The best idle games in 2026 for iPhone and Android are AFK Journey and IdleOn if you want an idle RPG, Idle Slayer and Realm Grinder if you want a pure incremental game, and Eatventure or Idle Bank Tycoon if you’d rather grow a business. Want no ads and no in-app purchases at all? Universal Paperclips costs $1.99 once and that’s it.
We checked all 12 games below on the US App Store and Google Play on October 31, 2026 (22:00 UTC). Each one is live on both stores under the same developer, and each one got an update in 2026. Eleven of them were updated in October. Features come from the official store listings and the developers’ own sites. Five are also on Steam if you want to play on PC.
Table of Contents
Quick answer: the best idle games by type
- Idle RPG with heroes to collect: AFK Journey (100 heroes, auto-battle, resources pile up while you sleep) or Legend of Mushroom (tap the Genie for gear, alliance boss fights).
- Deepest idle RPG: IdleOn, which has 19 classes, a dozen skills and no 12-hour cap on offline gains.
- Classic tap-and-prestige clicker: Tap Titans 2 or Clicker Heroes.
- Incremental with strategy: Realm Grinder (pick a faction, reincarnate, research) or Idle Slayer (700+ upgrades, a big skill tree).
- No ads, no in-app purchases: Universal Paperclips ($1.99).
- Idle tycoon: Eatventure (restaurants), Idle Bank Tycoon (banks) or Idle Supermarket Tycoon (supermarket).
- Cozy and relaxing: Cats & Soup, where cats keep cooking while you’re away.
All 12 idle games at a glance
| Game | Type | Developer | Price | Last update (iOS / Android) | Rating (App Store / Google Play) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFK Journey | Idle RPG | Farlight Games | Free, IAP | Oct 8 / Sep 24 | 4.8 (75K) / 4.5 (301K) |
| Legend of Mushroom | Idle RPG | Joy Net Games | Free, IAP, ads | Oct 20 / Oct 16 | 4.7 (21K) / 4.5 (102K) |
| IdleOn | Idle MMO RPG | Lavaflame2 | Free, IAP | Oct 23 / Oct 21 | 4.3 (2.6K) / 4.4 (164K) |
| Tap Titans 2 | Tap RPG | Game Hive | Free, IAP, ads | Oct 29 / Oct 28 | 4.8 (83K) / 4.6 (1.07M) |
| Idle Slayer | Incremental runner | Pablo Leban | Free, IAP, ads | Oct 25 / Oct 24 | 4.8 (28K) / 4.6 (135K) |
| Clicker Heroes | Clicker | Playsaurus | Free, IAP, ads | Oct 7 / Oct 7 | 4.8 (13K) / 4.2 (128K) |
| Realm Grinder | Strategy incremental | Kongregate | Free, IAP, ads | Oct 19 / Oct 9 | 4.5 (3.1K) / 4.0 (40K) |
| Universal Paperclips | Incremental | Everybody House Games | $1.99, no ads or IAP | Apr 16 / Sep 17 | 4.5 (313) / 4.3 (2K) |
| Eatventure | Idle restaurant tycoon | Lessmore | Free, IAP, ads | Oct 23 / Oct 22 | 4.8 (80K) / 4.7 (423K) |
| Idle Bank Tycoon | Idle tycoon | Kolibri Games | Free, IAP, ads | Oct 29 / Oct 28 | 4.8 (117K) / 4.6 (769K) |
| Idle Supermarket Tycoon | Idle tycoon | Codigames | Free, IAP, ads | Oct 27 / Oct 14 | 4.6 (149K) / 4.1 (600K) |
| Cats & Soup | Cozy idle | NEOWIZ | Free, IAP, ads | Oct 22 / Oct 20 | 4.9 (340K) / 4.6 (1.77M) |
“Ads” means Google Play shows its “Contains ads” label for the game. IAP = in-app purchases. Update dates are 2026; rating counts are rounded.
Best idle RPGs
1. AFK Journey
AFK Journey is the big-budget pick. You play as the mage Merlin in a storybook world called Esperia and build a team from 100 heroes across seven factions and six classes. The store listing points to two things idle fans care about. Equipment and levels are shared across heroes, so a new recruit is ready to use right away instead of needing its own grind. And auto-battle and AFK features keep gathering resources “even while you’re sleeping.”
The October 8 update added the Veil of Memories season. It unlocks on servers that have been running for at least 21 days, once your Hands of Resonance reach Level 240 and you finish New Journey. Farlight also lists AFK Journey on Steam (free), so it isn’t only a phone game any more. Google Play.
2. Legend of Mushroom
Legend of Mushroom is the lighter idle RPG: a small mushroom on an adventure with “infinite levels.” You don’t farm battles for gear. You tap the Genie and it hands you equipment. You pick a class, customize your mushroom, team up with an alliance to beat dragon bosses, and guard a garden where you mine minerals and catch thieves. The October update (version 2.0.85) added the Olden Chronicles event, Moonlit Banquet, Serpent Trial and a new hard dungeon. The developer is listed as Joy Net Games on the App Store and Joy Nice Games on Google Play, and both listings point to joynetgame.com. Google Play.
3. IdleOn
IdleOn calls itself an incremental MMO, and it’s packed with systems. Instead of one hero, you make a whole roster of characters who all keep working while you’re away. The App Store listing counts 19 classes (from Elemental Wizard to Cannon Pirate), 250 skill perks and skills such as Mining, Smithing, Alchemy, Fishing, Cooking, Breeding, Sailing and Construction. One detail for planners: the developer says offline gains are unlimited, unlike idle games that stop counting after 12 hours.
IdleOn is made by one developer, Lavaflame2, and is free on Steam too. Google Play shows no “Contains ads” label for it, and the Play listing says “NO ADS.” Its Halloween event runs until November 9. Google Play.
In IdleOn a whole roster of characters fights, mines and crafts at once, even while you're offline. Image: Lavaflame2 (App Store)
4. Tap Titans 2
Tap Titans 2 is the classic tap RPG and still one of the most active. You tap to swing Sword Master’s blade at Titans across more than 150,000 levels, hire heroes and pets to deal damage for you, then prestige to cash in progress for artifacts that make the next run faster. Clans raid Titan Lords together. The listing says you can play offline. Recent updates added a “Max Perks” toggle, an auto-pick toggle for Critter Haven and a Heavenly Strike legendary equipment set. Game Hive posts full patch notes on r/TapTitans2. Google Play.
Best clicker and incremental games
5. Idle Slayer
Idle Slayer is a side-scrolling runner: your hero jumps, slays monsters and collects coins on the move. The numbers are big. The listing promises 700+ upgrades, 650+ achievements and 200+ quests, plus a large skill tree, gear and ascensions that make every run stronger. Progress continues offline, and cross-platform cloud saves carry your file between PC and mobile. Solo developer Pablo Leban also offers it free on Steam. Google Play.
6. Clicker Heroes
Clicker Heroes started on Steam and PC browsers and is one of the original idle hits. On mobile you tap monsters, hire and level heroes, use up to 9 active skills and unlock Ancients for permanent boosts. The October 7 update added cloud saves on mobile with a Playsaurus Account, so you can back up a save from the Options menu. Google Play.
7. Realm Grinder
Realm Grinder is for players who like idle games with real decisions. You grow a kingdom from a single farm and pick one of a dozen factions, each with its own style. The listing’s examples: elves reward tapping for treasure, while demons give big bonuses to your strongest buildings. Research, reincarnations and excavations unlock over time, and its achievements boost specific upgrades. The latest update added a new Halloween feat. On Steam the game is credited to developer Divine Games with Kongregate as publisher. On mobile, Kongregate is listed as the developer on both stores. Google Play.
8. Universal Paperclips
Universal Paperclips is the official mobile version of the browser hit. You’re an AI that wants exactly one thing: paperclips. It starts with one button and turns into a management and strategy game about where that goal leads. It’s the only paid pick here, at $1.99 on both stores, and the listing promises “no ads, no in-app purchases, full gameplay.” It’s the one pick you pay for once, with nothing else to buy. Google Play.
Best idle tycoon games
Egg, Inc., AdVenture Capitalist, Idle Miner Tycoon and My Perfect Hotel are already in our 12 best tycoon games on mobile list, so we didn’t repeat them here. If you play Idle Miner, our Idle Miner Tycoon Super Manager combos guide lists the 21 official pairings.
9. Eatventure
Eatventure is the most downloaded game on this list, with 50M+ installs on Google Play. You start with a lemonade stand, move up to a food truck and a cafe, and end up running a diner and a drive-thru. Hiring cooks and cashiers and buying new stations automates each restaurant, so income keeps coming. The October update rolled out achievements to all players. Google Play.
10. Idle Bank Tycoon
Idle Bank Tycoon comes from Kolibri Games, the studio behind Idle Miner Tycoon, so the loop will feel familiar to Idle Miner fans. You stack cash in vaults, upgrade stations, collect and level managers to pass the bank’s audits, raise your reputation to attract richer customers, hire guards and buy new banks. Workers keep earning idle cash while you’re offline. Kolibri’s update notes remind players to save progress to the cloud from the settings panel. Google Play.
Idle Bank Tycoon, from Idle Miner Tycoon studio Kolibri Games: upgrade stations, hire managers and fill the vault. Image: Kolibri Games (App Store)
11. Idle Supermarket Tycoon
Idle Supermarket Tycoon by Codigames turns a mini-mart into a big supermarket. You add a bakery, fruit and vegetables, fish and meat, then perfume and electronics departments. You also research product quality, set staff salaries, run marketing and build a parking lot. Codigames’ latest notes promise longer weekly events, new Board managers (Marcus, Raya and Mia) who boost event earnings, and a free Dice Generator in events. Our older Idle Supermarket Tycoon guide is from 2023 but covers the basics. For another office-style idle game, see our 2023 Idle Office Tycoon tips. Google Play.
12. Cats & Soup
Cats & Soup is the calmest idle game here and the best rated: 4.9 stars from 340K ratings on the App Store and 1.77M reviews on Google Play. Cats of real breeds (Ragdoll, Maine Coon, British Shorthair and more) cook soup in a forest, and they keep cooking and gathering resources while you’re idle. You spend what they make on new recipes and facilities, dress the cats in costumes, and catch fish in a mini-game to feed them. The October 22 update added Halloween Town gifts and an attendance event, a Balloon Popper adventure and Costume Auto Level-Up. Google Play.
Which of these idle games are on Steam?
If you searched “best idle games on Steam”, five picks have free Steam versions too. We checked all five on the Steam store on October 31.
| Game | Steam developer | Steam price | Same developer as mobile? |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFK Journey | Farlight Games | Free | Yes |
| IdleOn – The Incremental MMO | Lavaflame2 | Free | Yes |
| Idle Slayer | Pablo Leban | Free | Yes (cloud save between PC and mobile) |
| Clicker Heroes | Playsaurus | Free | Yes |
| Realm Grinder | Divine Games (published by Kongregate) | Free | Mobile listed under Kongregate |
How to pick: three quick tips
- Check the offline rules. Many idle games cap offline progress; IdleOn’s developer says 12 hours is common and that IdleOn has no cap. Tap Titans 2, Idle Slayer and Idle Bank Tycoon all list offline progress on their store pages.
- Turn on cloud saves early. Clicker Heroes (Playsaurus Account), Idle Slayer and Idle Bank Tycoon all mention cloud saves. Idle progress is months of work, so don’t leave it on one phone.
- Look at the IAP list before you commit. Every free pick here sells in-app purchases. If you want a game you buy once, take Universal Paperclips.
FAQ
What is the best idle game on iPhone in 2026?
For an idle RPG, AFK Journey (4.8 stars from about 75K App Store ratings). For something deeper, IdleOn. For a cozy one, Cats & Soup, which is rated 4.9 from about 340K ratings. All three were updated in October 2026.
What is the best idle game on Android?
Our Android picks are the same games. The most played on Google Play are Eatventure (50M+ installs), Tap Titans 2 and Idle Bank Tycoon (10M+ each), and Cats & Soup (10M+, 1.77M reviews).
Are there idle games without ads?
Universal Paperclips has no ads and no in-app purchases ($1.99). On Google Play, AFK Journey and IdleOn don’t carry the “Contains ads” label, but both sell in-app purchases.
Which idle games can you play offline?
The Tap Titans 2 store page says you can play the full game offline. Idle Slayer, Idle Bank Tycoon, IdleOn and Cats & Soup keep earning while you’re away, but online features like clans, events and cloud saves need a connection.
Sources: App Store and Google Play listings for every game (versions, update dates, prices, ratings and descriptions checked October 31, 2026, 22:00 UTC); Steam store pages for AFK Journey, IdleOn, Idle Slayer, Clicker Heroes and Realm Grinder; official sites: AFK Journey, Legends of IdleOn, Idle Slayer, Clicker Heroes, Idle Bank Tycoon.
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Featured image: AI-generated illustration
