10 alternatives · Updated May 2026

Games like Melvor Idle, ranked.

Melvor Idle 2 is announced but not out. While you wait, here are 10 idle RPGs and incrementals that scratch the same itch — from the closest direct spiritual successors to the deeper, weirder corners of the genre. Honest picks. Disclosure on #1.

How this list was put together

Three filters: (a) it must have meaningful idle progression — not just a clicker; (b) it must have RPG-shaped depth (skills, gear, progression beyond raw numbers); (c) it must be available now, not just "coming soon." Games are ranked roughly by closeness-to-Melvor, with Tideward at #1 because it was deliberately built in the RuneScape-idle lineage Melvor pioneered. The full list spans browser, mobile, and Steam — see "where" on each entry.

  1. #1

    Tideward

    Native Apple ecosystem

    A direct spiritual successor to Melvor — 23 trades, 24-hour offline progression, RuneScape-rooted skill design. The wedge: native iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro, and Apple Watch builds, zero ads, zero tracking, zero third-party SDKs. CloudKit syncs your character across every Apple device with no account.

    Pros
    • Free TestFlight alpha (launches Feb 2027)
    • Six Apple platforms from one purchase
    • Zero ads / zero tracking architecture
    • Built in pure SwiftUI (truly native everywhere)
    Cons
    • Apple ecosystem only — no Android, no Windows, no web
    • Still in alpha; some content gaps before 1.0
    Where to play: TestFlight (alpha) → App Store launch Feb 11, 2027

    Disclosure: this is the studio publishing this comparison. We list ourselves first because we genuinely think we're the closest spiritual successor to Melvor on Apple devices. Cross-reference with the alternatives below — they're honest picks.

  2. #2

    Idle Clans

    Multiplayer twist

    An MMO take on the RuneScape-idle genre — clan-based progression, shared resource pools, and PVP variants. Trades the solo-meditative quality of Melvor for cooperative depth.

    Pros
    • Active community / clan systems
    • Free to play
    • Web + mobile + Steam
    Cons
    • Account required; multiplayer = always-online
    • Less calm than Melvor's vibe
    Where to play: Browser, iOS, Android, Steam
    Visit idleclans.com
  3. #3

    Idlescape

    Long-running browser RPG

    Browser-first idle RPG with RuneScape-flavored skills, combat, and an active in-game economy. One of the older entries in the cluster; the systems are deep but the UI shows its age.

    Pros
    • Active development since 2018
    • Heavy economy / market mechanics
    • Free with optional supporter perks
    Cons
    • Browser-first means weak mobile experience
    • UI feels dated next to newer entries
    Where to play: Browser (idlescape.com), Steam
    Visit idlescape.com
  4. #4

    IdleMMO

    Browser MMO with idle hooks

    Browser-based MMO that leans on idle/AFK loops for skill training. More social than Melvor; less polished than Idle Clans.

    Pros
    • Always free
    • Active player base
    • Cross-platform via browser
    Cons
    • Account required
    • Web-only — no native mobile or desktop app
    Where to play: Browser (web.idle-mmo.com)
    Visit web.idle-mmo.com
  5. #5

    Milky Way Idle

    Sci-fi flavor, similar mechanics

    A sci-fi reskin of the RuneScape-idle pattern — mining asteroids instead of rocks, combat against alien enemies, crafting via station modules. Mechanically very close to Melvor; thematically distinct.

    Pros
    • Strong reskin if you're bored of fantasy
    • Tight combat math
    • Free with cosmetic shop
    Cons
    • Browser-first
    • Smaller community than Melvor
    Where to play: Browser (milkywayidle.com)
    Visit milkywayidle.com
  6. #6

    Magic Research / Magic Research 2

    Tighter, denser, premium

    A premium one-time-purchase idle game focused on magic research and crafting. Smaller in scope than Melvor but more polished, with deliberate pacing and a real "did I just unlock something cool" loop.

    Pros
    • One-time purchase, no IAP
    • Deep, well-designed progression
    • iOS native
    Cons
    • No combat in the RuneScape sense
    • Smaller content depth than Melvor
    Where to play: iOS, Android, Steam
    Visit Dev site (mcolotto)
  7. #7

    Lootun

    Mobile-friendly, casual

    A mobile idle RPG with auto-combat, gear, and skill progression. Lighter than Melvor; more accessible for the "I just want bars to fill" audience.

    Pros
    • Polished mobile UI
    • Free to play
    • No timers / energy gates
    Cons
    • Has ads / IAP (skippable but present)
    • Less skill-tree depth
    Where to play: iOS, Android, Steam
    Visit arrowsoft.itch.io
  8. #8

    Idle Slayer

    Side-scrolling clicker / idle hybrid

    A side-scrolling auto-runner with idle mechanics — different shape from Melvor but adjacent appeal. Big audience overlap.

    Pros
    • Strong active-play loop
    • Steam + iOS + Android
    • Premium one-time purchase available
    Cons
    • Not skill-tree focused like Melvor
    • F2P version has ads
    Where to play: iOS, Android, Steam
    Visit idleslayer.com
  9. #9

    NGU Idle

    The deep-end legacy pick

    A wall-of-numbers incremental that's been running since 2017. Massively deep, intentionally ugly, beloved by the r/incremental_games hardcore. Very different vibe from Melvor — less RPG, more spreadsheet — but the same long-term-progression appeal.

    Pros
    • Massive content depth
    • Free on Steam
    • Active subreddit
    Cons
    • Visually punishing
    • Steeper learning curve than any other entry
    Where to play: Steam (free), browser
    Visit Steam page
  10. #10

    Antimatter Dimensions

    The pure-numbers icon

    The defining modern incremental — pure-numbers progression, prestige loops, and the first game most r/incremental_games players cite as their gateway. Even further from Melvor's RPG framing, but adjacent enough to belong on the list.

    Pros
    • Free everywhere
    • Top-tier progression design
    • Strong community
    Cons
    • Zero RPG framing — not for players who want a character
    • Browser-first
    Where to play: Browser, iOS, Android, Steam
    Visit ivark.github.io

If you've played Melvor — here's the closest fit on Apple

Tideward's 23 trades are organized into four clusters that map cleanly onto Melvor's structure: combat (Attack, Strength, Ranged, Magic), gathering (Mining, Woodcutting, Fishing, Farming), artisan (Forging, Cooking, Apothecary, Inscription), and wayfaring (Wayfaring, Stargazing, Binding). The closest direct analog to Melvor's Smithing is Forging; Mining → Quarry and Mining; Thieving → Pilfering; Firemaking → Kindling; Prayer → Vigil. See all 23 trades →

FAQ — games like Melvor Idle

Is Melvor Idle 2 out yet?

No, not as of May 2026. Melvor Idle 2 is officially announced (Steam app/3218350), in Patreon-gated alpha, with a 2026 Early Access target per the dev's March 2026 update. There's no firm release date and mobile/web come after Steam EA. If you're looking for something to play right now, the games above are the best alternatives.

Which game on this list is closest to Melvor Idle in feel?

Tideward — it's explicitly designed in the RuneScape-idle lineage Melvor pioneered, with 23 trades and 24-hour offline progression. The big differentiator is platform: Tideward is Apple-ecosystem only (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro, Apple Watch) while Melvor is cross-platform. If you're an Apple-first player, Tideward is the closest fit. If you need Windows/Android, Idle Clans or Idlescape are next.

Are any of these games actually offline (no always-online requirement)?

Tideward and Magic Research are fully offline-capable — your save lives on your device, no server required. Idle Clans and IdleMMO are always-online by design (multiplayer). Milky Way Idle and Idlescape are browser-first but have offline-progression simulation when the tab is closed. NGU Idle and Antimatter Dimensions have offline modes too.

Which has the deepest skill system?

Melvor Idle still has the largest content library (29 skills with full Atlas of Discovery + Throne of the Herald + Into the Abyss expansions). Tideward launches with 23 trades and is actively expanding. Idlescape has more skills than most browser entries. NGU Idle is deepest by sheer "things to optimize" count, but it's not skill-tree-shaped — it's a spreadsheet-shaped game.

Are any of these free with no ads?

Tideward (alpha is free; launch model TBD; commitment is no ads, no IAP, no subscriptions). Magic Research 2 is one-time purchase, no IAP. NGU Idle and Antimatter Dimensions are free everywhere. Idle Clans, Idlescape, IdleMMO, Milky Way Idle are free-with-cosmetic-shop. Lootun and Idle Slayer have ads in their F2P modes (ads removable via IAP).

Try Tideward — the Apple-ecosystem pick.

If you\'re reading this on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, Tideward is the closest you\'ll get to Melvor Idle on Apple devices. Free in TestFlight alpha — one invite covers iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro, and Apple Watch.

Join the Alpha Browse the 23 trades