Idle games have recently exploded in popularity, which comes as no surprise considering the fact that the mobile gaming industry is at an all-time high.
Everyone who owns a mobile device can play idle games, especially individuals who don’t have a lot of free time on their hands.
This is due to the fact that idle games are designed to allow you to progress while requiring minimal participation on the player’s part.
There are many idle games out there to choose from, so let’s take a look at the 15 best idle games for Android that you can play in 2023.
Table of Contents
1. Clicker Heroes
When it comes to idle games, things don’t get much more idle than Clicker Heroes. This mobile game has been around for a few years now, and while it was popular on PC, it hadn’t peaked until it came to mobile platforms.
The premise of Clicker Heroes is pretty straightforward. Simply click on the monsters to destroy them while leading a team of heroes to assist you along the way. For every monster that you destroy, you will earn currency, and after you kill enough monsters, you will be able to advance to the next level.
Players can spend their hard-earned gold to increase their tap damage, hire new heroes to join their party, and even upgrade their existing ones. Every five levels, your party will face a boss monster that needs to be defeated within the given time limit. However, if your foe turns out to be too strong, you can always return to one of the previous levels and farm more gold to boost your damage.
2. Idle Mine Tycoon
Idle Mine Tycoon is a mobile game that puts the player in charge of administering a mining operation which means that you will be in charge of every single aspect of it, from digging the coal to selling it on the market.
Most of the work will be completed by the workers that you can hire. However, whether they can keep up with the workload and do their jobs correctly is entirely up to you.
By expanding your mining operation and purchasing upgrades for your workers, you will be able to increase the productivity of your mine, purchase additional mining shafts, and upgrade your workforce, in order to become the ultimate industrial tycoon.
3. AFK Arena
The AFK Arena is probably the most popular Idle game on this list and puts the player in charge of a team of heroes who are tasked with battling against monsters.
The game emphasizes many RPG elements such as leveling up, hero classes, heroes being able to level up and equip weapons and items, unique abilities, and strategic combat placement.
The game also features the Shadow Invasions mode which allows you to control one hero who battles incoming hordes of enemies while unlocking upgrades and new abilities.
In this mode, the player’s objective is to survive long enough against hordes of enemies long enough for the boss the appear and then defeat it with the abilities that you have gained.
4. Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector
This is probably the cutest game by far on our list so if you are a fan of cats and all kinds of cute then this game should be right up your alley. As implied by its name, the main goal of Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector is to simply collect all kinds of cute cat companions. However, doing so is not a simple task.
In order to add more felines to your collection, you need to attract them by buying all different kinds of toys, snacks, and various other goodies from the shop. Patience also plays an important role since your furry little friends won’t show up immediately.
Different breeds of cats are attracted by different things so experimenting with different kinds of food and toys will help you fill your cat databook faster. You can also take pictures of your favorite kitties if you want to.
5. Idle Archer Tower Defense RPG
This idle tower defense game puts you in charge of an archer who is tasked to defend his tower from hordes of invading enemies by using his trusty bow and arrow. The main goal of the game is to eliminate all of the enemies before they reach your tower.
Each enemy that you kill will earn you gold and experience points which you can spend on upgrades. There are three different types of upgrades, Offensive, Defensive, and Experience, and the player can choose freely which ones they want to get for each level depending on their preferences and the invading armies.
Additionally, players can also complete quests to earn extra rewards, upgrade their talents which are permanent across levels, and use specific skills on cooldown if they ever find themselves in a pinch.
6. Fallout Shelter
Fallout Shelter is a construction and management simulation game and a part of Bethesda’s Fallout series.
The game puts you in the shoes of an overseer of one of many vaults that have been built all across the wasteland prior to the nuclear catastrophe and it is your job to maintain it and keep the vault dwellers happy.
To do so, you will need to construct rooms that produce different types of goods such as water, electricity, and food. In order to make sure that things are running smoothly and increase production, you will need to assign your dwellers to work, however, keep in mind that not all dwellers are equally fit to run every single facility.
Lastly, as the leader of the vault, you will be able to manage the weapons and equipment of the vault dwellers and send them out to explore the wasteland and complete special missions to earn unique rewards.
7. Animal Restaurant
Animal Restaurant is a management simulation game that allows the player to assume the role of a manager who is tasked with running a restaurant located in a forest.
Naturally, as a manager, you will be in charge of various duties such as buying tables and decorating the dining area, and providing equipment for the kitchen to ensure that the food coming out of it is nothing short of delicious.
Of course, as in any great business establishment, the customer is always right, so making sure that your chef knows the required recipes is also one of your many responsibilities.
Lastly, you will be in charge of promoting the restaurant by tapping on the screen to send out flyers to many different species of animals in the hope that all of them will visit your fine establishment and dine on your exquisite cuisine.
8. Hooked Inc.: Fishing Games
Hooked Inc.: Fishing Games is perhaps one of the most idle games on this list. Essentially, it is not much more than a fishing simulator, so if you are somebody who enjoys relaxing on a boat while fishing within the calm waters surrounded by nothing but the sea, then this game is for you.
To catch fish and other creatures of the ocean, all you have to do is tap on them, and every creature that you bring into your boat will earn you some money.
You can spend your hard-earned cash to upgrade your boat and your fishing equipment. Alternatively, you can hire crewmembers to earn unique boosts and bonuses.
Although the ocean is often quiet, on rare occasions, a more powerful creature may rise from the depths, however, if you are well equipt and skilled enough, it may just become your next big catch.
9. Realm Grinder
Realm Grinder is a clicker game that allows the player to build and expand their own kingdom.
You will start out with nothing but barren land, but as you tap on it to earn gold, you will quickly begin building farmhouses, inns, blacksmith shops, and other buildings.
As you develop your land, you will be able to collect taxes and hire assistants to help you run your kingdom and over time, you will come into contact with other races and factions. It is then up to you to choose whether you wish to be their friend or foe and enjoy all the bonuses that come with that decision.
10. AdVenutre Communist
This resource management game lets the player become the supreme leader of a communist state, but how can the player achieve that goal? By farming potatoes of course.
Your first order of business is to tap the screen to gain farmers to work on your potato farm. Naturally, the more farmers you acquire, the higher the potato production will be. Once you have enough potatoes, you can create communes in order to house more farmers.
By completing objectives, you will advance through the ranks and eventually, you will be able to hire workers and researchers, whom you can then promote to earn higher rewards and unique boosts.
11. Clickpocalypse 2
Clickpocalypse 2 is an idle role-playing game set in a post-apocalyptic world that is overrun by monsters and it is up to you to eliminate each and every one of them.
In order to accomplish this task, you will be leading a small party of heroes that consists of different classes. Each class comes with its own set of unique abilities and strengths and weaknesses so you will need to choose wisely.
Once your company of heroes is ready, they will venture into creepy dungeons and battle ferocious beasts while you oversee everything and make sure that they are properly geared up and stacked on scrolls, potions, and other equipment that may come in handy.
12. Egg. Inc
Egg. Inc is an idle game that comes with a very simple goal, obtain as many eggs as possible.
You start things off at a farm and as you start tapping the screen, chickens will arrive at your land. Each chicken that you gain will increase egg production, and eggs can be sold for money, so you will want as many as you can get your hands on.
With enough income at your disposal, you will be able to expand your chicken coops and do research in order to increase the production and value of your eggs. Eventually, you will be able to discover are and more expensive types of eggs.
13. Cookie Clicker
You have probably heard the expression “That’s the way the cookie crumbles”. Well, the Cookie Clicker allows you to experience it, literally. The main goal of the game is to tap the giant chocolate chip cookie and crumble it into smaller cookies that you can collect.
Now we are talking about the biggest cookie you have ever seen and crumbling it isn’t going to be easy. Fortunately, the game will let you hire some help.
By gathering enough cookies, you will be able to hire a grandma or two to assist you with the baking. Hell, you can even grow some on your cookie farm. Each of your facilities can be upgraded so that cookie production can constantly increase.
14. Idle Farming Empire
Have you ever dreamed about running your own farm without having to do backbreaking work every day? Well, Idle Farming Empire lets you do just that.
The game puts you in the shoes of a farmer and from there, it is up to you to ensure that everything is running smoothly and that the farm is profitable.
You start by purchasing a plot of land and planting some carrots which you can sell for cash, however, things quickly escalate as your farm expands and as you plant more crops and buy farm animals.
As your level increases, new upgrades will become available for your family which will further increase your production. There are lots of crops, animals, and pets to unlock so there is always plenty of work to be done.
15. Epic Monster TD – RPG Tower Defense
Epic Monster TD – RPG Tower Defense is a tower defense game and while its gameplay mechanics might be self-implied, its story premise is anything but. While most games will have the player fight against monsters, Epic Monster TD – RPG Tower Defense flips that premise on its head and has the player assume the role of the monsters who are trying to defend their portal against a human invasion.
To protect the precious portals, the player is tasked with placing defensive monster towers around. Each of the monster towers has unique abilities and synergy between them is extremely important so it is imperative that you plan your strategy accordingly.
By using spells and upgrading the offensive and defensive capabilities of your towers, as well as defeating the invading armies, the player will unlock brand new monsters which will be very useful against the increasing power of the human army.
Conclusion
With this last entry, our list of some of the best idle games for Android is complete and as you can see, there are many idle games out there to choose from.
Regardless of whether you are a fan of a simulation, resource management game, or RPG, chances are that you will find a game that thematically suits your preferences. So instead of idling here, pick one of the games listed above and have some fun.