Games Like Idle Research

Magic Research is a text-based incremental game about Magic. You are the headmaster of a newly-created institution of Magic. Will you be able to lead your school to win the prestigious Tournament of Magic?

Why similar: Idler 24.1%, Automation 19.9%, Text-Based 12.3%, Resource Management 11%, Minimalist 7.2%

Why You'll Like It: It shares a similar focus on research-based progression and unlocking new tiers of power through active and idle experimentation.

Welcome to Magic Research 2, an incremental RPG from the creator of Magic Research. Learn countless spells, face powerful foes, and command a team of Wizards who can cast spells for you as you journey to find or create the Philosopher's Stone.

Why similar: Idler 22.7%, Automation 20.7%, Incremental 15%, Text-Based 12.2%, Management 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: A refined sequel that expands on the research and automation mechanics of the original with even more depth.

Industry Idle is an idle game that combines factory building, resource management and market trading. Design & build your base, expand & scale up your productions, improve & optimize your economy. Plus all the incremental game goodies: offline earnings, prestige to unlock more powerful upgrades.

Why similar: Automation 20.6%, Idler 20.3%, Incremental 15.7%, Resource Management 12.1%, Minimalist 7.2%

Why You'll Like It: This game excels at the automation and resource management aspects that make Idle Research so addictive.

Earn antimatter through dimensions! Gain Infinite antimatter to collapse the universe!

Why similar: Idler 62.3%, Strategy 14.7%, Resource Management 10.6%, Automation 10.5%, Indie 1.9%

Why You'll Like It: This is the gold standard for incremental games, offering a deep, satisfying progression loop that perfectly mirrors the scaling complexity of Idle Research.

This is a beautiful "Idle", "Incremental" game based on spirals and mathematics. Your goal is to make the spiral grow farther and farther from the origin. The game is very simple, but it is very deep and can be enjoyed for a long time!

Why similar: Idler 30.1%, Incremental 27.1%, Automation 21.2%, Simulation 7.6%, Resource Management 4.6%

Why You'll Like It: It features a clean, minimalist interface and a focus on incremental growth that feels very similar to the core loop of Idle Research.

A text-based incremental idle game with a ridiculous amount of unique content. Automate old stuff as you unlock new stuff to keep things interesting for hours and hours, no spam clicking necessary! Trimps is everything you love about your favorite games, distilled to their purest form.

Why similar: Idler 31.8%, Automation 26.3%, Text-Based 16%, Management 10.7%, Strategy 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: A classic in the genre that masterfully blends resource management with automation and incremental growth.

Synergism is a free-to-play Idle game about... well, Synergy! Explore that concept through hundreds of upgrades, many reset layers and probably thousands of hours of content that allows both idle and active play.

Why similar: Idler 53.2%, Strategy 16.8%, Incremental 11.7%, Resource Management 11.6%, 2D 5.2%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a highly complex and rewarding system of prestige and automation that appeals to fans of deep incremental math.

Blow leaves, upgrade your gear, and automate your progress as you explore the Leaf Universe. A satisfying incremental idle game where every leaf blown brings you closer to the next big upgrade. Simple, relaxing, and endlessly rewarding. Let the leaves fall, and your progress rise!

Why similar: Idler 36.4%, Incremental 34%, Crafting 15.4%, Relaxing 6%, 2D 3.1%

Why You'll Like It: It captures the same 'big numbers' satisfaction and crafting-based progression found in Idle Research.

Craft and automate an industrial empire from scratch! Experience a strategic game teeming with challenges as you manage resources, overcome hurdles, and optimize production chains. Are you ready to conquer the challenges of Incremental Factory? Your journey starts here... The Factory Must Grow!

Why similar: Automation 23.3%, Idler 22.9%, Resource Management 13.2%, Crafting 10.6%, Simulation 5.8%

Why You'll Like It: It emphasizes automation and production chains, making it a perfect match for those who enjoy the management side of Idle Research.

An entire town builder experience packed into a living spreadsheet. Build housing, assign workers, then craft and sell a huge variety of items to level up your town and expand your civilization across the world!

Why similar: Idler 20%, Incremental 17.6%, Automation 17.2%, Resource Management 11.2%, Minimalist 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: This title focuses on building complex production chains and automating resource flow, mirroring the management depth of the seed game.

Idle Skilling is the ultimate Idle Game with years of content! Meant to be played for 5-10 minutes a day, you gradually unlock new skills like mining, fishing, pet breeding, crusading, potion-making, lab-research, construction, and more! With new updates coming, you'll never run out of stuff to do!

Why similar: Idler 30.9%, Incremental 25.4%, Resource Management 14.8%, Crafting 8.6%, Simulation 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a deep, skill-based progression system that balances active play and idle automation effectively.

Orb of Creation is a non-idle incremental-puzzle game in which you recreate the world with nothing but magic and ingenuity. Conjure resources, buy upgrades, and become an all-powerful wizard!

Why similar: Incremental 52.5%, Resource Management 14.8%, Idler 11.5%, Strategy 7%, Crafting 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on unique research and crafting mechanics that require strategic resource management to progress.

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.

Why similar: Idler 49.7%, Automation 21%, Crafting 9.9%, Minimalist 8.7%, Adventure 3.5%

Why You'll Like It: This game offers deep, interconnected crafting and skill systems that reward long-term planning and resource management.

Explore the depths of the earth and uncover hidden treasures in this addictive idle mining game. Unlock the power of your drill with hundreds of upgrades, discover mysterious relics, and unearth priceless gems. Can you master the mines and reveal their deepest secrets? Dive in and dig deep!

Why similar: Idler 28.6%, Incremental 25.6%, Resource Management 10.1%, Crafting 9.3%, Simulation 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: A classic mining-focused incremental game that shares the resource management and upgrade loops of Idle Research.

Idle Cave Miner is an idle game about crafting items, mining gems, and building your team of miners. Prestige, craft, and travel to other mines to increase your strength to dig deeper, and find what lurks below.

Why similar: Idler 28.4%, Incremental 24.6%, Resource Management 12.2%, Crafting 12.1%, Management 12.1%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a similar mining and crafting loop, focusing on steady progression and resource accumulation.

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!

Why similar: Idler 44.4%, Incremental 41.9%, Simulation 6.5%, Adventure 4.3%, Indie 2.9%

Why You'll Like It: A highly addictive incremental game that features deep systems and a humorous take on the genre's tropes.

Revolution Idle is a free idle incremental game with offline progress, prestige layers, and endless automation. Start simple, reach infinity and go further.

Why similar: Incremental 20.8%, Idler 20.3%, Automation 18.7%, Resource Management 10%, Management 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a casual yet engaging incremental experience that is easy to pick up and play.

Idle Iktah is a game about leveling up in the Pacific Northwest. It features local plants and animals, 18 skills, 5+ minigames, items affected by the phase of the moon, and even a real-time Oregon coast tide tracker. If you like idle RPGs, give this one a shot!

Why similar: Idler 40.4%, Incremental 34.7%, Simulation 9.2%, Crafting 8.5%, Relaxing 5%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a strong focus on crafting and resource gathering within a well-structured incremental framework.

CompactO is an addicting idle game where you create colorful squares on a plane. Dominate the 3D Realm and infuse your planes into complex shapes to buy tons of upgrades!

Why similar: Idler 29.1%, Incremental 23.3%, Management 11.4%, Text-Based 9.2%, Strategy 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: A strategic incremental game that focuses on optimizing production and managing resources for maximum efficiency.

A condensed incremental experience, where you build a colony to collect and merge bigger and bigger fruits. Combine game-changing technologies and special upgrades to find the best synergies and take your cash flow to another dimension.

Why similar: Incremental 22.9%, Automation 22.1%, Idler 20.6%, Management 8.7%, Resource Management 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: It emphasizes automation and resource management within a colony-building context.

Start from nothing and grow into a legendary Slayer. Explore countless dimensions, collect souls, unlock powerful upgrades, craft powerful gear, defeat epic bosses, and enjoy a deep idle RPG with active and offline progression.

Why similar: Idler 50.1%, Incremental 41.1%, 2D 3.7%, Strategy 3.7%, Indie 1.3%

Why You'll Like It: It successfully mixes active gameplay elements with idle progression, keeping the player engaged through constant upgrades.

Craft a complex production line, earn idle cash and become an industrial tycoon!

Why similar: Idler 25.1%, Incremental 24%, Automation 23.3%, Management 10.6%, Strategy 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses heavily on production chains and crafting, which is a core component of the seed game's appeal.

An idle incremental game where you decide to travel across the whole Universe. Embark on this journey in your little ship and get as far away as possible from Earth, gathering resources and upgrading your spaceship along the way.

Why similar: Idler 25.8%, Automation 22.9%, Incremental 22.6%, Resource Management 13%, Strategy 5.1%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on automation and exploration, providing a satisfying sense of scale and growth.

Idling to Rule the Gods is a free to play Idle-Game with a lot of content and some Minigames. Depending on your play-style, you can play it fast or slow. Either way it can be fun for hundreds of hours!

Why similar: Incremental 27.9%, Idler 24%, Text-Based 15.5%, Management 12.2%, Simulation 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: It offers deep systems and long-term progression goals that will appeal to players who enjoy complex incremental games.

RPG/Idle hybrid about becoming the most powerful wizard there is. Pick a class, get a pet, configure and improve your character in a myriad ways!

Why similar: Idler 38.9%, Incremental 26.6%, Resource Management 17.5%, Management 8.1%, Simulation 3.1%

Why You'll Like It: It features complex systems and magic-themed research that reward deep strategic planning.

The epic story of evolution, technology, humanity, and dinosaurs is yours to tap.

Why similar: Incremental 56.3%, Idler 31.8%, Simulation 11.2%, Strategy 0.7%

Why You'll Like It: It features a visually engaging research-based progression system that feels very rewarding to climb.

"Let's begin your own story." This is a text-based idle RPG game. There are already more than 3,000 unique story actions and it's still growing.

Why similar: Idler 44.9%, Incremental 26.5%, Text-Based 23.5%, Adventure 3.2%, 2D 1.8%

Why You'll Like It: This game blends narrative-driven research with incremental growth, providing a unique twist on the genre.

Incredicer is a short, incremental dice game where you roll dice, earn money, upgrade and buy helper hands to automate and increase your income.

Why similar: Incremental 26.4%, Idler 22%, Automation 16.2%, Resource Management 11.4%, Strategy 5.3%

Conquer PickCrafter, the hit indie idle game! Break blocks, forge equipment, and collect powerful Pickaxes. Prestige to legendary tiers with the new Ascension Skill Tree. Discover biomes and battle epic bosses. Make meaningful choices and invent complex builds in this addictive endless adventure!

Why similar: Idler 24.8%, Incremental 22.2%, Resource Management 14.3%, Crafting 11.5%, Management 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: A mining-focused incremental game that offers a satisfying loop of resource collection and gear upgrades.

Gridkeeper is an incremental game about managing "Grids" and using their power to run MineBots, research tech, and grow your mining empire by getting better Grids.

Why similar: Idler 26.6%, Incremental 26.5%, Automation 15.8%, Strategy 11.6%, Resource Management 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on automation and building, providing a structured approach to incremental growth.

Vacuum Warrior is a Free to Play incremental idle game. Listen to the crisp crackle of dust and debris entering your vacuum as you vacuum ridiculous amounts of dust. Upgrade your vacuums, idle gains, and robot vacuums, earn achievements, and explore numerous locations in the Vacuum Warrior universe!

Why similar: Idler 25%, Incremental 21.8%, Automation 21.1%, Minimalist 7.1%, Simulation 6.2%

A casual cultivation-themed incremental idle RPG. Start as a Qi Refining cultivator, auto-train, idle, break through realms, explore maps and dungeons, defeat monsters, collect gear, skills, materials, pills, spirit stones and pets, farm, fish, chop wood, mine, cook, forge, and plan long-term growth

Why similar: Idler 26.8%, Incremental 20.9%, Automation 20.6%, Resource Management 13.4%, Text-Based 10.5%

The incremental idle MMO where your heroes keep fighting while you're gone! Spend their loot on upgrades, unlock classes from Elemental-Wizard to Cannon-Pirate, and level 20 unique skills like Farming, Sailing, and Construction!

Why similar: Idler 38.4%, Incremental 27.5%, Resource Management 10.6%, Crafting 9.1%, Management 8.7%

Stunning sphere-themed idle/incremental game. Experience simplicity's beauty.

Why similar: Idler 32%, Incremental 27%, Minimalist 11.5%, Simulation 10.1%, Automation 7.8%

Incremental game about smashing with unfolding gameplay and two prestige layers.

Why similar: Incremental 24.3%, Idler 24%, Automation 15.5%, Resource Management 11%, Management 10%

Lead your heroes in their neverending adventures! A minimalistic Idle game where combat is fully automated. It's up to you to make the most of that automation to reach extremely high numbers!

Why similar: Idler 29.4%, Automation 27.2%, Text-Based 14.7%, Minimalist 11.2%, Management 9.4%

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.

Why similar: Idler 36.5%, Incremental 28.4%, Resource Management 13%, Automation 11.9%, Simulation 7.7%

Idle Commonwealth is an idle game that pays homage to the best of the idle genre. Start small, grow your commonwealth, maintain morale, establish governance, invent technologies, trade and conquer your neighbors.

Why similar: Idler 29.4%, Incremental 24.1%, Resource Management 15.2%, Management 7.6%, Strategy 6.2%

Strategic idle game. Develop the kingdom, then abdicate and get gold! For gold, you can buy new tiles and expand the territory.

Why similar: Idler 45.4%, Incremental 42.4%, Strategy 9.8%, Indie 2.4%

CivIdle is an idle/incremental game that allows you to lead your own civilization through thousands of years from ancient times to the modern era. Expand your territory, explore a vast tech tree, build various wonders, and trade with global players: empire must grow and numbers must go up!

Why similar: Idler 31.2%, Automation 29.4%, Resource Management 14.1%, Management 12%, Strategy 5.3%

Kill the Lich is a minimalist incremental game about time compression and resource flow. Route your primary resource—Momentum—downstream to unlock over 300 actions. Design granular automation, visualize exposed formulas, and trigger deep prestige layers to ultimately defeat the Lich!

Why similar: Idler 22.7%, Incremental 21.9%, Automation 21.7%, Text-Based 9.9%, Minimalist 5.7%

Tiny Biomes is a relaxing idle game where animals peacefully produce resources and you gather wood in a calm harvesting zone. Build small biomes, earn gold, and enjoy steady progression without pressure, timers, or stress. Play at your own pace and unwind.

Why similar: Idler 28.2%, Incremental 23.2%, Automation 14.4%, Minimalist 7.7%, Resource Management 7.3%

Idle Plant Game, an idle and offline progress or clicker plant simulation!

Why similar: Incremental 26.8%, Idler 25.3%, Automation 16.8%, Management 7.8%, Resource Management 7.7%

A sci-fi management game where you build and optimize your computer's system from the ground up. Connect and configure interconnected nodes to efficiently download, process, and upload files. Manage your setup, solve system challenges, and become the ultimate system architect

Why similar: Automation 28.4%, Idler 26.6%, Incremental 18.5%, Simulation 8.7%, Management 8.2%

Future Fortune is an incremental/idle game featuring big numbers, a multi-layer prestige system, a milestone reward system, multiple upgrade shops, and much more!

Why similar: Idler 25.9%, Incremental 22.3%, Automation 20.4%, Simulation 7.3%, Strategy 6.9%

A short incremental game about splitting atoms and triggering exponentially growing chain reactions.

Why similar: Incremental 26.1%, Idler 18.3%, Resource Management 12.9%, Minimalist 10%, Strategy 7.1%

A massive RuneScape-inspired idle RPG built for long-term progression. Train 24 skills, defeat bosses, collect over 500 souls, and bank offline time to accelerate your progress whenever you choose.

Why similar: Idler 30%, Automation 20.5%, Incremental 17%, Resource Management 11.5%, Crafting 10.4%

Cube based incremental game that is simple but very deep!

Why similar: Incremental 45.3%, Idler 41.8%, Simulation 10.5%, 2D 2.3%

A short incremental game about expanding a star-system wide factory to build giant megastructures in space. Deploy swarms of drones, mine resources, unlock upgrades and harvest the power of the stars!

Why similar: Idler 21.2%, Incremental 20.3%, Automation 20%, Resource Management 11.9%, Management 7.6%

Milky Way Idle: A multiplayer idle RPG where automation replaces grinding. Level up skills, gather resources, craft powerful items, and battle monsters—all while AFK. Trade in the marketplace, join a guild, team up for party combat, and socialize in chat as you progress effortlessly.

Why similar: Idler 31.2%, Incremental 26.9%, Crafting 12.5%, Text-Based 11.7%, Resource Management 11.6%

Relax and catch fish in beautiful environments while your crew works for you, even offline. Hire crewmates, collect pets, sail ever-bigger boats, and uncover layer after layer of progression. Simple to start, surprisingly deep.

Why similar: Idler 28.8%, Incremental 23.3%, Resource Management 12.3%, Management 12.1%, Cartoony 7.5%

Recruit hard-working helpers and magical creatures that automatically collect gold and crystals. Unlock new levels, invest in stronger units, and work your way up to the powerful dragon boss at the top. A relaxing pixel-style idle clicker!

Why similar: Incremental 37.3%, Automation 31.2%, Idler 17.1%, Management 9.1%, 2D 2.8%

Train a commoner to become the greatest archer in this short incremental game! Increase your stats, gather wealth from quests, buy upgrades, and infuse your arrows with magic.

Why similar: Incremental 35%, Idler 31.9%, Resource Management 16.3%, Management 5.3%, Simulation 4.3%

Embark on an interstellar journey with Galaxy Idle Clicker! Conquer galaxies, upgrade your spaceship, and face off against a myriad of enemy ships. With engaging minigames, powerful upgrades, GIC delivers an unparalleled idle space adventure. Join the cosmic conquest today and dominate the universe!

Why similar: Idler 32.7%, Incremental 29.2%, Resource Management 17.6%, Management 7.2%, Simulation 5.8%

A short incremental game about feeding a Black Hole matter by destroying Asteroids, Planets, and Stars.

Why similar: Incremental 40.5%, Idler 19.1%, Resource Management 7.4%, Minimalist 6.6%, Strategy 5.9%

Idle Deepcore is an incremental mining game where you dig ever deeper, smelt ore into ingots, upgrade your pickaxe and machines, and grow several mines in parallel to build a vast underground industry.

Why similar: Idler 26.7%, Automation 25.8%, Incremental 25.6%, Simulation 6.8%, Resource Management 5.9%

Nodebuster is a short, experimental incremental game about busting nodes and destroying reality.

Why similar: Incremental 36.8%, Idler 24.3%, Management 9.5%, Minimalist 6.9%, Strategy 6.7%

An idle game about collecting cancer with quirky stickfigures!

Why similar: Idler 21.2%, Automation 19.6%, Incremental 18.9%, Resource Management 10.6%, Crafting 9.8%

castle idler is a short, relaxing incremental tower defense game with no waves. upgrade towers, collect coins, and unlock powerful prestige upgrades to defend your castle.

Why similar: Idler 27.8%, Incremental 23.8%, Management 9.6%, Resource Management 9.1%, Minimalist 7.4%

Idle Pins is an Incremental game made by an Incremental addict for Incremental lovers. Over 250 Pins to collect and merge. Hundreds of upgrades, features and QoL. Enjoy one of the most rewarding 'grind' experience, now on Steam!

Why similar: Idler 29.9%, Incremental 26.7%, Resource Management 16.2%, Crafting 12.5%, Management 8.8%