-文字三国志&曹贼模拟器 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 11). NGU IDLE on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 7). Spirit City: Lofi Sessions on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 5). Garden Galaxy on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 9). (the) Gnorp Apologue on Steam. Steam Store.