The Most Entertaining Idle Tycoon Games

Idle games and tycoon games go hand in hand, especially on mobile devices. They let you pass the time easily when needed while still providing enough interactivity elements that you won’t become overly bored with whatever game you’ve decided to download.

Of course, just because these games are generally simple and don’t require much brainpower to figure out, that doesn’t mean that your idle tycoon game of choice has a free pass to be bad. Aesthetics, gameplay, and the feeling of achievement and reward are all very important to consider when deciding what the best idle tycoon games on the market are.

10

AdVenture Capitalist

Instill A Monopoly Over Everything

This game is an oldie but a goodie, with simpler graphics (they’re literally just buttons that you press over and over again before you can hire a manager and automate them), and simpler gameplay. Of course, like other idle tycoon games, the further you get into AdVenture Capitalist the less effort it requires on your part and, therefore, the less active time you need to be in the game.

The gameplay loop is simple but appealing, though some may find it growing more and more boring the longer you play given the simple graphics. Regardless, it definitely nailed the idea of an idle tycoon game, and because it’s simple, it’s actually pretty relaxing.

9

Office Cat

Make That Money, Kitty

Cats are cute and they become even cuter when you dress them up in little business suits and pretend that they’re little businessmen who are doing serious business. In Office Cat, they are, in fact, doing that serious business and if you are a cat lover, then you’ll probably love this mobile game.

You get to upgrade each office and decide who will thrive within your cat business empire. Gameplay does peter out pretty quickly in the beginning, given that this game starts off the idle elements of it pretty quickly. However, sometimes low effort is all you really need, especially if you’re just trying to idle away the time.

8

Idle Miner Tycoon

You Can Never Dig Too Deep

Chances are you’ve probably seen this game advertised on more than a few free-to-play mobile games, or it was recommended to you in an off-handed way by your app store of choice. Whatever the case, Idle Miner Tycoon is possibly one of the most downloaded idle tycoon games.

Its simplistic and cartoony art style isn’t offensive to the eyes, and although it’s simple, it feels pretty rewarding to get further and further down, providing you with a visual projection of your progress. However, its appeal peters off the further you get into it as it needs less and less of your active playtime.

7

Idle Magic School

Make Your Own Non-Copyright Infringing Hogwarts

The bigger your school gets and the more students that attend, the more rewarding this idle tycoon game starts to feel. You can manage your school, your students, and your teachers as you set up your school however you like (or at least, in the minimal ways the game lets you customize everything).

There are incentives to return on a daily basis, as the game regularly provides you will free boosts, extra currency, and more students if you get lucky. Plus, once you max out one school, you can move on to creating an even better and bigger school.

6

Egg Inc

Which Came First, The Chicken Or The Egg? (It’s The Egg)

Egg Inc. is a pretty well-known idle tycoon game at this point – you crack some eggs, raise some chickens, and build up a massive egg farm that, by the end, needs dozens of semi trucks to cart off and sell everything that your chickens have laid.

The art style is simplistic but incredibly appealing, especially when you have hundreds of chickens running across the screen to try and get into their luxury coops. The gameplay itself is very simple, only requiring you to tap over and over again with the occasional alternative input of upgrading your various buildings.

5

Idle Theme Park Tycoon

Build The Ultimate Amusement Park

This game probably isn’t as much fun if you happen to work at a theme park, but maybe the idea of running one will appeal even more. This theme park has a lot of different rides, which helps to add to the visual variation of the game.

They don’t just sit stagnant either – you get to see people come into the park and you get to watch the rides run, which makes the whole thing more enjoyable to watch play out in front of you. As you see your theme park grow, you also get a pretty strong sense of accomplishment.

4

Idle Zoo Tycoon

Animals In All Shapes And Sizes

Idle Zoo Tycoon is pretty similar to Idle Theme Park Tycoon in that you’re angling to get as many different attractions as possible and upgrade them as much as possible in order to make the most money possible. This time, of course, you’re dealing with adorable (and sometimes terrifying) animals instead.

You have water-based attractions that you’d probably find in aquariums or something like Seaworld alongside the animals that you’d definitely find in your local Zoo. Overall, the animals do make it one of the cuter idle tycoon games, which makes it immensely appealing.

3

Game Dev Tycoon

Requires A Bit More Active Play Than The Rest

Unlike some of the other idle tycoon games, Game Dev Tycoon requires a bit more active play and requires you to actively check in with it. It is, however, still technically an idle game, given that a decent portion of the gameplay requires you to sit and wait until the development on your newest game is done.

If you do like idle games that need a bit more interaction and don’t just require mindless staring – especially toward the later parts of the game, then Game Dev Tycoon is a good one to opt for. Plus, it gives you a decent amount of input on how successful you may or may not end up being.

2

Rent Please! Landlord Sim

Be The Good Landlord

Most people don’t like their landlords, and that’s understandable… but what if you could be the landlord, and be a good one at that? In this idle tycoon game, you get to create so many apartment buildings, from the ones that are cheaper and slightly run-down, to the luxury ones that are actually really nice and would probably be a dream to stay in.

Of course, you’re doing more than just making the apartments – you’re also providing the utilities and the nearby food and convenience stores. It’s a game that offers a variety of different things to upgrade and work on, which makes it enjoyable to play for extended periods.

1

Cookie Clicker

The OG Idle Tycoon

Of course, you can debate all you’d like about whether or not Cookie Clicker counts as a tycoon game – which, realistically, it does because the entire game is centered around you building up your Cookie Clicker empire – but it’s most definitely an idle game. Perhaps one of the most well-known idle tycoon games, in Cookie Clicker, you do as the title dictates – you click cookies until you can automate the process and make the cookies generate for you.

The graphics are primarily button-based, which makes it easy enough to understand. The later parts of the game require a lot of waiting and patience (which is where the idle portion kicks into full gear) but it feels so, so rewarding, especially when you get those incredibly difficult achievements.